Pilots have merger process agreement
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SharoninSAT
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Apr 14, 2011 at 3:45pm
Pact provides for implementation schedule...
Earlier today, the Unions representing Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways Pilots, as well as both Companies, signed a Four-Party Process Agreement that provides for the two pilot groups to begin their seniority integration discussions prior to legal closing of the AirTran acquisition. It also outlines provisions of an implementation schedule in the event an agreement is reached on an integrated seniority list (ISL). Southwest anticipates closing on its acquisition of AirTran Airways in second quarter of 2011.
"This is yet another important step in the overall process of bringing these two great carriers together,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “I applaud both sides for signing this important agreement that lays the groundwork for bringing together these two hardworking Pilot groups."
The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) and the Air Line Pilots’ Association (ALPA) can now begin the work of integrating seniority lists in accordance with the McCaskill-Bond Act. This new Four-Party Process Agreement also creates a timeline for SWAPA and ALPA to reach an ISL agreement. If an agreement is not reached during this timeframe, the matter will be sent to arbitration and a new implementation process will have to be negotiated.
Southwest, AirTran pilot unions agree on process for seniority discussions
Pact provides for implementation schedule...
Earlier today, the Unions representing Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways Pilots, as well as both Companies, signed a Four-Party Process Agreement that provides for the two pilot groups to begin their seniority integration discussions prior to legal closing of the AirTran acquisition. It also outlines provisions of an implementation schedule in the event an agreement is reached on an integrated seniority list (ISL). Southwest anticipates closing on its acquisition of AirTran Airways in second quarter of 2011.
"This is yet another important step in the overall process of bringing these two great carriers together,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “I applaud both sides for signing this important agreement that lays the groundwork for bringing together these two hardworking Pilot groups."
The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) and the Air Line Pilots’ Association (ALPA) can now begin the work of integrating seniority lists in accordance with the McCaskill-Bond Act. This new Four-Party Process Agreement also creates a timeline for SWAPA and ALPA to reach an ISL agreement. If an agreement is not reached during this timeframe, the matter will be sent to arbitration and a new implementation process will have to be negotiated.
Southwest, AirTran pilot unions agree on process for seniority discussions
num1bearsfan
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- Aug 1, 2008
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I'm noticing a disturbing amount of instances of AirTran employees who seem to be taking an adversarial position in this merger. As far as I can tell, the AirTran parties really only stand to gain and it's just a matter of how much. Even the worst case post merger scenario would result in a situation better than if the AirTran people all just went back to work for AirTran. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Southwest FO's earn more than AirTran Captains (perhaps with the exception of a couple of years at the front of the scale)? Don't they fly fewer day trips and have overall better work rules? Even in a scenario where the FL pilots were stapled (and I'm not saying that's my position), wouldn't it just result in everyone being put into their same relative FL seniority and bidding power amongst themselves (same as today) expect with better wages and work rules?
On the flip side, what do Southwest people stand to gain from all of this besides a few potential bumps down the seniority list? The Southwest people aren't inheriting all sorts of neat pay raises and work rule improvements like the AirTran people are. So, when Southwest people read things online like "go for the throat" and "take em for all you can", it's a bit disheartening. Especially when that's really not how we roll at Southwest. I know some of the groups at AirTran are fired up fresh off of their newly certified unions being elected, and perhaps they don't have enough union experience to know that it's not all about being adversarial and one party versus the other. Southwest is one of the most unionized shops in the industry, and our unions (having been around for a while) are mature enough to understand the importance of being reasonable and maintaining cordial relations with management. At some point we're all going to be co-workers, and quite frankly none of us are really going to understand why you thought you were entitled to advance your own positions at our expense. We're all trying REALLLLLY hard to bite our collective lips and and have a big welcoming party for your groups, but when it seems like your sort of trying to better your own positions at our expense it's going to create some friction.
The way I look at it is this. In this merger there are 3 integration scenarios. A, B, and C.
Level A)
AirTran perspective: Gain better pay, benefits, and work rules. Be stapled to the seniority list and maintain relative seniority amongst AirTran groups but be completely junior to Southwest groups.
Southwest Perspective: Gain nothing in the way of pay, benefits, or seniority.
Level B )
AirTran perspective: Gain better pay, benefits, and work rules. Be given ratio seniority (perhaps 2/3rds).
Southwest perspective: Gain nothing in the way of pay, benefits, or seniority. Lose a TOLERABLE degree of seniority.
Level C)
AirTran perspective: Gain better pay, benefits, and work rules. Given DOH or 1 for 1 seniority integration.
Southwest perspective: Gain nothing in the way of pay or benefits. Lose substantial seniority.
In all 3 scenarios, AirTran stands to gain by some degree. Southwest groups really gain nothing in all three scenarios. For the most part, the Southwest groups were never looking to advance their own positions in this merger to begin with. All we really ask is that we not be put into a worse position. The AirTran people must realize that they're being put into a better position regardless. Whether that be A or B scenarios. What the Southwest people have a hard time justifying is why the AirTran groups feel like they must push for that level C scenario where the Southwest groups have to now sacrifice. Couldn't it be enough to go for the level B scenario? If for no other reason than to maintain positive relations amongst the groups?
Do the AirTran groups understand the importance of making this merger move forward with as few headaches as possible? Do they understand that the achilles heel of all of these airline integrations are the toxic and adversarial work group infighting that can keep an airline merger mired in costly infighting for years? Do the AirTran groups think it's more important to ask for the "kitchen sink" than to move forward as a profitable and efficient work group and not as a bunch of divided tribes like at US? Do you WANT to work for a profitable airline 10-15 years from now with job security of good wages?
Here's the thing. The Southwest people DO understand these things. And that's why if you ask for the "kitchen sink" you'll probably just get it. Because we understand the importance of making this process as painless as possible. We're going to bite our lips, and we're going to treat you in typical Southwest fashion. But it won't make it any more right. It won't change the fact that you capitalized beyond the point of reason and willingly went to the point of having to make the other party sacrifice because you just wanted to capitalize that much more.
Also keep in mind that this will be a particularly tough pill to swallow for those of us who are now long time employees of Southwest by way of Morris Air. Morris Air employees were simply rehired and were started from the bottom. That was in 1994. Now those of you with 1994 seniority dates will be competing for seniority with individuals who were once in your very same position but were NOT offered the luxury of being able to bring their seniority over.. Just food for thought.
QA4Jet-A
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Don't want the Kitchen sink... Just stay in Atlanta until I can sell my House!
jimntx
Veteran
Well, there's another scenario...The Airtran pilots screw up the whole merger, and Southwest management decides it ain't worth it and walks away. That way WN employees don't lose anything, but Airtran pilots (and, possibly all Airtran employees) lose BIG time.
SharoninSAT
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QA...I understand that SW will be keeping ATL so hopefully
you won't need to relocate. Best of luck to you.
Sharon
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Seems like Gary is keeping a third option open:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W56PqTbFzz8&NR=1
I hope ALPA doesn't blow this for us ...
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