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SWA Settles With Mechanics

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Old Mar 16, 2019, 10:43 pm
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SWA Settles With Mechanics

A 5-year deal, 20% raises up front, then 3% a year for @AMFANational mechanics at @SouthwestAir.

That’s more upfront and a much bigger ratification bonus ($160 million vs. $91 million) than last year’s rejected offer.

After a week of mediation, including many long nights and early mornings, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines have reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on Saturday, March 16, 2019, toward a new collective bargaining agreement. We are very pleased with the efforts of both Teams to find common ground on a new contract
that is good for our Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and for Southwest Airlines.

Highlights:
  • Twenty percent (20%) snap-up to base wage rates effective April 1, 2019;
  • Three percent (3%) base rate increases on August 16 in 2019-2023;
  • One hundred sixty million ($160,000,000) dollar ratification bonus that is 401(k) and profit sharing-eligible;
  • Agreement amendable August 16, 2024;
  • Modifications to Letter of Agreement (LOA) 1 with details to follow when the AIP becomes a TA.
On Monday, we will get back together and begin the process of turning this AIP into a Tentative Agreement (TA) for you to vote on. We do not anticipate that will take too long to complete. In the meantime, here are some highlights of the Agreement.
Agreement in Principle
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 12:25 am
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AMFA just caught lightning in a bottle. :-:

And GK's performance review is gonna take a hit.
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 1:01 am
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wow, this is how companies do NOT get to survive any economic downturn that may come about later on.

profitable last few years? insist on 20% wage increase, another 12% over 4 years, plus throw in another $160MM just for good measure.
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 5:25 am
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Originally Posted by expert7700
wow, this is how companies do NOT get to survive any economic downturn that may come about later on.

profitable last few years? insist on 20% wage increase, another 12% over 4 years, plus throw in another $160MM just for good measure.
What do you think the annualized five-year cost for this agreement is? Do you think that's a significant fraction of WN's $6.0+ Billion Gross Profit each of the last four years running?
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 7:46 am
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That is a heap of money.... got to wonder what the other employees at WN are now gonna be expecting?
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 8:06 am
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Glad it’s resolved. Too bad they had to so negatively impact peoples’ travel plans to do it. It’s going to take me a while to consider booking any trips with them though. I’ll be back, but they won’t be my first choice for a bit.
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 8:32 am
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Anyone know how this compares to other US carriers?
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 8:32 am
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Originally Posted by NoStressHere
That is a heap of money.... got to wonder what the other employees at WN are now gonna be expecting?
I believe they were working without a contract (and hence no raises) for something like the past 6 years. I’m not sure other employee groups really want that.
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 9:31 am
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Originally Posted by NoStressHere
That is a heap of money.... got to wonder what the other employees at WN are now gonna be expecting?
Pilot contact negotiations next year ought to be real interesting...
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 12:22 pm
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Originally Posted by NoStressHere
That is a heap of money.... got to wonder what the other employees at WN are now gonna be expecting?
You’re looking at this the wrong way. This is less than the amount of backpay that the mechanics should’ve gotten had they gotten a contract on time. They should’ve had this done 5 years ago and already been on another contract at this point. Airline management understands that the delaying of contracts only benefits management and the shareholders.
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 12:23 pm
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Money Owed

Originally Posted by expert7700
wow, this is how companies do NOT get to survive any economic downturn that may come about later on.

profitable last few years? insist on 20% wage increase, another 12% over 4 years, plus throw in another $160MM just for good measure.
This isn’t a payday for the mechanics, or a hit to the airline. This is money they should’ve been paying the mechanics all along. They’re not even close to the retro pay compensation they should’ve had.
Southwest made interest free money off the mechanics the last 7? Years...and only has to pay them a portion of it
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 1:06 pm
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Originally Posted by Ditka
Southwest made interest free money off the mechanics the last 7? Years...and only has to pay them a portion of it
The AMFA brawl is not Gary Kelly's magnum opus. Regulators warned it put the carrier’s safety at risk. He acknowledged the relationship with thousands of customers had been damaged. He does get work rule changes and third-party international maintenance vendors, so there's that.
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Old Mar 17, 2019, 7:07 pm
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Finally.
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Old Mar 18, 2019, 8:41 am
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Originally Posted by Cledaybuck

I believe they were working without a contract (and hence no raises) for something like the past 6 years. I’m not sure other employee groups really want that.
WN FAs and Pilots also went through extended, contentious negotiations for their most recent contract - nothing new. WN labor has learned that working to the rules is an effective tactic, expect to see it any time Kelly attempts to play hardball.
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Old Mar 18, 2019, 10:23 am
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Another article states there are around 2,400 mechanics. That's almost $67k per mechanic in bonus.
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