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Southwest Pilot Tensions Flare Anew Over Arrival of 737 Max Jets
Southwest Airlines Co. pilots, frustrated after four years of unsuccessful contract talks, asked the carrier to guarantee it won’t force them to fly Boeing Co.’s newest 737 before the plane is negotiated into a new agreement for the 8,000 workers. (www.bloomberg.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I have several friend pilots flying for SWA. It's a club. Very close. When we got the age 65 rule, they complained about not upgrading to Captain as soon as they thought. Pilots are whiners. So you're an FO for 15 years---you still make 6 figures. Fly the new airplane and get over it. The one thing I disliked in my career was the ability to move to a new company and keep seniority. That's why I never moved. I finally got my seniority and had to keep it. Union protection. The company can furlough anytime they want but you always had callback number. I remember Captains who were downgraded to FO status. That's the life.
Again with the unions and the archaic work rules which stifle competition, eliminate merit and create inefficiencies
Unions of all kinds have always been a drag on effiency.
yeah, those coal miners are a bunch of whiners
Uhh....Coal miners?...Look, one thing most folks realize is that when the issue of labor collectives is discussed, some pro union guy will play the "old days" card.
Unions HAD their purpose. That purpose has been fulfilled. Unions are simply in the way of good labor and business practice. Hence the reason why only 7% of the private sector labor force is unionized
Unions HAD their purpose. That purpose has been fulfilled. Unions are simply in the way of good labor and business practice. Hence the reason why only 7% of the private sector labor force is unionized
who needs things like breathable air, safe working conditions, etc.
Oh please.
That is because contract negotiations seem to be involved. Airlines operate under a very restrictive set of laws enacted quite a long time ago called the Railway Labor Act (as do railroads to this day). Way back when, railroad workers thought they were not being treated fairly or concluded that collectively they could extort exorbitant wages and benefits from their employers (I suspect your take on that would have to do to a great extent on your political leanings) I honestly have never reaserched that history to hazard an opinion. The remedy to "wildcat" strikes that threaten the economic function of the country by rail workers and now also airlines is this Act. In it a potentially very long and drawn out process is in place for both sides to iron out a new contract when the old one expires. The caveat being that "status quo" must be adhered to, that is, no major changes by management, no strikes by workers.
In the case of SW it seems they are some 4 years into the process. Say what you will KY but management typically takes full advantage of this time, arguably paying the out of contract workforce less than they otherwise would under an updated contract. On the other side there is very little the workers can do to encourage movement in the talks. That's why service often suffers during these times, sophomoric I know but that's how it is.
Now a new type is introduced into the fleet, into a contract that seemingly specifies pay scales by subtype (though I am not a SW pilot and don't know that for a fact) and this one is arguably a totally different airplane in a similar airframe. That's a subtle but important distinction. On the side of the workers who otherwise don't have much leverage before release from National Mediation some years still down the road is now a bargaining chip.
Of course they are going to use it, they'd be fools not to and I assure you, they are not fools. That's why they don't want to fly the new jet, it's just a tool and they want to be paid for that aspect as well as concluding their open contract so they can get on with their lives.
Hope this helps!