Originally Posted by
CloudSailor
Well, you are then actually settling for WAY less than what you would rather have.
Why don't you stand up for what you would rather have, NOW?
Do you think the company will concede to your desires in 10 years? If we concede defeat on our openers in this tremendous negotiating environment, openers as stated by our MEC, after polling our ENTIRE crew force, what makes you think we will not concede defeat in the future?
If we concede defeat now, in this environment, be ready for the company to come after the ENTIRE A-plan, while throwing in just another 2% bump to your B-plan. You'll be in your mid-50's by then, with a B-plan well below what you would rather have today.
This is the time you need to make a stand. This will be your and my CBA for the next 10 years, many will retire under it. Don't settle for a 9% B-plan for the next 10 years, if you yourself know that an 18-20% B-plan is what is acceptable to you.
IMO, you're selling yourself short TODAY, on both the A and B plans, by thinking we have more value than the American and Delta contracts. Remember, they are going to the table now, and their pay rates will surpass ours. American still has an A-plan, reduced and frozen during bankruptcy, but can be negotiated back to where it was. Remember, we have no "me too" clause like the legacies. That clause would allow us to catch up to their rates during the decade long CBA we would be signing.
Don't sell yourself short brother. Just because guys/gals you fly with are saying they are voting yes, shouldn't affect your decision to stand up for what you believe you deserve.
I am not settling for a 9% B Plan--it is a frozen A plan coupled with 18% B. I can't count on the A plan (frozen or not). Would FedEx try to come after the A plan? Of course! That is their job! The frozen part merely eliminates the need for FedEx to continue to pour $ Billions into the fund and deal with the long-term liabilities and regulatory hurdles put in place after the Enron fiasco and the Dodd-Frank requirements. While AA has the A plan frozen, I personally believe it is a pipe dream for the AA pilots to think it could be re-established. The amount of $$$ that would be required to bring the fund back up to required level would be astronomical!
You may be of the opinion that I am selling myself short--I certainly respect your opinion but I do not agree. The lack of leverage after 2015 peak (when negotiations would recommence if this doesn't pass) the time value of money we lose by not taking the TA offered, and the very real possibility that TA2 would not be substantially better influence my decision. I personally do not think the gains in TA2 would improve dramatically. To do so would leave the company vulnerable to the next TA several years down the road with the pilot force believing that as a matter of course they should vote down the TA because the trend is we will get something better. (Ask the AirTran pilots how that worked out...the MEC turned down the first offer of pay and seniority from SWA without even sending it out for a vote. The second--and final and accepted--offer was substantially worse).
I have had the mantra "my negotiating committee speaks for me" preached at me for over a decade--and now that they have spoken, most of the posters on this board are more than anxious to send them packing. Could the TA be better, sure, but I have to trust the men and women we put in place to get the best deal possible. Politics and personal preferences will always play a part, but that is life--here, home, church..wherever.
I have read the TA. Our numbers are commensurate with AA, we still have our A plan, no PBS, no messing with vacation, changes to section 8 that will help the vast majority of pilots, and improvements to the B plan. The B plan changes are not stellar, but SWA has only a 401k match (same effect as B Plan) with a 9.3% match. They have profit sharing and we have the biggest A plan in the industry by far (that everyone on this forum seems willing to fall on their sword for because it isn't even BIGGER!)
I respect your opinion to vote no, just as I will vote yes and those fellow pilots (in both seats in several fleets) that I have discussed this with are ready to vote yes as well.