Skywest ALPA OC petitions NMB

[Gr82Aviate]

of all the SkyWest FOs that I KNOW, (and I work here), that don't support the ALPA drive, the huge majority came from ALPA represented regionals.

that speaks volumes, and my voice is one of them.

ASA has been negotiating for 5 YEARS, and in the end will probably get a lesser version of what we already have.

yeah, let's sign up for that, be stuck with it for years, then go through all that pain ourselves.

usual bashers, pile on. discounting so broadly those of us who actually have experience with ALPA at the regional level is a poor argument.

haters, start your engines!!!!!!!!

Good argument...NOT! At least ASA can negotiate! We get a take it or leave it 0% or 1%(total for 4 years), and no COLA since our hire dates prior to 9/11(up to 11 years with no COLA), all this from a company pulling in the biggest profit margins in the entire airline industry. Inform yourself and read page 67 of the Feb. 2007 issue of AIN(Aviation Intl News)!

 

[EBE]

of all the SkyWest FOs that I KNOW, (and I work here), that don't support the ALPA drive, the huge majority came from ALPA represented regionals.

that speaks volumes, and my voice is one of them.

ASA has been negotiating for 5 YEARS, and in the end will probably get a lesser version of what we already have.

yeah, let's sign up for that, be stuck with it for years, then go through all that pain ourselves.

usual bashers, pile on. discounting so broadly those of us who actually have experience with ALPA at the regional level is a poor argument.

haters, start your engines!!!!!!!!

With the changing state of the industry, SkyWest making major profits, the effectiveness of SAPA(and it's vast resources) and and our wonderful (flexible) work rules and policies, what in the hell was I thinking wanting a union. You're right! Alpa is only gonna come in and destroy SkyWest. Thanks for showing me the light. Talk to more FOs....Preferably the ones who didn't just get out of ground school and JBs anti-union/pro-sapa speech and you may find other views. I'm sure you already have.

Having ALPA won't make everything all better, but it sure as hell is better than the two legged stool that SAPA is. I think many at SkyWest aren't confused about that.

 

[vtech]

Good argument...NOT! At least ASA can negotiate! We get a take it or leave it 0% or 1%(total for 4 years), and no COLA since our hire dates prior to 9/11(up to 11 years with no COLA), all this from a company pulling in the biggest profit margins in the entire airline industry. Inform yourself and read page 67 of the Feb. 2007 issue of AIN(Aviation Intl News)!

And negotiate and negotiate and negotiate and negotiate and negotiate. That's not redundant. That's five years of negotiations at ASA come September 15th and NOTHING to show for it. NOTHING! Except for the dues collected for those who have come and gone from ASA. There are a number of former ASA pilots at Skywest right now. I'll bet they'll rush to their mailbox to get voting instructions so they'll know how to get on the ALPA train again. Great stuff that ALPA TOOLBOX!

John Prater wants dues from Skywest pilots too! Sign up as soon as you can. Get in line for all the "negotiations." Good stuff, that.

Free markets seem to work pretty well. The pilot shortage will be working pretty well for Skywest pilots unless they are stuck in first contract negotiations represented by the mighty ALPA and using the mighty ALPA TOOLBOX being weilded by the ASA pilots for the past FIVE YEARS! I'd sure sign up for that ride wouldn't you?

 

[FlyboyPhil]

And during that 5 years how many pen stroke policy changes to their contract has ASA had to put up with? If I still had faith in Skywest managements intention to stick to the policy manual they signed I wouldn't be pro-union. Everything we have that ASA doesn't could be gone by quitting time Friday.. and we have no recourse. We have lost a lot in the last 5 years... ask around if you haven't been here long enough to recognize the Q.O.L./Pay degradation.
SAPA when it isn't functioning as managements P.R. arm is 5 (well intentioned) guys trying to plug 50 holes in the dike with fly swatters. ALPA isn't the end-all-be-all fixit for our problems, it's going to take time and work, but I trust the outcome much more with ALPA than I do with SAPA.

 

[Bako Cap]

You want to be part of a 60000 plus strong Pilot Union.

Not true. It would be a 2700 pilot strong union. ALPA is fragmented and segregated. United/Delta pilots would have no problem (and have not had problems in the past) squashing fellow ALPA brother and sisters.

But, I have always said that it will not be the pilot's fault that SkyWest goes ALPA, it will be managements fault. Saddly at this point, a contract is becomming truly worth 1.9%.

 

[Jmoney]

Vote ALPA!!!

ALPA is the best course for regionals-despite what all these RJDC jackoffs think. We get far more from ALPA than we send their way. Skywest people should really ask why all majors have union representation, and many regionals do not..

We all need to raise the bar together-ALPA helps us do that! Don't fool yourself or let anyone else fool you into thinking Skywest is doing well because of the lack of a union-things can turn on a dime-when things do change, you want some control over what these morons can do to you!

 

[vtech]

And during that 5 years how many pen stroke policy changes to their contract has ASA had to put up with? If I still had faith in Skywest managements intention to stick to the policy manual they signed I wouldn't be pro-union. Everything we have that ASA doesn't could be gone by quitting time Friday.. and we have no recourse. We have lost a lot in the last 5 years... ask around if you haven't been here long enough to recognize the Q.O.L./Pay degradation.

Yep. That's why you see all the pilots at Skywest rushing out the door to apply at ASA, right? No. Wait. They're rushing out the door at ASA to apply at Skywest. I'm so confused. I guess those pilots from ASA who are now flying for Skywest are confused too. They must have come over to Skywest so they could vote to join ALPA again. Right. I understand.

 

[jayme]

I don't think the ASA guys who are here based their decision to come here on whether or not we were ALPA.

 

[FlyboyPhil]

I didn't say we have it bad here compared to everywhere else... I said it's getting worse.. and how many of those guys were wanting to be on the west coast after ASA closed slc/lax?
Quick summary for you, our QOL is going downhill, the policy manual is printed on toiletpaper, sapa is a losing battle.
The definition of insanity is to continue with sapa hoping for better work rules and pay(per BH we can only afford cost neutral changes to our policy manual as the millions we are making per quarter aren't for sharing), ALPA is bad tasting medicine, but it's that or get sicker.
P.S. (How about the newhire who left for mesa before he finished training.. is that as irrelevant as your ASA guys coming here?)

 

[SSDD]

The problem with the relative newcomers is that they come from some pretty crappy outfits. They get to Skywest and they say; wow, this is great! But they don't know all that has been taken away in the last few years. All the changes that the company has made, unilaterally, or with SAPA's consent

I'm not all that gung ho on ALPA, but we have to lock in what we have before we lose it.

 

[Nightrain_080]

Yep. That's why you see all the pilots at Skywest rushing out the door to apply at ASA, right? No. Wait. They're rushing out the door at ASA to apply at Skywest. I'm so confused. I guess those pilots from ASA who are now flying for Skywest are confused too. They must have come over to Skywest so they could vote to join ALPA again. Right. I understand.

They have been rushing out the door. Anywhere from 20-30 a month are moving on to greener pastures. Don't kid yourself. ALPA we know isn't the magic red pill. It sure beats getting forced to drink the sapa kool-aid year after year. JB and ME are first rate used car salesman and (BH) uncle rico is their owner. Those little bitziches will blow smoke up your inlet if you let them. Kinda sounds like you like the smoke. Step back and ask yourself where you want to be in 20 years. Do you really think whether your at Skywest or not that Sapa is going to truly represent the pilots? It is an organization funded by SGU management. Black and white brother. There is no reading between the lines. VOTE!

LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER!!!

 

[ranger17]

! But they don't know all that has been taken away in the last few years. All the changes that the company has made, unilaterally, or with SAPA's consent


Everyone keeps talking about all that has been taken away over the past five years, but no one says what it has been. So can someone tell us new guys what has been lost? Not trying to bash anyone but I think it will help some fence sitters (me being one) decide.

 

[reno]

! But they don't know all that has been taken away in the last few years. All the changes that the company has made, unilaterally, or with SAPA's consent


Everyone keeps talking about all that has been taken away over the past five years, but no one says what it has been. So can someone tell us new guys what has been lost? Not trying to bash anyone but I think it will help some fence sitters (me being one) decide.

This cut and paste from one of AB's post's should give you an idea.

1: SAPA is funded and therefore controlled by management. Current funding protocol for SAPA violates federal law. This matter will hopefully resolve itself after ALPA is voted in and SAPA becomes irrelevant. Until this happens, what is preventing SAPA from taking the necessary steps to attain autonomy and become a self funded legally recognized representative body for SkyWest pilots?

SAPAs track record during my 9 plus years at this company isn’t inspiring. SAPA failed to accomplish the following:

1: Failed to include our Bro pilots in the 1% pay increase.

2: Failed to implement Zoltar and SEP for pilots.

3: Failed to implement a pilot specific policy manual that is not trumped by the Company Policy Manual.

4: Failed to get management to agree to durable language to protect our seniority in the event of a merger or acquisition.

5: EB members usurp the authority of the democratically elected president. (Mark Nolin)

6: Failed to stop management from reversing its new cancelled leg pay policy. (57 pics will be paid but the practice will continue.) This is their (management’s) version of resolving this issue. We have not received any new information regarding this pen stroke policy except for the sound bite “we are continuing discussion with Brad regarding this matter.”

7: Failed to reverse the implementation of the reserve bucket system.

8: Failed to live up to the documented promise of backing any pilot who refused to fly the CRJ700/900 at 50-seat pay scale.

9: Failed to do anything about the seniority abrogation that resulted from the pen stroke Forced Bid Protocol.

10: Failed to resolve the HCE 401K issue affecting our senior pilots.

11: Failed to reverse the pen stroke policy of no pay for new hires during training back in 2003.

12: Failed to do anything about the slashing of our uniform allowance.

13: Failed to do anything about the new requirement for new hires to purchase their Jepp plates or to double up in hotel rooms during training.

14: Failed to obtain clarification from management regarding Klen Brokes e-mail threatening disciplinary actions against pilots who bust altitudes even though they completed a ASAP report.

15: PBS aka Pilots Being Screwed.

Every time there is a Union drive our pilots receive empty promises like some of the ones listed above from management and from well meaning SAPA reps who believe that they can make a difference. The drive fails, promises are broken and it’s back to business as usual, until the next Union drive. I think we all appreciate the work our SAPA reps do on our behalf. What we must acknowledge is that our SAPA reps are at a tactical disadvantage because they lack the tools, resources and leverage to provide a pilot group of this size with adequate representation.

 

[SkyNation]

if you look at Mesa, ASA, Comair, AWAC, etc., and say to yourself 'I wish our company, culture, general attitude, present condition and future prospects were more like those guys,' then by all means, vote ALPA. after all, we can only hope to attain here what history shows can been attained elsewhere using ALPA. and even if we somehow are able to equal those places (which would be a degression IMHO) on our first contract after 5 or however many years, what is the cost? beyond losing the 5 years?

ALPA will not magically transform us, or any other, into a unified group. all ALPA can guarantee is that it will collect dues and try it's (our) best. the results are there for anyone to see.

the alternative is to stay with what we've done, which though far from perfect, has attained a certain result. this result is, in my opinion, better than what I experienced elsewhere and what I observe elsewhere. the arguments that things have degraded here are valid. if you believe that this is purely the result of corporate greed and that by voting in ALPA you will somehow FORCE them to share more of the pie, to accept your demands, and allow you to dictate the them, then vote ALPA.

if, however, you are a realist, and you look around and realize that the changes that have occurred industry wide are the result more of a ever changing and ever more competitive market, then don't willfully hang the millstone about the neck of our company. if you realize that the industry has and will to continue to suffer through changes, but that we've fared much better than most, then don't place the stumbling block in the way of our company pushing forward to remain competitive. if you feel like what we have at SkyWest is unique, enjoyable, and you want to maintain that, then don't shackle our competitive abilities with leg irons that once installed can never be removed.

study it out, weigh the alternatives, look at results.

 

[SkyNation]

reno,

now put up the list of ALPA 'failures' at the regionals so we can compare.