The numbers come from DOT F41. It's what all airlines use to report their data. The HC numbers do contain everyone that works in aircraft maintenance which will include AMTs, Cleaners, Facilities, and Auto Mechanics (M&R). While not entirely accurate to the head and exact job description they are a very good indicator of HC per aircraft. That being said even if there is some error, and I assume there is some, it still doesn't explain the decline in HC per aircraft at WN since 1999 to present. Either you are doing the same work with less people, the airplanes you have require less maintenance, and/or work stayed the same and more is outsourced. I believe it is a combination of both. I know you switched to a MSG3 program in the past ten years and most have and that probably accounts for some of the reduction in HC but not all.
The main point of discussion here is that a change in unions will not bring us WN wages. It has been stated here that why did the TWU not push for at least UA/CO wages. We had that in 2010 for the line and not far off for our base personnel but we voted it down. So we - the membership - own that. AA did not have to give us UA/CO wages and being in the 1113c process they were not bound to continue negotiating with us and maintaining the status quo as is with normal negotiations. My feeling is that AA would have gotten the abrogation, the lay offs would have proceeded while we continued to negotiate under and abrogated agreement, and maybe we would have gotten UA/CO wages after AA had already signed agreements to outsource more of overhaul. It's just a theory. I believe you at WN have more leverage because given that so much is already outsourced, there isn't much left to threaten the AMFA membership with. I believe you have a good chance of prevailing and keeping the 4th line and getting a wage increase.
Wasn't this thread about Pike's bogus crisis and hiring an attorney would he didn't need one?
Ok people. Here are some more acurate numbers:
SWA fleet size was 692 as of end of 3rd quarter 2012.
AMT's 2105 as of 3rd Q 2012
doing the math we have 3.0419 mechs per A/C at end of 3 Q 2012.
The number of mech's came from scenoirity list as of end of 3 Q minus controlers, instructors, and techs. However they are including plant maint, and GSE mechs.
WN is correct, SWA has always pretty much maintained an average of 3.0-3.1 mechs per A/C since the very beginning.
As I have stated before, we have always done more with less. We like it this way as well as the company. We are told everytime nego start up that SWA will pay industry leading pay, but will run very lean and mean. It's not more work being outsourced. Matter fact as previously stated, the Els. maint was moved (NOT ADDED) from another maint. facility in US that SWA was very unhappy with. As also previously stated, 4th line, mod lines, as well as new maint lines added to ATL MCO and BWI or Chicago is all maint being brought into house directly related to "AMFA" nego language during sec 6 nego's. If we still had the ibt's language none of this would be happening, and absolutely no hiring would be happening as it is now. Plain and simple AMFA has done far, far superior in the 8 years of representation, than the teamsters did in 28 years. If you think the teamsters have added any jobs or maint lines more than AMFA please post so we can prove you wrong.
On a side note; if AA votes in AMFA, you guys will not shoot to industry leading wages just because AMFA was voted in. Never has any of us (AMFA supporters) have stated this. It has been the TWU and teamster supporters telling you this. Neither will AMFA get you all raises in lue of outsourcing as some are claiming. Your wonderfull TWU union has already nego that for you. When AMFA takes over they can only enforce the contract that the TWU "AGREED TO" with the company. Now if you guys want 100% control of your union for future nego's and contract enforcement, then vote AMFA in and you will not be disappointed.
People the facts are out there for all to see. Rather you take the time to research them yourselves is completely up to you. There are some out here claiming that AMFA sold the farm at UAL. Not so. read the contract, look at the dates when AMFA took over, it's all there people. And while AMFA was there during the BK nego's they, once again, saw all the loop holes in the contract and started to plug them. AMFA came in and nego better and more protections, than they had with previous union, in I think San Fran. Research for yourselves people, it's all out there...