Time to Wake Up!

Now that I have your attention, please, keep reading.

Negotiations are around the corner. Surveys will, or have already,come out. I can’t stress enough how important these surveysreally are. The surveys are yourvoice. You will be able to tell thenegotiating committee what it isthat’s important and dear to you.Also understand, with anythingnew that we may try to negotiatewill also come the inevitable,“What are you willing to trade?”Nothing is guaranteed or comeseasy. For now, whatever iscurrently in the collectivebargaining agreement stays inthe collective bargainingagreement, and any newagreements will have to bemutually approved for them toenter into our CBA. Same holdstrue for anything either side tries to negotiate out of the contract.The surveys will be your chance to tell your union what it isyou’re looking to put in, or take out, of the CBA. In the end, all ofit has to be mutually agreed upon by both sides.One issue I would like to point out in ourcontract is in regards to our systemboard locations. Currently our CBAstates, “All System Board hearings willbe convened in Dallas or at a mutuallyagreeable location.” In my own personalopinion, this needs to change. What itshould say is, “All System Board hearingswill be convened at the originatinggrievance station or at a mutuallyagreeable location.”Times have changed. We are no longer justa “southwest” airline. Insisting that oursystem boards take place in Dallas is anoutdated concept. Welcome to the 21st century.Not only would a change in contract languageregarding system board hearings be a moreviable way of conducting such grievancehearings, but it would also reduce costs incurred on both sides.Not to mention being able to utilize more witnesses for systemboards…It’s no secret that employees/managers are reluctant tofly all the way down to Dallas for a board. The difference is thatemployees have a choice whether they want to come to DAL ornot. Managers do not have that same luxury. Some grievants“settle” due to not wanting to fly all the way down to the Big D.Why should it be this way? If anyone could explain to me whyit still makes sense for all system board hearings to be held inDallas, please don’t hesitate to contact me.Our airline is growing. With the possible addition of Air Tran, wewill grow by approximately 25%. That’s a big number, consideringwe’re not a small player in the airline industry anymore. It won’tbe feasible anymore to conduct business the old way. I wouldlove to hear an argument as to why we should continue businessthe “the old way.” I don’t want excuses, but a viable argument asto why the old way is the better way. The new way would alsomake us all more visible. District reps and upper managementwould be even more accessible. Would it scare employeeresources to have to face the membership in person? Are theyworried they wouldn’t be able to explain why they seem fixatedon a lot of petty issues?I myself have been lucky enough to deal with a very goodemployee resources manager, who on occasion will travel.The same doesn’t hold true for most of the rest. It’s timethey start taking their show on the road, just like thedistrict reps have to on a continual basis. The homecourt advantage management currently enjoys givesthem access to whatever they need. We have to workout of a suitcase: not necessarily the ideal way towork.When it’s my turn to fill it out, this topic will be at thetop of my survey. I am here asking all of you to joinme in trying to get this part of our CBA changed. Itmay not be the top of your list of priorities, but Iwould genuinely appreciate it if it did make note ofit on your survey.Again, “What are you willing to give up for this?”is the basic question. It’s obvious to me that weshouldn’t have to fork over anything that is verymeaningful to the membership. We should not haveto give up something big in order to perpetuate laziness for ahandful of managers that just don’t want to travel. And therein liesmy whole argument. If the company wants us to give upsomething big in order to change something that doesn’t harmanyone, then we’re being had! What they’re really saying is, “Wedon’t care if all of you have to travel. We only care if less than 10of us have to travel.”On another note, I’m glad to see that baseball season is upon us.Glad to have you back, baseball!!! Good luck to all of yourfavorite teams. Be safe, be smart, and help each other out.

m.martinez@twu555.org