Parker Steps Aside! Kelleher Once Again!

[KCFlyer]

Already, a different tone was heard ringing throughout the land of LUV..........

04-26-04 | A Note from Herb:
To give future Flight Attendant negotiations an opportunity to succeed, please refrain from speculating or commenting on the progress of the talks. Your support of this quiet period is crucial as we move forward in negotiations. As always, we appreciate your continued efforts to maintaining respect and civility, which are hallmarks of our Southwest Culture.

SWAFlyer - I do believe that this was a shot over the bow of TWU556's "strategic bargaining campaign". So sad that leadership didn't heed Parker's request. One can only hope they heed Herb's.

 

[swflyer]

KCFlyer,

You say Potato, I say Potatoe

Since this was posted on internal SWA websites, I think it was more aimed at the armchair quarterbacks within the Company, rather than 556.

I'm not the least bit surprised we'd see this differently.

BTW, here's what was posted on the TWU forum, after the first meeting w/Herb and Colleen, last Thursday.

This is Thom McDaniel, your TWU Local 556 President, with an important update on Negotiations.

Today, Thursday, April 22nd, an informal meeting was held between Members of our Negotiating Team, Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barrett representing the Company. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours. Each side was briefed on the general state of the future of Negotiations. It was agreed that Herb would contact Thom McDaniel in the near future in order to set up a mechanism to re-start communication between the parties.

It’s too early to predict the outcome of this new round of talks, but we are fully prepared to reach a fair Contract. We see this as a new development that perhaps will give us an opportunity to achieve the Contract we all deserve.

Your Negotiating Team is committed to staying the course and we ask that all Members stay United, involved, and informed.

Cautiously optimistic,

swflyer (no "a")

 

[Elivs Lives]

And with that...like KC said..."I'm out." I've gone at this from every possible angle for months now. I've said my peace. In the end, I've got a life to lead and more and more of it seems to be taken up lately with "who said what about whom" on these forums and I think for me at least that needs to change. I've enjoyed the discourse, it's nice to see there is still intelligent "conversation" and debate to be had in this world. Time to move on. Travel Safely.

SWAFA30, Sorry to see you get your belly full from your dealings with several here, but what really amazes me is how long you managed to keep the dialogue professional and classy. I learned a couple of years ago on Holly Hegeman's PBB the quagmire that discussing your pay can be with those that don't agree with you. Some can even be downright hostile to views counter to their own. THanks for keeping the conversation lively and the discourse above board. Good luck with Herb.

P.S. I am still wondering why discussing wages of Flight Attendants is more interesting than say what people at Sprint earn?

 

[KCFlyer]

P.S. I am still wondering why discussing wages of Flight Attendants is more interesting than say what people at Sprint earn?

People at Sprint (those who are left) earn pretty good money. They work about 80 hours a week for it (they are only paid for 40 though), but it IS pretty good money. Since they don't have a union representing them to tell the world how uncaring, unfeeling and cheap their boss is, it just doesn't make for good chat. But Sprint never had a real "culture" to destroy - not since Paul Henson was tricked into retirement in the early 90's. After he left, the CEO's and other execs they had made Jim Parker look like Mother Theresa.

 

[goingboeing]

The TWU represents the mechanics,stores,and fleet service groups here at AA.It will be just a matter of time before the TWU folds and sells out the F/A's at the negoiations.All of the SWA[LUV] employees that want to see the F/A's suppressed just hang on because the TWU will do it for you.They gave away so much in pay and benefits here at AA that the mechanics are trying to get an election for a new union.[AMFA] The F/A's are the front line employees that have the most contact with the customers and they should be treated fairly because their attitudes is what the customers will remember.

AA management may think it has won at the concessions table but have they really? The morale and attitude of most AA employees is the worst it has ever been in 18+years here at AA.My suggestion is that SWA management should approach this dispute with the F/A's very carefully as it will have long term ramifications on the airline's daily customer relations.

 

[Elivs Lives]

>>People at Sprint (those who are left) earn pretty good money. <<

Why? Sprint is an inferior product. In my opinion, I mean. Why do they earn pretty good money? Without a union, I mean?

>>They work about 80 hours a week for it (they are only paid for 40 though), but it IS pretty good money.

They are paid for 40 but work 80? Doesn't seem like as much "pretty good money" now. Like maybe a 50% pay cut?

>>Since they don't have a union representing them to tell the world how uncaring, unfeeling and cheap their boss is, it just doesn't make for good chat.

If Sprint did have a union, would it make any difference how they were treated by their boss? Would it make any difference how they employees got the news? Union? Carrier Pigeon? Osmosis? Self-actualization? Perhaps if Sprint employees were represented by a union, then it would be "good chat."

>>But Sprint never had a real "culture" to destroy - not since Paul Henson was tricked into retirement in the early 90's. After he left, the CEO's and other execs they had made Jim Parker look like Mother Theresa.

THe obvious comparisions between Jim Parker and Mother Tereasa notwithstanding, I'm sure you see that "the culture" at Southwest is as valuable to the company as it is to employee. Probably much more so.

The simple fact is, the little airline that could, Southwest, has grown into a behemoth. While I give the company high marks for at least trying to keep the "culture" in tact, it is a simple fact that the sheer size of the employee groups alone preclude any real semblance of "culture" and "community"... at least from my perspective in flight ops. I think it's a different company for the Ground Ops folks, people that work together every day, go to golf tourneys and baseball games, cookouts and boat rides. I go to work, fly for 3 or 4 days, then go home for 3 or 4. It's a pleasant lifestyle, but I certainly don't feel my life revolves around the company. The feeling I get from many on the thread and many that respond to SWAFA30s posts is, anyone fortunate enough to work for Herb and Southwest should consider it an honor and should just shut up about money and work rules. My life SHOULD revolve around the company, in other words. It's different airline than it was 15 years ago. It's even different in short 5 years I've been here. People read the "Nut's" book and become enamored with the company. I've seen stories play out just like the book says, and I've seen stories play out 180 degrees out from what I thought was the "Southwest Spirit". It's a different world and a different airline. Those are simply the facts. One can "wish it was" all one wants, but it doesn't change the facts. The flight attendans are simply trying to eek out a better life in return for the services they provide. Just like the Rampers do. Just like the pilots do. Just like they do at Sprint.

Regards,

Elvis

 

[KCFlyer]

The feeling I get from many on the thread and many that respond to SWAFA30s posts is, anyone fortunate enough to work for Herb and Southwest should consider it an honor and should just shut up about money and work rules. My life SHOULD revolve around the company, in other words.

Sorry if I gave that impression. What I am saying is in response to the "it's just another company" attitude - despite it's size, Southwest is very much different from "just another company". For example - fun at work. Southwest actually encourages employees to make work fun. They do it quite well, as evidenced from most travellers experiences with Southwest. Sprint on the other hand decided to implement this concept when I worked there. It consisted of a 3 hour meeting where we played games. YOu know, really fun games like Charades or pillow fights. But your deadlines weren't extended by 3 hours, and your projects were just sitting there...waiting to be done..while you had "fun" for 3 hours. Heaven forbid anybody crack a smile at your desk when you got back - that is considered "wasting time".

Bottom line, I ain't saying your lives should revolve around the company...all I'm saying is that those with the attitude of "just pay me...it's just another company" would be in for a rude awakening should Southwest be "just another company".

 

[Elivs Lives]

Bottom line, I ain't saying your lives should revolve around the company...all I'm saying is that those with the attitude of "just pay me...it's just another company" would be in for a rude awakening should Southwest be "just another company".

Is that really all you're saying? It seems like there's more to what you're saying...

 

[KCFlyer]

Is that really all you're saying? It seems like there's more to what you're saying...

Yep...that's all.