Zoooropa,
I apologize for not taking the time to read all the pages of this thread. Your post was pointed out to me by a friend. There have been MANY inaccuracies posted from both sides and I'd simply post the "offers" on the web for all to read, but that would only stir the pot and not allow the wounds to properly heal.
Both sides were completely constrained by TIME and no true negotiations could take place with such an egregious time line. The reason we held our ground was a simple matter of our membership would have been 100% agreeable to either outcome. Staple or "no-deal". Anything else would have involved membership education, BOD endorsement, and true-give-and-take negotiations. We had 5 hours to do all that. That couldn't happen so we with with the only winning proposal in our arsenal.
To specifically answer your 2 outstanding questions.
1. Had SWAPA agreed to be the "bargaining unit" for the furloughed pilots, SWAPA would have had a DFR responsibility to those pilots. Until the fence comes down, that would be unacceptable. Even more confusing, SWAPA's NC was driving back to SWAPA with an "offer" from the company with regard to our Section 6. In that agreement is a "no furough clause" during any fence agreement. It would be hard to have a DFR responsibility to furloughees that have a RIGHT to employment at SWAPA. FAPA would have still remained their bargaining unit and that is the way it is normally done. No confusion. Keep the entities completely SPLIT until the fence come down.
2. Our president told me he called your president first thing in the morning to talk before the day's events got rolling. He told him to call any time with concerns and that our last offer was on the table to accept any time without condition through the day. But I understand if heresay isn't good enough.
I personally e-mailed John :
" From: xxxxxxx
Subject: talks
Date: August 13, 2009 12:32:31 PM CDT
To:
[email protected]
Cc:
John,
I know nothing has transpired yet with regard to the SWA bid. I certainly don't think we need to have face time in the next few days if things are just status quo, but we were wondering what your thoughts were on our next talks.
Tom
M&A"
So, contact was attempted at least twice. What John and Carl talked about that morning was just what Carl briefed me as I wasn't party to those conversations.
Tom Winsor
SWAPA M&A Committee