SWAPA request mediation
11-20-2014, 09:58 AM
#1
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SWAPA request mediation
Southwest Airlines pilots ask for help from federal mediators in contract talks | Dallas Morning News
Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association said Thursday it has asked the National Mediation Board to help out in slow-moving contract talks with the airline.
“This is certainly not a step either side wants to take during negotiations, and certainly not a typical step in the pilot and management relationship at Southwest Airlines,” SWAPA president Mark Richardson said in the union’s announcement. “But times have certainly changed.”
The release said that “after two-plus years of negotiations both sides are currently too far apart to realistically expect an agreement outside of a mediated process.”
UPDATE, 12:40 p.m.: Southwest gave us this response from Randy Babbitt, Southwest’s senior vice president of labor relations (and former president of the Air Line Pilots Association):
“We have been optimistic that we were closing the gap to achieve a new agreement, but the SWAPA Board stopped further negotiations and has chosen mediation as its next step. We have the best, most professional pilots in the industry, and we want to ensure that they are not only fairly compensated for their excellence, but that their futures are secure.”
Babbitt said the airline had told the union it was willing to file jointly for mediation, a step that would have permitted “expedited mediation,” but that union declined the offer.
ORIGINAL ITEM: Southwest is currently in negotiations with most of its unions and has a tentative agreement with only one – the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents airport and reservation agents. IAM members vote on their deal Dec. 2.
SWAPA was among the unions that sent a letter to Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly in June warning that the “magic” was gone and that the carrier had to fix morale problems by giving unions new contracts.
The SWAPA contract, which covers more than 7,000 pilots, became amendable in August 2012. With SWAPA’s request, three unions have asked for mediation in their contract talks.
Keep reading for more from the SWAPA media release, as written.
SWAPA has focused their negotiations on improvements in areas that address the airline’s flat fleet growth, stagnant career advancement, and compensation. Over the past four years the pilots have sacrificed when asked by the Company. This facilitated Southwest reaching their financial goals, including a stated goal of 15 percent ROIC. Those goals have been accomplished, and furthered, with an announced ROIC total of 19 percent for the trailing 12 months, and a Wall Street expected 21 percent ROIC for fiscal year 2014. Southwest Airlines is on pace to enjoy almost $2.5 billion in operating profit for 2014.
“Our asks continue to be reasonable so that our highly productive pilots can enjoy marginal improvements in their schedule, pay, and especially retirement – an area where Southwest pilots lag significantly compared to our peers at other airlines,” continued Richardson. “Filing for mediation is the next step in the process toward a new contract. We are trying to avoid the destructive and combative relationships that have plagued our industry.”
Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association said Thursday it has asked the National Mediation Board to help out in slow-moving contract talks with the airline.
“This is certainly not a step either side wants to take during negotiations, and certainly not a typical step in the pilot and management relationship at Southwest Airlines,” SWAPA president Mark Richardson said in the union’s announcement. “But times have certainly changed.”
The release said that “after two-plus years of negotiations both sides are currently too far apart to realistically expect an agreement outside of a mediated process.”
UPDATE, 12:40 p.m.: Southwest gave us this response from Randy Babbitt, Southwest’s senior vice president of labor relations (and former president of the Air Line Pilots Association):
“We have been optimistic that we were closing the gap to achieve a new agreement, but the SWAPA Board stopped further negotiations and has chosen mediation as its next step. We have the best, most professional pilots in the industry, and we want to ensure that they are not only fairly compensated for their excellence, but that their futures are secure.”
Babbitt said the airline had told the union it was willing to file jointly for mediation, a step that would have permitted “expedited mediation,” but that union declined the offer.
ORIGINAL ITEM: Southwest is currently in negotiations with most of its unions and has a tentative agreement with only one – the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents airport and reservation agents. IAM members vote on their deal Dec. 2.
SWAPA was among the unions that sent a letter to Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly in June warning that the “magic” was gone and that the carrier had to fix morale problems by giving unions new contracts.
The SWAPA contract, which covers more than 7,000 pilots, became amendable in August 2012. With SWAPA’s request, three unions have asked for mediation in their contract talks.
Keep reading for more from the SWAPA media release, as written.
SWAPA has focused their negotiations on improvements in areas that address the airline’s flat fleet growth, stagnant career advancement, and compensation. Over the past four years the pilots have sacrificed when asked by the Company. This facilitated Southwest reaching their financial goals, including a stated goal of 15 percent ROIC. Those goals have been accomplished, and furthered, with an announced ROIC total of 19 percent for the trailing 12 months, and a Wall Street expected 21 percent ROIC for fiscal year 2014. Southwest Airlines is on pace to enjoy almost $2.5 billion in operating profit for 2014.
“Our asks continue to be reasonable so that our highly productive pilots can enjoy marginal improvements in their schedule, pay, and especially retirement – an area where Southwest pilots lag significantly compared to our peers at other airlines,” continued Richardson. “Filing for mediation is the next step in the process toward a new contract. We are trying to avoid the destructive and combative relationships that have plagued our industry.”
11-20-2014, 10:14 AM
#2
Straight QOL, homie
Joined APC: Feb 2012
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Posts: 4,202
Originally Posted by jetliner1526
UPDATE, 12:40 p.m.: Southwest gave us this response from Randy Babbitt, Southwest’s senior vice president of labor relations (and former president of the Air Line Pilots Association):
“We have been optimistic that we were closing the gap to achieve a new agreement, but the SWAPA Board stopped further negotiations and has chosen mediation as its next step. We have the best, most professional pilots in the industry, and we want to ensure that they are not only fairly compensated for their excellence, but that their futures are secure.”
“We have been optimistic that we were closing the gap to achieve a new agreement, but the SWAPA Board stopped further negotiations and has chosen mediation as its next step. We have the best, most professional pilots in the industry, and we want to ensure that they are not only fairly compensated for their excellence, but that their futures are secure.”
11-20-2014, 01:03 PM
#4
Stuck Mic
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,059
There isn't much reason you guys shouldn't see $300/hr top out pay rates this contract. With a single fleet and the ease of training costs associated with that, and the level of profit they are seeing right now, you guys deserve it.
Then it will give the big 3 rates to aim for. Hopefully airline pilots as a whole will see some major improvements to where we should really be at across the profession, at all airlines.
Then it will give the big 3 rates to aim for. Hopefully airline pilots as a whole will see some major improvements to where we should really be at across the profession, at all airlines.
11-29-2014, 04:24 PM
#5
Furloughed Again?!
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You know though, if I were Randy Babbitt I wouldn't sweeten the pot either. Why? Because why should he? All they have to do is look each month at how much open time is picked up by line holders for premium and straight pay. They could easily see a pattern of pilots who, each month, pick up significant flying above and beyond their line value and deduce that those pilots are budgeting their lives based in the ability to pick up that flying. How many people do you fly with who say something like, "i need to fly 120 trips per month"? Will a group so addicted to overtime ever be able to handle self help? My bet is no.
11-29-2014, 07:33 PM
#6
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Position: DOWNGRADE COMPLETE: Thanks Gary. Thanks SWAPA.
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Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan
You know though, if I were Randy Babbitt I wouldn't sweeten the pot either. Why? Because why should he? All they have to do is look each month at how much open time is picked up by line holders for premium and straight pay. They could easily see a pattern of pilots who, each month, pick up significant flying above and beyond their line value and deduce that those pilots are budgeting their lives based in the ability to pick up that flying. How many people do you fly with who say something like, "i need to fly 120 trips per month"? Will a group so addicted to overtime ever be able to handle self help? My bet is no.
Spot on. Nor have I worked with such a high percentage of "yes men" at any of my previous carriers. This group is screwed as far as earning an improved CBA by "flexing it's muscles". Not gonna happen.
Well, I guess that's just another reason the company hires so many colonels.
12-01-2014, 11:29 AM
#7
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,796
I suspect, just based on the kinds of toys owned by my colleagues in the left seat, that there are a lot of high wage earners still living paycheck to paycheck. I'm sure the prospect of missing s paycheck is extremely frightening to them.
12-01-2014, 05:56 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: B737/Capt
Posts: 998
Originally Posted by WHACKMASTER
Spot on. Nor have I worked with such a high percentage of "yes men" at any of my previous carriers. This group is screwed as far as earning an improved CBA by "flexing it's muscles". Not gonna happen.
Well, I guess that's just another reason the company hires so many colonels.
Well, I guess that's just another reason the company hires so many colonels.
The Oscar
12-01-2014, 06:03 PM
#9
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BTW, I believe Babbitt should be disregarded as nothing but a hired gun who has no investment and no concern for SWA.
When he speaks there is nothing of substance and nothing of value. I certainly would not waste my time listening.
The Oscar
When he speaks there is nothing of substance and nothing of value. I certainly would not waste my time listening.
The Oscar
12-01-2014, 06:15 PM
#10
Back on TDY
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Originally Posted by OscartheGrouch
BTW, I believe Babbitt should be disregarded as nothing but a hired gun who has no investment and no concern for SWA.
When he speaks there is nothing of substance and nothing of value. I certainly would not waste my time listening.
The Oscar
When he speaks there is nothing of substance and nothing of value. I certainly would not waste my time listening.
The Oscar
Carl
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