SWA guy, here. Having just finally come out of four years of mgmt stiff-arming us for a new contract, it pains me to see that you guys also have some died-in-the-wool, anti-union types working against your collective best interests. For us, the union guidance during our negotiations was to wear a dark tie (preferably black!) and the union tie tack. I'm sure most of you who have any time in this business know what a love-affair many of our pilots had with the flag ties since Sept 11th....and I was one of 'em! Sadly, we have our share of A319's ilk on property and it was the same sort of mamby-pamby rationalizing from these guys how they couldn't possibly give up their flag ties: "Passengers love 'em!" "I'm a vet and it's a show of support for them!" and so on.... All are true statements, but NONE are an adequate excuse for not complying with your union's temporary request to provide a visible sign of solidarity until such time as a new contract is ratified. And just like A319, this crowd also parroted the same line that "nobody notices your tie/lanyard/bag tag, etc..." HOG WASH!!!!! Your management wants nothing more than to believe your union does not speak for you....and if enough of your pilots are so misguided/apathetic/afraid or JUST PLAIN ANTI-UNION that they cannot even take the simple step of putting on a lanyard that (I'm guessing here) just showed up in their box one day, well then management's view may just be correct and your negotiating committee will be that much more out-gunned. I promise you, management IS noticing!!!! They are testing your collective resolve and numbers matter!

So if you're not a lanyard guy--time to become one. If you're not already scheduled to fly during your first picket--time to move whatever mountains you must to get your butt to the IP. It WILL make a difference!

Best of luck to you guys/gals!

 

Has anyone else had or heard of getting a TBNT email from the online app after being offered an interview?

Acquaintance of mine just had a guy he recommended get a phone invite, then two days later got a TBNT email. Weird.

 

Great post, thanks. And congrats on the contract.

 

Thanks Smokey for the great post, and support. There are a lot of "319" types here, unfortunately.

Wear the lanyard, follow the union leadership, and 319 and all you other kool-aid drinkers...stop being idiots. I'm sure you'll be glad to spend the money once a CBA is in place and others did all the heavy lifting for you.

 

You'll be OK. I received one when I was in initial training. Really.

 

Thanks for the reply. This should be remedied as it is a poor first impression to make.

 

LOL... for reals.

This kind of incompetence is par for the course. Management is just preparing this new guy for what lies ahead.

This F9 newhire will look back in 12 to 18 months when he's starting ground school at a legacy and say, "At least they were consistent."

 

Par for course, 3 days of negotiations scheduled. Could only do barely a day and a half because the company wasn't prepared.

 

Exactly. The company is turning our twice a month meetings into only 3 full days a month. Basically negating the change.

I hope on April 19th that every window and entrance at the GO is stacked with ****ed off pilots.

 

OK, I got a dumb question (as I've never been through a strike) but...

Do I really HAVE to have a hat to picket? I didn't buy one nor do I think I will have time to get one before the 19th if I gotta order one.