Skywest Alpa. It's not just about the contract

[John Pennekamp]

I know there have been 1000 threads on this topic, but I want to mention something to all of you contemplating the union vote.

It's not just about the contract.

Much of the debate has centered around having a firm contract that can't be changed with a pen, discipline procedures, representation, etc...

Don't forget about the fringe benefits ALPA can offer you:

Aeromedical Department: I personally know many pilots who lost their medical and ALPA worked with the FAA and their doc to get it back quickly. For everything from heart trouble to seizures.

Air Safety: ALPA has been a leader in air safety for over 75 years.

Incident/Accident hotline: If you have the misfortune of an incident or accident help is a phone call away 24/7/365. One call sets the full force of ALPA in motion to help you at a time you will feel very alone. Air safety, legal, representation, and all of the other departments will advise you and be at your disposal.

Insurance programs: ALPA runs several insurance programs which are a great benefit. I get $1,000,000 of life insurance for $400 a year. You can't beat that. The loss of license and disability programs are also very good.

Political presence: ALPA is a voice that is recognized and listened to in Washington. They are the only real challengers to the ATA and RAA, which are management's lobby groups. They work behind the scenes, on both sides of the aisle, to insure Air Line Pilots best interests are represented and acted upon. ALPA is the worlds largest pilot union and has the credibility no one else can offer.

I'm sure there are many more that others can come up with.

Before you vote (or choose not to vote at all) consider the whole picture and what you're missing out on.

Not voting at all counts as a no vote!

For me the 2% is a small price to pay to guarantee a contract, job protection, a formal grievance system, and all of the other benefits. SAPA can not provide this for you.

Now that ASA has a contract, things are going to get very interesting at SkyWest, Inc. Your best move may be to join the ASA pilots and fight together with us against a holding company that cares most about increasing profits at our expense. Our fight is your fight, as we're in this together.

Remember "Bargain together, or beg alone".

 

[Medeco]

Political presence: ALPA is a voice that is recognized and listened to in Washington. They are the only real challengers to the ATA and RAA, which are management's lobby groups. They work behind the scenes, on both sides of the aisle, to insure Air Line Pilots best interests are represented and acted upon. ALPA is the worlds largest pilot union and has the credibility no one else can offer.


Remember "Bargain together, or beg alone".

For me, this part is an asset that gets over looked by virtually everyone, including ALPA pilots.

Flying aircraft, is a profession, not a job. ALPA is the best way to defend/improve our profession.


It cannot be said enough.

Medeco

 

[PCL_128]

Incident/Accident hotline: If you have the misfortune of an incident or accident help is a phone call away 24/7/365. One call sets the full force of ALPA in motion to help you at a time you will feel very alone. Air safety, legal, representation, and all of the other departments will advise you and be at your disposal.

This is one of the biggest items for me. Now that I'm not at an ALPA carrier, I no longer have access to this hotline. It's a big difference to your peace of mind. Knowing that if anything happens ALPA will have a team of investigators, lawyers, and CommSpecs on the way is a nice feeling. Without ALPA, you're on your own.

 

[~~~^~~~]

One more point - ALPA allows its members to sit at the table and recieve union representation when negotiating the terms of your employment. Sounds insignificant until you realize that the instability of our profession means you will likely work for two or more airlines in your career and the integration, succession and ability to ensure your job goes with your airplane are highly dependent on what you can negotiate and enforce.

We will learn what job protections the ASA pilots negotiated. For now, the SkyWest pilots have none. For me, that difference is worth the dues. All the other benefits are icing on the cake.

 

[Steveair]

You can be as happy as pilots at other regionals with ALPA! Ohh wait... that doesn't add up.

Crappier work rules, good bye to 2% of my check, and no more performance rewards. Sounds great! Total loss of over $5000 a year. Sign me up!

The 1 and ONLY benefit to ALPA is job protection. Keep your head below the radar and no one gets fired.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

As an ALPA member with its safety and engineering dept., you become part of a professional organization that looks out for the betterment of the public.

 

[John Pennekamp]

You can be as happy as pilots at other regionals with ALPA! Ohh wait... that doesn't add up.

Enough of the rhetoric. This decision is too big to simply blow off.

ALPA doesn't make anyone happy or unhappy with their job. It only offers a layer of security.

 

[Steveair]

It only offers a layer of security.

YEP! Not worth 5 K.

 

[sweptback]

YEP! Not worth 5 K.

You make $250,000/year? Not bad.

 

[WSurf]

YEP! Not worth 5 K.

5K????? What the hell you making as a CRJ Captain??

 

[WSurf]

Swept you beat me too it!!!! LOL

Lets see I grossed about 65k last year!!! Hmmmm I spent about 1100.00 on ALPA......

Plus Union dues can be tax deducted!

 

[Steveair]

2 % of my salary is 1560. My perforance rewards are 2400-4000 per year. You're right! I could lose over 5500!

READ the WHOLE post next time. "2% and NO PERFORMANCE REWARDS..."

Tax deductable Union dues?? That seals the deal. 2500 more hours and you make 15K less than me. Ouch.

I'd rather drink the SkyWest cool aid than smoke the ALPA crack! (which they make you pay for!)

 

[John Pennekamp]

YEP! Not worth 5 K.

Then vote no. IMO it IS worth 5K. You will agree the first time you get fired or have an accident and have no one to turn to.

Skywest pilots sometimes seem to think bad things will never happen to them. You may be lucky. Or you may not.

Do you have medical insurance? Life insurance? Homeowners insurance? Car insurance? Or do you risk being without these too because they're "too expensive"?

ALPA is career insurance.

 

[Steveair]

The people that get fired at SkyWest get fired for a reason. If it's BS (and I know of 2 instances where it was), they get an attorney and win a nice big fat lawsuit. If you work hard and stay below the radar, you're not going to lose your job at SkyWest.

SkyWest doesn't have the best hourly rates nor does it have the worst. It doesn't have the best QOL nor does it have the worst. It does have people from every other regional in it's ground schools; Horizon, Express Jet, Mesaba, Mesa, Eagle, Republic just to name a few.

Personally, I enjoy 13 days off a month (15 if you don't count a standup), and nearly 100 hrs credit.

ALPA is for majors. If there was a regional airline union (other than the teamsters), then maybe that'd be worth something. ALPA does not have your best interests as a regional pilot.

 

[Medeco]

So the 4 million in $$$ that ALPA national gave ASA ALPA is worth nothing in this fight we have had for 5 years?

Why do you think your performance check will go away?


Medeco

 

[Steveair]

So the 4 million in $$$ that ALPA national gave ASA ALPA is worth nothing in this fight we have had for 5 years?

Why do you think your performance check will go away?


Medeco

It's worth as much as ALPA giving COMAIR money. ASA is being slowly dismantled.

Management at SkyWest is against unions (incase you haven't heard), and will eliminate incentives to it's pilots should they opt for a union. SkyWest will become industry average or less. Jerry doesn't care - he's made his millions.

 

[jstyle13]

...no more performance rewards. Sounds great! Total loss of over $5000 a year. Sign me up!

Am I missing something here? Why would you not get performance awards anymore? We are going to start getting them now at ASA.

I understand a reluctance to vote in union representation when things seem to be fine right now. However, are you sure that they will be fine in the next 6 months, year, 5 years? I'm sure you probably plan to be somewhere else in the near future, but what if you're not because of unforseen reasons.

Do you have a legitimate force fighting for your job/workrules/pay/QOL/insurance etc?

I know I do.

 

[jstyle13]

It's worth as much as ALPA giving COMAIR money. ASA is being slowly dismantled.

Really? How so? I know with this huge staffing surplus it will probably only take a couple months to replace all 1700 of us right? I don't think we've lost any planes recently. Didn't we just get a couple more 70s?

Management at SkyWest is against unions (incase you haven't heard), and will eliminate incentives to it's pilots should they opt for a union. SkyWest will become industry average or less. Jerry doesn't care - he's made his millions.

You don't get it do you? When you have union protection, you work under a binding agreement between you and your employer. They can't just take crap away from you.

I guess you can be a pu$$y and take what they give you, hoping that you don't piss Jerry off so that he will have to get out his paddle and spank you. Or you can organize and force them to bargain with your ENTIRE pilot group. They aren't going to give you the things you should be getting, you have to fight for them.

 

[DoinTime]

Management at SkyWest is against unions (incase you haven't heard), and will eliminate incentives to it's pilots should they opt for a union. SkyWest will become industry average or less. Jerry doesn't care - he's made his millions.

It would be illegal for Skywest to eliminate the performance bonus plan. If a Union were voted in they are required to maintain a "status quo" until a contract is ratified. A little knowledge goes a long way.

 

[BoilerUP]

It would be illegal for Skywest to eliminate the performance bonus plan. If a Union were voted in they are required to maintain a "status quo" until a contract is ratified. A little knowledge goes a long way.

Was going to post "that's a violation of status quo" until I read this.