The problem is you make points around the obvious, that we need and deserve a large pay raise. We can all make points, like lower pay raises may help shareholders, lower raises could help buy more planes, etc. All of those are facts, and you can make as many that you want and they COULD be correct. That's great and all, but you need to start promoting us.

Next you said you don't know who I am, so how can you manage my expectations. How about US as a group. It seems like ALPA is trying to manage our group's expectations, which isn't good if true. It sure seems like it.

Then you repeatedly decide to compare us to Unical and their rates, when I stated that the only thing I like about their movement is their proactive nature in describing what they want in their future contract. It puts it out in the public eye, and keeps those NC people and MEC members accountable. They can't back out conveniently. UAL management also out their wish list out there, and ALPA made a response, publicly. The difference between them and us is that our SOC was fast and rewarded management and hopefully us someday. When will that " someday" be? Yes, we got a 17% raise, but looking back that should have been over 1 year, not 6 potentially. The DC fund was increased, along with stock
given. Those parts are a no-brainer after taking a 47% paycut and loss of pension. We were told $2 billion in synergies, but in addition our continuing lower pay is helping to pay for a lot more. We are a bargain. You compare UAL A320 rates to Delta's. How about future Airtran/SWA 737 rates to ours? How about AF A330 Capt rates? Your thoughts?

 

Would Clark Howard ever admit when DAL's ticket is less than SWA's? I doubt it. We can easily find these tickets. I'm sure he can't. He constantly on AM 750 here in ATL on the morning news talk loves to tell people how to get back at Delta. Two leg your trip to Europe until Delta responds and blah blah blah.

I wish there was a guy worth listening to about financial matters, Ramsey annoys me and Howard just irritates me. Just seems sleezy.

Someone once told me UPS begged DAL to run its aviation department when they got into it, DAL refused. And that DHL offered to pay us to fly airplanes empty if they could have the cargo bay below or something to that effect. We didn't. Nobody's fault here in management, union, DPA or seniority list, just if true it's a colossal fail on the managements of the past given the propensity to outsource why not be the outsourced department? They should know that's where the money is.

Anyways, how about this? Combi's? We could do that on a lot of planes couldn't we?



We could even bring back the -10. That's right. The DC-10.

CTRL+C, CTRL+V and do it every other page. It's worth it.

From now on all SWA pilots must ride Delta jumpseats. If you see a SWA pilot walking down the hall, grab him and force him to ride your jumpseat and talk even if he wasn't commuting to where you're going or you leave a SWA jet without a pilot- that's a win-win. It'd be the greatest education our pilot group undergoes. The shock will be tremendous.

But I'm waiting for R-Day. The day AirTran pilots get their raises. Raise Day will be phenomenal. We'll need those guys to talk and brag and brag and brag. And the younger the AirTran pilot the better.

A 5th year 717 pilot making more than a 15 year MD88 A will not sit well for those who aren't paying attention out on the line.

 

From now on all SWA pilots must ride Delta jumpseats. If you see a SWA pilot walking down the hall, grab him and force him to ride your jumpseat and talk even if he wasn't commuting to where you're going or you leave a SWA jet without a pilot- that's a win-win. It'd be the greatest education our pilot group undergoes. The shock will be tremendous.

But I'm waiting for R-Day. The day AirTran pilots get their raises. Raise Day will be phenomenal. We'll need those guys to talk and brag and brag and brag. And the younger the AirTran pilot the better.

A 5th year 717 pilot, if they have any, making more than a 15 year MD88 A will not sit well for those who aren't paying attention out on the line.[/QUOTE]

FTB, it was very enlightening for me as well. He was very informative for both of us. Here are his demographics: he was a civilian with 15 years at prior ALPA carriers before going on to SWA, is 47 years old and has about six years to upgrade prior to the merged seniority list being created. He seemed to be very similar in seniority to a 2000-2001 hire at DAL as far as his background and career expectations. That's where the similarities end.

Outside of his probationary year, he has never made less than $115k/year. The past three years saw him between $135-155k/year. He averages 15 days a month off.

My Captain is a DPA supporter and I'm on the fence about it. We talked at length about his perceptions of SWAPA since he was a prior ALPA guy for 15 years. His response: couldn't be happier. He says their relationship with MGT is good, there is a very mutually goal oriented approach between the parties. He very much likes the fact that SWAPA only cares about their guys and has no other groups to contend with. His dues are lower and he says they are voracious with their Scope clause.

All in all it was very good to have him up front. I agree with you. I think at the very least you should engage them when they are asking for the J/S. Even if they ride in back, the few minutes at the gate would be very beneficial for all.

 

A question for anyone who might know. Is there any possibility that crew resources would let you trade positions with someone who was MD'd out of your base and category on this last AE? In other words I would exchange their MD for my VD. Other pilot not scheduled for training till November.

Thanks,
JC

 

We'll start a new program at Delta, prior to contract negotiations, called "Bring your Southwest Pilot-Friend to Work" day.

FTB, you can be in charge of the marketing,

Buzz, you can handle the screenplay rights, &

ACL, you can get management on board with this.

For all those pilots at Delta who don't have "friends at Soutwest", feel free to borrow from one of your colleagues that do.

Fly safe,

GJ

Disclamer-Bored on a day off. In no way, shape, or form does this post advocate felonious charges of kidnapping a Southwest pilot for our own contract improvements.

 

Hey Scambo......thanks for the revision, the FDX80 boys would approve.....and, at least no flippin' hat.

 

No kidding! and its not just rj's....pulled into dfw the other night 30 min late cuz of mx out of atl. We landed right behind Alaska, they drove right up to the gate but ops told us we (fully loaded 757) would have to wait for a while becuse they were short staffed. We ended up waiting 30 mins and the pax were ****ed! the ops guy told us that his boss said it doesnt matter whats happening at delta the alaska contract always takes priority. By the way these are DELTA employees!
So much for taking care of OUR cutomers.

 

Now dont get all egocentric on me, I was referring to the SWA guys flying naked.

 

And they didn't get that raise until they fired SkyWest and ended up with zero outsourced jets.

Those who trade scope for pay will wind up with neither.

 

It is great to see you on here again.

They did outsource management, nine times, and it is called DCI.