KarlB737 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 2927 posts, RR: 9 Posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3142 times:
Here is something you don't see every day -- job openings or staff shortages where the employer actually wants to add staff. Everywhere I turn companies are trying to operate with 5 people where they need 200 and work them till they collapse. In this case due to the nature of the work and high cost of living in Baltimore it appears Southwest has a problem. What is your remedy for this issue?
EWRZone7C123 From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3025 times:
It might be for the simple fact SouthWest pays so little!!!! I looked into doing ramp at IAD and they are only starting at $9 and change an hour, which in the Washington Metro Area couldnt even pay the light bill (especially all those people in Baltimore who pay B E & G).
Flyingcat From United States of America, joined May 2007, 510 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2892 times:
I thought WN paid the most out of any airline. Surely there must be profit sharing?
ThreeIfByAir From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 509 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2742 times:
Sounds like the next labor contract should include some provisions for locality-based pay increases, so BWI baggage handlers get a higher starting wage than those in lower cost regions. Just like a lot of jobs, the entry level pay is too low, which scares off many of the quality workers who can get a better starting wage somewhere else. The man quoted who makes $75,000/year with overtime is doing pretty good, though.
UPS has a good arrangement with local colleges in Louisville, KY for recruiting package handlers - looks like WN has the same idea. Students have the nice benefit of having more free time in the summer, just when the busy season hits and when regular workers are often taking their vacations.
My solution:
1) Raise base pay to ~$11.00/hr, from $10.18
2) Bonus of $1000 after 500 hours worked
3) Longevity/performance bonuses that gradually increase with years of service.
4) If not already provided, add on some ancillary benefits: free transit passes, more vacation days, allowing for 4-10 shifts or other flexible schedules, childcare subsidies, tuition reimbursement, military deployment pay, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) match increase, etc. Some of these things make a big difference to people but cost relatively little.
Profpete From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 15 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2718 times:
You can make $75k as a bag handler? how much do WN pilots make?
BWI is a really convenient airport for me, I just wish they had more flights from the international terminal.
every time I have to go overseas I usually have to drive over to IAD from Baltimore, which can be very
painful. But making a transfer in EWR or JFK is usually more painful
NWAESC From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 3324 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2718 times:
Quoting Flyingcat (Reply 2): I thought WN paid the most out of any airline. Surely there must be profit sharing?
They are. Top out is $24/hr. It just takes awhile to get there...
Quoting ThreeIfByAir (Reply 3): Sounds like the next labor contract should include some provisions for locality-based pay increases, so BWI baggage handlers get a higher starting wage than those in lower cost regions.
I believe there are provisions for both California and BWI based agents.
The WN CBA can be found at www.twu555.org if anyone's interested...
"Nothing ever happens here, " I said. "I just wait."
Cle757 From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1017 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2703 times:
CO is always short in EWR, I bet right now there are over 200 openings.
Stratosphere From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 1614 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2610 times:
Quoting Cle757 (Reply 6): CO is always short in EWR, I bet right now there are over 200 openings
The problem for BWI and for EWR as I am familar with EWR is that these are high cost of living areas so when you factor in parking and waiting for the employee bus to and from work and having to work weekends and holidays all for 8-9 dollars an hour the "free travel" aspect the airlines like to peddle seem to fade in comparison espically when you as a new employee have a real problem even getting on a flight and even if you do you have no money to spend anyway.
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4536 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2591 times:
Quoting Profpete (Reply 4): You can make $75k as a bag handler?
I've heard of guys making $100K a year. They work a lot of overtime...excuse me, a TON of overtime.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
NWAESC From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 3324 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2503 times:
Quoting Stratosphere (Reply 7): he "free travel" aspect the airlines like to peddle seem to fade in comparison
I've never understood why this is considered an economic benefit... In the last 5 years, I think I've non-revved twice.
"Nothing ever happens here, " I said. "I just wait."
NWAESC From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 3324 posts, RR: 9 Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2501 times:
Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 8): I've heard of guys making $100K a year. They work a lot of overtime...excuse me, a TON of overtime.
...As in park-a-motorhome-in-the-employee-lot-and-never-leave.
I always love these stories! They're such an exception to the rule, but every union basher in the world loves to jump on them (not saying that about anyone in this thread yet, just in a general sense).
"Nothing ever happens here, " I said. "I just wait."
Fleet Service From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 622 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2465 times:
$100K isn't really that far fetched if you can are familiar enough with the system to spin it to your advantage.
We've got several guys who are adept at working four hours overtime, sign for recall before leaving,get recalled back for another four hours of OT and then when they finally get off the clock they are off duty for less than seven hours, which triggers a 'short swing', which results in the next shift being paid at OT rates.
Then they'll sign for OT, recall and start the process all over again.These guys don't live at the airport,either.
I'm surprised they don't have a flexible starting rate, at LGA we didn't have anyone coming in for year one pay, the company had to jack it up to year three pay to get people down for interview.
Yes, I actually *do* work for an airline,how about you?
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From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 2927 posts, 
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