Swa Flight Attendants Reach Deal With Company

:)

On a serious note; many many thanks to all parties involved, who spent a great deal of time to come to a mutual resolution!
 
Now, if your union would only give lessons to my union on how to come to an agreement in only 2 years as opposed to 8 years. The flight attendants at AA worked for 6 years without a contract before the current one was approved. And, negotiations had begun 2 years before that.
 
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jimntx said:
Now, if your union would only give lessons to my union on how to come to an agreement in only 2 years as opposed to 8 years. The flight attendants at AA worked for 6 years without a contract before the current one was approved. And, negotiations had begun 2 years before that.
I thought the APFA/AA CBA became ammendable in late 98, with an agreement being reached in the summer of 2001. That would only be three years.
 
s80dude said:
I thought the APFA/AA CBA became ammendable in late 98, with an agreement being reached in the summer of 2001. That would only be three years.
Could be. I just know that when the TA was reached in 2001, I was told by more senior f/as that they had been working without a contract for 6 years at that point.
 
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jimntx said:
Could be. I just know that when the TA was reached in 2001, I was told by more senior f/as that they had been working without a contract for 6 years at that point.
sounds like one of those dramatic senior flight attendants...... :p

openers started in late 1998 and talks concluded in the summer of 2001.
 
I have a very reliable source who tells me the new deal includes:

Significant pay raises across the board with cost of living raises each year. Raise for each level is said to be between $4 and $6 per hour (TFP).

Top out reduced from 16 years to 13 years.

Pilot's duty rigs were achieved almost to the letter without extending the duty day (remains 10.5 hours).

Productivity pay program rewarding those who fly heavy schedules.

AM/PM Reserve system.

1600 stock options w/ immediate vesting.

$2.15 Per Diem with a "me too" clause with the Pilots (if Pilots negotiate a higher Per Diem, we get it too)

Full Retro - meaning that 100% of the difference in pay from the ammedable date, June 1, 2002 to the ratification date will be paid including 401K match and Per Diem. FA's who worked a regular to heavy schedule between June 1, 2002 and the ratification date can see retro checks ranging from $5,000-$10,000, and possibly more.

Pay for initial training.

Contract maintains unlimited trip trading abilities.

I think an earlier poster said that it was a "sweet" deal. I think that's an understatement.

I hope when we get to see the whole deal it lives up to the highlight reel. My very reliable source tells me that there are basically no concessions, huge improvements in work rules and quality of life issues, and the money ain't nothin to sneeze at. Thanks to those who have encouraged us and given us words of support during this really tough time.

SWA FA's have remained friendly and done a great job this entire time, but during my travels today, I saw more genuine smiles from our FA's than I've seen in a very long time. What a great accomplishment.

Thank you Herb and Colleen for listening to us, respecting us, and responding to our needs. I think the goals for both sides were met. We're going to make you proud.
 
I find it interesting at www.twu556.org that Thom doesn't once state or acknowledge the phrase "industry leading contract." That was supposed to be the battle cry, or so all the media thought (and boy, after billboard space in PHL and ads in USA Today, I hope for the union's sake this is a hit - I'm sure the coffers are dry). Of course, 10-cents more on the contract would have been industry leading in these times.

Also, it's interesting that Thom refers to Herb and Colleen as "Mr. Kelleher" and "Ms. Barrett." Sounds like Mr. and Ms. Claus. Has the culture changed from first names to Mr.Ms? Hope not.

So, congrats SWA F/A's - this board has been quite a hot spot for this topic for a while and now what on EARTH will we all talk/debate about?? Been fun - and guess we'll start up again when the next colletive bargaining begins. :p
 
McDaniel probably capitulated under the pressure and gave in. I doubt if the new contract will amount to very much. A "me too" clause? get real :p
 
Geez, I knew somebody would rain on our parade.

Thom didn't "give in". If he had, we wouldn't have received the raises that are in this TA, would have ZERO duty rigs (we have now been offered the Pilots' rigs almost to the letter), wouldn't have paid training, wouldn't have the retro, etc. etc. etc....

Additionally, the Union got EVERY SINGLE quality of life and work rule issue that we asked for, and both sides came to a VERY acceptable compromise on the hard pay issues.

Thom didn't "give in", nor did Herb and Colleen. They came to a MUTUAL agreement - VERY highly regarded by both sides. If you even understand 10% of the issues on the table, and if you paid ANY attention to the Company's and Union's issues before Herb and Colleen stepped in, you'll definitely see that it is a great proposal for both the Company AND for the Union.

I know I'm wasting my breath trying to try to argue with you. Can't you see that both sides are happy? The Flight Attendants aren't bad talking anybody. We're happy now. You don't even work here. Why can't you be happy?
 
swagalleyhag said:
Additionally, the Union got EVERY SINGLE quality of life and work rule issue that we asked for, and both sides came to a VERY acceptable compromise on the hard pay issues.
Well, as an outsider looking in and going off the stories that were in papers across the land...it seemed that "working for free is just plane nuts" was the mantra for over one year. Since the TWU got every single "quality of life and work rule that they asked for", does this mean that SWA has set a precedent and begun paying for ground time?
 
Can somebody explain something to me?

Everybody in the TWU keeps giving Colleen part of the credit for this TA. Was she involved in the negotiating in any way, shape, or form?

From her own mouth, Colleen has said that she doesn't like to participate in negotiations, because she'd much rather focus on the Culture issues as a whole.

Has she changed her mind? Did she have anything to do with these negotiations?

It just seems strange to me that Thom gives credit to Herb AND Colleen. Herb, okay. But I was unaware that Colleen had anything to do with these negotiations.

Just asking a legitimate question. Thanks!
 
swagalleyhag said:
I know I'm wasting my breath trying to try to argue with you. Can't you see that both sides are happy? The Flight Attendants aren't bad talking anybody. We're happy now. You don't even work here. Why can't you be happy?
Happy now, until 4 years from now when the billboards go up again (it's supposed to be a 6-year deal, and we wasted 2 years of it bickering about "industry leading pay" and portraying Parker as satan).

happy for you, but your union leadership has torched (not burned) bridges with this company. and that's YOUR leadership - it's shameful, and your work group has a WAYS to go before earning back the relationships you placed second to compensation. i will remember how none of the F/A's stood up or clapped at any Message. that's no team i'm proud of.

good luck - and enjoy.
 

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