Originally Posted by
full of luv
Here's a reason why that actually would be bad for YOU Nonconcessions.
Assume SWA (and demand) do send/watch all three legacies into BK court, there will undoubtedly be two results. Lots of experienced/junior pilots on the street for quite a while driving down pilot wages, and ALPA/APA contracts drug through court for any last "givebacks" in the areas of productivity and pay.
There was a time where SWA's rates of pay and work rules were such that a serious "giveback" by the legacies of pensions and QOL provisions didn't really effect SWAPA's negotiations, but that time has passed. Any competitors gutting of current contracts will be counter productive to SWAPA's ultimate ability to negotiate more and/or even maintain what they already have.
So I hope all the companies can recover with contracts in place, because even if one of the legacies is forced to become more "competitive" that will indirectly effect the whole market for pilot labor for some time.
Delta has been the quintessential reference point for high wages within our industry for years -a professional goal for many. Looking at all of the recent trends one can’t help but recall the early glory days of PanAm and somehow parallel that to where we might be headed, though be it in different circumstances. I do not wish for any company to fail but I do think that SWA may very well become the point of reference for future contracts and management styles elsewhere. Feel free to disagree)