I think the IAM's new Tentative with Southwest is something that everyone should look at. Using other contracts to compare, for future negotiations, is always prudent.
Agreed. All industry contracts should be looked at and considered as a basis for ideas in talks with the company.
While I haven't read the entire contract, it seems as if all of the concerns and fears, of some, that management was going to rape the southwest unions, was unwarranted.
That's just one TA so far and we would have to know all the items in the middle to make that assessment.
Some interesting language I noted below. Feel free to post any negative things about the contract, when compared to the CWA agreement. At first glance, I didn't see any.
Scope:
I'll have to read it again, but it looked like all work is IAM work other than new stations. Supervisors can't regularly do work, as they have in the past, now can only assist in irregularity.
Profit sharing plan: Almost as good as Delta's. Profit/productivity bonus plan as well
Holidays/free days:
12 a year
We used to have 10 paid at Double Time and a half.
Vacation:
5 weeks at year 19
We used to be 5 at 17 years.
Sick time
1. Perfect attendance: $1,000 bonus. Near perfect [4 days or less] $500 bonus
We used to get two free round trip pass travel per year. If you had 5 years it was an International pass.
2. 12 a year, full pay
Same as what we used to have before the 03 concessions.
3. Can use sick time as a medical bridge to 65, by purchasing a month of medical, starting at age 55.
This southwest sick leave plan is a real benefit. Actually serves as a accrued retirement bridge. Not bad.
UAL has a bridge in their contract as well. Absolutely something worth going for with hopefully maxing out our bank for the benefit for those who have used up a lot of sick time.
Wage:
$ 28.24 [2018]. Negotiated cash bonus in odd years. So, they didn't really get any decent wage increases over the life of the contract. Our joint contract talks could be able to rival their 2018 wage.
We'll see but there are plenty of other items that need to be discussed as well besides those base rates.
Overtime:
Double time. Triple time after 8 hours of overtime on holiday. Double time for all mandatory.
Nice.
Part time rules:
25% part time. Part time health care: same as full time for individual.
Very nice.
Retirement
9.3% match
Super nice.
Health Care
Also, a 'me too' if other groups get more favorable terms.
Should be standard in any contract language.
Ratification bonus: $1,700 tenured full timers
Never been a fan of the carrot on a stick. I prefer the contract to stand on it's own merit without the enticement. Short term cash causes people to make long term mistakes sometimes.
