Pilots Want Assurance Partnership With ATA Will Not Hinder Growth

On Wednesday, Southwest Airlines pilots began voting on a referendum to determine a schedule for upcoming formal contract negotiations with the airline, as well as a one-year extension of the current contract amendable date to Aug. 31, 2007.

While the referendum continues for the next 30 days, the Association’s Negotiating Committee is beginning discussions with Southwest Airlines company officials on a codeshare side agreement. SWAPA has been involved in talks with the company on codeshare since Southwest entered into its current codeshare agreement with ATA in late 2004.

"Our current contract does not have any language addressing codesharing in general or the codeshare agreement with ATA specifically," said SWAPA Vice President Capt. Carl Kuwitzky. "Upheavals throughout the rest of the airline industry have triggered mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies focusing much attention on Southwest and our profitability."

"SWAPA wants to ensure, should codesharing continue with ATA or future partners, that it will result in continued fleet growth for Southwest Airlines and thus benefit our pilots," added Kuwitzky.

The pilots’ current contract was negotiated in 1994, and extended in 2002 with an "amendable" date of August 31, 2006. Under provisions of the Railway Labor Act, airline contracts do not expire, per se... but become "amendable" or subject to change upon request by either the pilots' union, or the company.

SWAPA's negotiating committee is conducting ongoing discussions with company officials on issues related to the ATA codeshare, which allows Southwest and ATA to jointly market a flight operated by either or both of the airlines.

Southwest Airlines entered into the codeshare agreement with ATA Airlines as part of that airline's emergence from bankruptcy. The agreement allowed Southwest to acquire some ATA assets, and to expand its marketing territory with connecting ATA service to New York City LaGuardia, Washington, DC Reagan, Dallas-Ft. Worth International and Hawaii.

FMI: www.swapa.org