Skywest..ALPA?

[cwebster2]

2. They want a contract. Ok, well you will only get a contract if the "company will get you one". Look at all the others who are fighting for a contract. They are ALPA and they don't have a contract either.

the difficulty of getting a contract will depend on your MEC, NC and management. If your managent is so good about looking after you (since you dont need a union, i assume this is true) then a contract shouldnt take long to get settled. Granted we at expressjet didnt go section 6 but opted for an extension, and we have a few grievences (and we won the main cabin door pay), but not every company is prone to 6+ year negotiations.

 

[Erlanger]

It's a minority of Skywest pilots here (a very small amount) that wants to be ALPA; mainly so they could say and feel part of the brotherhood. It's funny how there is more of you that have never worked at Skywest or know anything about the work enviroment here that want to see ALPA here. Why don't you all just mind your own house and stop worrying about us. I guess misery loves company, hey!

 

[~~~^~~~]

The SkyWest pilots have not seen the local benefits of ALPA and just because you are ALPA doesn't mean it is a hostile work environment. JetExpress seems to have a good relationship with management and they are working together to do some interesting things. It seems FedEx guys are pretty happy and even the most militant arm of ALPA, Delta pilots, are happy(ier) these days.

In the history of our profession there have always been pilots like Hello Newman. The Air Mail pilots used to suffer a mortality rate which once reached 80%. When 10 other more experienced pilots determined a flight was too risky - there was a Hello Newman willing to launch. Today there is always a Hello Newman who is eager to run over and try to undercut a pilot who has negotiated a raise, or better working conditions. Hello Newman is simply out for himself.

To want to belong to ALPA is to want something more for your profession. To want to work with other professionals to raise the standards in your industry.

Today we face a crisis in the United States. US airlines are understaffed and working conditions at airlines in China, India and the Arabian desert are better jobs than flying in the nation that invented powered flight. This is a crisis brought about by alter ego replacement flying which now makes up as much as 49% of some major carrier's block hours. The only way to face this problem and make for a more stable future is to come together in such a way that a pilot's concessionary pay is not the factor which decides which airlines prosper and which airlines fail.

We can not afford to leave part of this profession behind. With 49% of the mainline flying having been put out to bid there are fewer mainline jobs for us to "escape" to. With no brand, our leased airplanes can be transferred as fast as new, cheap, replacement labor can be trained.

ALPA is the only effective way to coordinate a response amongst pilot groups.

Is ALPA perfect, no. But is there a better solution to the Hello Newman factor? The way I see it, ALPA is the only way to work together to raise our profession.

 

[flylowman]

What Fins said is right on the dot. Look at this industry. I am a captain at an airline, pay a morgage on a 128k home, no new car, live conservativly, and still have to worry about spending the money to take my wife out to dinner and a movie. This industry sucks. Do you know why. Management, ours and yours have ploted us aginst each other, and it works. Every pilot in the U.S. has a debt of gratatude to pay to ALPA for their past victorys. What do you think it would be like today if not for ALPA.

Quote Form Newman
If we stay non union we save part of our checks, we continute to have the ability to be flexible in a competitive environment, we can continue to wait to see what other airlines get wage wise then increase our wages to that level.

Dude, that other airline is probably ALPA.

 

[Gnarloooo]

Well said Fin.

 

[Skaff]

SAPA elections have a 20% voter turnout. Who would better able to unify the SkyWest pilot group ALPA or SAPA?

If I remember right, the last union drive at Skywest had about a 30% turnout. The numbers historically are about the same. Too many apethetic pilots. Things will never change.

 

[MYFpilot]

The SkyWest pilots have not seen the local benefits of ALPA and just because you are ALPA doesn't mean it is a hostile work environment. JetExpress seems to have a good relationship with management and they are working together to do some interesting things. It seems FedEx guys are pretty happy and even the most militant arm of ALPA, Delta pilots, are happy(ier) these days.

In the history of our profession there have always been pilots like Hello Newman. The Air Mail pilots used to suffer a mortality rate which once reached 80%. When 10 other more experienced pilots determined a flight was too risky - there was a Hello Newman willing to launch. Today there is always a Hello Newman who is eager to run over and try to undercut a pilot who has negotiated a raise, or better working conditions. Hello Newman is simply out for himself.

To want to belong to ALPA is to want something more for your profession. To want to work with other professionals to raise the standards in your industry.

Today we face a crisis in the United States. US airlines are understaffed and working conditions at airlines in China, India and the Arabian desert are better jobs than flying in the nation that invented powered flight. This is a crisis brought about by alter ego replacement flying which now makes up as much as 49% of some major carrier's block hours. The only way to face this problem and make for a more stable future is to come together in such a way that a pilot's concessionary pay is not the factor which decides which airlines prosper and which airlines fail.

We can not afford to leave part of this profession behind. With 49% of the mainline flying having been put out to bid there are fewer mainline jobs for us to "escape" to. With no brand, our leased airplanes can be transferred as fast as new, cheap, replacement labor can be trained.

ALPA is the only effective way to coordinate a response amongst pilot groups.

Is ALPA perfect, no. But is there a better solution to the Hello Newman factor? The way I see it, ALPA is the only way to work together to raise our profession.

EXCELLENT POST!! ... and so far 55% of the SkyWest pilot group feels the exact same way

 

[stlflyguy]

Ask the ALPA reps what will happen if Midwest and AirTran merge. Listen to their response...and then ask them what went wrong with TWA and American.

I agree that ALPA has done some fine work. I just don't think that they represent EACH airline fairly and they have a propensity to allow politics (internal) to skew what their first and foremost priorities should be: representing the membership with the voracity of a hungry Pitbull in a butcher shop.

stlflyguy

 

[PBRstreetgang]

The SkyWest pilots have not seen the local benefits of ALPA and just because you are ALPA doesn't mean it is a hostile work environment. JetExpress seems to have a good relationship with management and they are working together to do some interesting things. It seems FedEx guys are pretty happy and even the most militant arm of ALPA, Delta pilots, are happy(ier) these days.

In the history of our profession there have always been pilots like Hello Newman. The Air Mail pilots used to suffer a mortality rate which once reached 80%. When 10 other more experienced pilots determined a flight was too risky - there was a Hello Newman willing to launch. Today there is always a Hello Newman who is eager to run over and try to undercut a pilot who has negotiated a raise, or better working conditions. Hello Newman is simply out for himself.

To want to belong to ALPA is to want something more for your profession. To want to work with other professionals to raise the standards in your industry.

Today we face a crisis in the United States. US airlines are understaffed and working conditions at airlines in China, India and the Arabian desert are better jobs than flying in the nation that invented powered flight. This is a crisis brought about by alter ego replacement flying which now makes up as much as 49% of some major carrier's block hours. The only way to face this problem and make for a more stable future is to come together in such a way that a pilot's concessionary pay is not the factor which decides which airlines prosper and which airlines fail.

We can not afford to leave part of this profession behind. With 49% of the mainline flying having been put out to bid there are fewer mainline jobs for us to "escape" to. With no brand, our leased airplanes can be transferred as fast as new, cheap, replacement labor can be trained.

ALPA is the only effective way to coordinate a response amongst pilot groups.

Is ALPA perfect, no. But is there a better solution to the Hello Newman factor? The way I see it, ALPA is the only way to work together to raise our profession.

Thank you,
After 8 years and numerous "hello newwoman"s, all of which come then go, are only out for themselves. They are the same $hitheads who leave 1/2 bottles of water in the cockpit, old releases, cheesey poof crumbs and jizz stains all over the cockpit from their constant jacking off, from their chronic SJS symptoms. Oh yes "hellonewwoman", eaaat $hit!
PBR

 

[fried chickens]

Have you visited http://www.skywestalpa.org ? Many, of your questions may be answered in the "Ask the Organizing Committee" section.

Here's a few thoughts to ponder, I never like what if's, but...

If you were involved in an accident or an incident would you want ALPA or SAPA representing you?

If you had issues with your medical would you want ALPA or SAPA representing you?

If you busted a checkride or PC would you want ALPA or SAPA representing you?

If the current management personnel at SkyWest were to change (actually happening as we speak) would you want ALPA or SAPA representing you?

If a crewmember or passenger injured themselves onboard your aircraft would you want ALPA or SAPA representing you?

If we were to merge seniority lists with ASA would you want ALPA or SAPA representing you?

SAPA elections have a 20% voter turnout. Who would better able to unify the SkyWest pilot group ALPA or SAPA?


Fly Safe!!

If a ALPA is passed at SkyWest, I think it will barely pass. If SAPA elections are only getting 20%, what makes you think turnout would be any higher? Especially when so many don't want ALPA.