Southwest Airlines Community

(Take two at posting this since it decided to crash the last time.)   I'm curious as to why ramp agents are barred from cleaning trash out of the cargo bin on domestic flights.  We've a ton of it in one of the bins and, since I was not doing anything at the moment, I decided to climb up and clean it out.  Then I got stopped bymy trainer because it "was not my job."  (I hate that excuse.)  You don't need an A&P certificate to pick up trash.   I just a bit ticked off seeing everything from gloves to half drunk bottles of Gatorade, to used enema nozzles (yes, you read that correctly) being left to pile up in the bin.  Why are we barred from doing such a simple task if we have time? ... View more

So I'm a new hire ramp agent who's been on the ramp for about four weeks now.  (I can't get signed off until the badging office gets thier act together and gives me my badge.  Its been six weeks.)  When I'm in the bin, I don't wear kneepads.  None of my trainers up to this point had a problem with this (though tgey found it a bit wierd,) but my trainer today objected, saying I could be written up for not wearing them.   I don't wear them for the following reasons:   1. A complete lack of friction.  These pads slide around on the cargo bin floor like ice skates.  The last thing I want is to be trying to stack a 70+ suitcase only to have my knees slide out from under me.  I'm only 135Lbs; do the physics and I'm going to move in the opposite direction almost as much as the bag moves forward.  This is how you end up with muscloskeltal injuries.   2. The straps sort of roll up/down the legs towards the center of the back of my knees, applying pressure along a very narrow band of skin, cutting off circulation.   I'm not bleeding out; I don't need a tourniquet.   3. I use my cargo pockets as a holster for my scanner and an airband transciever I use for a bit of advanced warning on incoming flights.  The kneepad straps knock out about a third of the pocket's usable volume.     Kneepads are designed to lessen impact, such as might be experienced if you fell off a bike; not to function as an anti-fatigue mat strapped to your legs.  I don't see how they serve as anything more than a comfort device in the bin, much less PPE that must be worn.       ... View more

A couple of weeks ago, I was offered a job as a ramp agent at BWI contingent upon me passing a background check, drug test, and employment history review.   I don't do drugs and the test came back clean.  I have no criminal convictions, and I haven't heard back from anyone about the background check.  (I presume it came back clean as well.)     My employment history, however, came back with one former employer, a small general aviation airfield in Maryland, flagged for review.  Going through the report, it said they could verify I did work there, but not the length of my employment.  I received the pre-adverse action email Wednesday evening and tried to call the People Department number provided in the email both yesterday and today as well as replied to the pre-adverse action email to no avail.     How can I get in touch with someone there so I can get this issue resolved? ... View more

I just saw a job posting for a ramp agent at BWI.  However, when I tried to apply, after entering my email, it prompted me to continue with Facebook.  Upon doing so, I got an error:    Should I just take my resume to the ticket counter and drop it off with HR?  I know BWI is a hub for Southwest. ... View more