That's why SWA pilots have historically been the lowest paid.

 

As has been explained many times on this thread before, the Airtran group is about 8 years on average younger than the SWAPA group, creating a roadblock to SWA career upgrades.

Explain to me exactly how the Airtran guys get hurt?

 

Oh. Ok. Now you are talking. That is something to be considered. I'm sure your side will provide some retirement statistics that favor your argument. But, this is where age 65 might hurt your retirement argument. The further out your retirements are, the less likely the arbitrators will take them into consideration.

Also, be prepared for the Air Tran rebuttal to go something like this ("How they got hurt."):

"Yeah, but we had aircraft deliveries scheduled and growth that SWA pilots will get to take advantage of that more than offsets those higher retirement rates."

Of course, they will provide statistics that are favorable to their argument.

Also, before you even mention SWA's future 737-800 deliveries, it's a good chance they will make an argument that those aircraft were ordered after constructive notice of the merger and that all new SWA pilots should take part of that growth, including them.

And it will go on and on and on and on......until they run out of time. That's why each side is given a time limit to present their argument. Lawyers get paid by the hour and can come up with a subsequent, competing argument for just about anything.

See what fun SLI arbitration hearing can be?

Just hope you only have to go through one.


New K Now

 

Many have made those points over and over. Not going to help by saying it again for those who are not going to listen. Two sides of the story--mine thinks relative seniority should not be used in the AAI/SWA merger.

Note: my rule of thumb is to make one post that rubs the "relative seniority" crowd the wrong way every time I check in and find a new post stating that relative seniority is a good idea. Imagine how much fun I must be to fly with

Last note: the Arbitrators will never listen to me--I'm not on the merger committees.

 

Your side has a stapler... I can GUARANTEE you that it won't be listened to... but you are amusing to listen to... thanks!

 

Career expectations is/has been based on seniority and its affect on seat positions over the life of your career. Pay comes and goes and I don't think has been a big part of SLI negotiations. One trip thru BK can wipe out one's "career pay expectation" making it a relatively worthless tenet. Seniority is forever. Age disparity between the groups is unfortunate and part of all integrations to varying degrees. The recent DAL SLI did not take age of the group into consideration in any meaningful way. Future attrition has never been a part of this process. I wish you guys well and hope the "wise men" can figure it out.

 

Again, as others have said, career expectations have NOTHING to do with wages.

And AGAIN here are the relative career expectations:

SWA - 737 CA
AAI - 737 CA

The argument based on earnings is a total red herring SOME SWA pilots are using to justify stapling the AAI pilots.

 

fyp.........

 

Airtran's 717s have what, 5 fewer seats in their two-class configuration than SWA has in their single-class 737-500s?

Given that and that AAI pays the 737 & 717 the same, it'd be kinda hard to argue that the 717 is any kind of "inferior" airframe.

 

Believe me, I wasn't making that argument at all. I have flown the 737.. and ridden on the jumpseat of the 717... it is a very nice airplane... What I was trying to point out is that these junior SWA FOs that are throwing all this angst about will now have access to the left seat of a different airframe than they had before... but it is interesting that they conveniently ignore that fact... so... it doesn't take a logic expert to see that is actually THEIR career expectations that are being enhanced.. (stand by for the "I couldn't care less about the 717... I came to work at SWA to fly the 737"... )