That pay scale at envoy is only valid for two years. When the recession hits you can bet that will be far out the window.

 

Or when AA files bankruptcy again and all conditions of this agreement are null and void.

 

I consider the hiring projections by the company as a rumor as well. Even though we have seen upgrade times come down a bit, never in my aviation life have I seen a time where the average aviation job candidate has so many options. The company has got to do something real and tangible in order to attract newhires that want to stay here.

Right now it seems that candidates with Big Four job offers will choose domicile living and upgrade opportunities. Never mind AM/PM schedules, line bidding, vacation pulls, and three-on four-off schedules, or that SWA has “never furloughed a pilot.”

A new fleet type sounds interesting but it’s a red herring to the big picture. The shiny big jet syndrome is a Gen X problem that has vacated the minds of the Lost Decade folks.

The new generation of newhires haven’t experienced the last 20 years and are entering into a buyer’s market.

Destination 225 is already obsolete as anyone that can finish training (or pay the $100K) can get on with a regional at record pay levels and bonuses, spend a short time there and pick which major they want to go to!

It seems the only time pilots are really trying to get on with SWA is when the economy sucks and the big three are furloughing. Is that the company’s biggest recruiting tool?

It’s the MONEY and the base, not a shiny new 787.

 

WN is not exactly run the by sharpest knifes in the drawer

 

but they’ve kept us net cash positive…

 

where it would be a 396% change from current rates, and corrected for inflation a ###% raise

 

Absolutely.

Which is why the union survey stopping the slider at a 40% increase was frustrating. Fortunately I was able to type in a higher number!

 

knife /nīf/
noun
plural noun: knives

 

I also typed in a higher number and it rejected my input. That was frustrating. The max it would let me enter was 40%.

The fact that they limited our max desired pay raise to 40% should tell us a lot about where SWAPA is in terms of headspace with respect to the negotiations.

 

Interesting to remember the last contract here. It wasn't SWAPA that was gunning for the 35% pay increase for the 1st year guys. It was the company because they were losing people to Delta and they wanted to retain people. The bean counters will have empty airplanes without seriously jacking up the rates and my threshold for a yes vote is getting higher by the day.

Keep stalling, Carl.