Check it out, we have T.O'M with us right here! We have multiple fleets, with more up and down bidding do to fleet movement, base realignment, retirements, etc. That means more people in training, and nothing like SWA and their current (not combined with airtran yet) fleet and mission. You can't compare us. But we do have more profits, and $950 million in bag fees last year alone. With continued spin from guys like you, the DPA will win easily someday, hopefully soon.

That is simply the cost of doing business for an airline of our size. Also realize that Block hrs that Sailing is reporting are block hours that have not been adjusted for augmented crews. The block per pilot is a lot better than that when you take that in to account.

If you get the block hr per month here then divide it by active line pilot, or total pilots including those in management you get a better comparison.

I agree, but where does Sailing (AKA T. O'M) come up with his spin? For what reason? Managing expectations....

First Sailing is a line pilot, and he does not work for ALPA.

It is his opinion, and he makes some valid points. We do not have to agree or disagree with him. He is simply stating what he sees as the reality we will be in Section 6 in. He is senior and if he was truly selfish, he would want FAR MAX and max pay. He would not care about limiting block or duty, and as a result would not care about the bottom 3000 pilots.

I have flown with him, and he is rational in his position. I disagree with him on some point, and agree with him on others.

and is that number floating around somewhere? I agree with you. I think we should run a comparison of just our domestic operation to compare apples to apples. I would like to see that number. The numbers are also slanted when you add in all the reserves for all the different fleets across all the bases. It's very hard for an airline with so many different missions across fleets to have the same utilization of reserves as Southwest does. But thats not our fault and I agree with ACL it's the cost of doing business.

You are mistaken.

Just curious, but does the pilot group get to see the opener once it is presented to the company?
Or are the negotiations held privately between the negotiating committee and management, and then presented to the pilot group for a vote once both sides feel as though they have come to an agreement that could pass a vote?

Forgive the stupid questions, but I have not been through this process before?

Historically, openers have been public but there's nothing in the law that says they have to be, or even that there has to be such a thing as "openers".

The negotiations are private (unless one side or the other decides to make public statements).

http://www.nmb.gov/publicinfo/collbarg2.pdf

I don't remember ever seeing any specific opener or any back and forth offers between the union and management. When there is a Tentative Agree ment (TA) the negotiating committees, it will be presented to the MEC for their vote and if they vote in favor there will be road shows to all the bases by the union to explain it. Then there will be a membership ratification vote. Probably closing about 2 months after a TA is reached.

Denny

There. Fixed it for you. ^^^^^^