An open letter to the pilots of Skywest

[mckpickle]

For many years I have heard the SKywest pilots talk about how they did not desire a union. Reasons varried from being treated correctly to not wanting to pay 1.9% of their pay. Either way, I want to point an issue out.

You've told us to stay out of your buisness because it's your choice. The issue now is that your company has set up the "perfect storm". You have allowed your company to offer the choice of nothing but a whipsaw to the pilots of XJT. Pilots are not supposed to compete with each other. Your actions and not allowing ALPA on property, have allowed that to happen. We at XJT have the most important job protection in the industry. We have negotiated this to protect us AND the pilots we affect in the indutry. In fact our union was working with protecting MESA pilots in the event that we took some of their flying from Delta. Why? Because it's the right thing to do. Those are the things we've done to improve the profession.

I understand that most Skywest pilots really don't care. You'll get and upgrade or new base and more flying. Each time this industry loses a little we all lose. You've allowed this to happen.

What are your thoughts?


I've been respectful, I hope you can do the same.

 

[BigLebowski]

i dont know much about the offer presented from skyw. Although I can say...if you dont' like it, don't accept it.

 

[flylike44]

is anyone else tired of all the sanctimonious b.s. being posted around here by a majority of xjet people? you are not the greatest thing since sliced bread. you are not the greatest company that ever graced the skies over this great nation. you are not better than anyone else. and you are most certainly not the arbiters of what is right, wrong, professional, or anything else. in case you need a reminder, and it looks as though a bunch of you do, you work for a pissant regional just like the rest of us.

 

[flyingfool]

Shouldn't you also talk to ASA pilots? They have just as much to do with anything skywest inc. As Skywest Airlines. I love how everyone blames this on Skywest Airlines. I never saw you crying about ASA pilots and protecting them when you took flying from them. Go cry somewhere else. If we had ALPA how would that stop this from happening? ASA is ALPA so what.

 

[Knob]

Big difference between losing flying and losing the aircraft to do any flying. I don't believe any ASA people (let alone 700) were put on the street when we stole their LAX base.

 

[Ezralite]

Shouldn't you also talk to ASA pilots? They have just as much to do with anything skywest inc. As Skywest Airlines. I love how everyone blames this on Skywest Airlines. I never saw you crying about ASA pilots and protecting them when you took flying from them. Go cry somewhere else. If we had ALPA how would that stop this from happening? ASA is ALPA so what.

Your screen name fits you. ASA pilots never chose to be bought out by Skywest.

 

[siucavflight]

Glad to not be part of this anymore. What a joke.

 

[SpyFlysDOTs]

1/3 of the pilots did vote for ALPA.
More and more of our pilots hired in the past 5 years have already worked at ALPA carriers and refused to vote ALPA.
As a line pilot, how can I have control of what my management is doing?

 

[Whydoitry]

is anyone else tired of all the sanctimonious b.s. being posted around here by a majority of xjet people? you are not the greatest thing since sliced bread. you are not the greatest company that ever graced the skies over this great nation. you are not better than anyone else. and you are most certainly not the arbiters of what is right, wrong, professional, or anything else. in case you need a reminder, and it looks as though a bunch of you do, you work for a pissant regional just like the rest of us.

This isn't sanctimonious b.s. It's about job protection and our industry. We never said we were the greatest anything. We do have a very well run airline by all operational metrics. We do have one of the best contracts in the industry, better than many majors. And we do have industry leading scope protection. The point here is that by not being organized Skywest is in the position of always being the gun to the heads of every organized airline that Skywest Inc. buys. That hurts the entire industry. ASA is organized and we can work with them against management if we need to. Skywest pilots work at the pleasure of management. They can unilaterally change any work rule or pay/benefit that you have for any reason that they want. If they wanted to they could shift all flying to ASA and rehire all Skywest pilots as first year fo's.

 

[Gobi Gred]

Unfortunately as a Skywest Airlines line pilot there is only so much one can do. I had one card to send in for an ALPA vote (which I did) and one vote (which was for) when it came time for an election. The vote was not the outcome I wanted but that's how it goes. The majority spoke for better or worse. In the end the XJET pilot group will have to do what's best for them. While it would be nice to see pilot groups band together for the common good that just isn't going to happen. When a pilot votes, in his/her mind it usually goes in this order. Will this be good for me? Will this benefit my company which in turn will be good for me? Will this have a positive effect on my profession (as long as it is good for me)? It's not just SkyWest pilots that vote this way, ALL pilots vote this way. I sure don't see any USAir, America West, Delta, or Northwest pilots standing together for the common good of the profession. Why? Because they are too busy looking out for themselves and what is best for their individual pilot groups as their airlines merge. Sorry to sound so cynical, but that's just what I've seen since I've been in aviation. In the end I wish nothing but the best for the XJET pilot group. I've gotten to fly with some former XJET pilots and all have been great people. Good luck to you.

 

[CFI2766]

Shouldn't you also talk to ASA pilots? They have just as much to do with anything skywest inc. As Skywest Airlines. I love how everyone blames this on Skywest Airlines. I never saw you crying about ASA pilots and protecting them when you took flying from them. Go cry somewhere else. If we had ALPA how would that stop this from happening? ASA is ALPA so what.

I'm trying really hard to understand this post....it's just not making sense.

WTF, over?

 

[WalterSobchak]

You might want to consider aiming at least some of that blame you're waving around...towards this guy and his ego.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

same ol' selfish mantra from the OO pilots:

Why buy the cow when we get the milk for free.
Why buy the cow when ALPA pilots get it for us for free.


No OO pilot has EVER justified the non tangible benefits that ALPA provides for them:

FFDO program
Jumpseat programs
Legislation on CapHill
ICAO representation
Runway Safety
NAS Modernization

The list is long.

And these are the professional pilot contributions that ALPA makes to this industry.

Contributions that OO pilots do not make but certianly take. What, then, does that make OO Pilots?

 

[STINKER]

is anyone else tired of all the sanctimonious b.s. being posted around here by a majority of xjet people? you are not the greatest thing since sliced bread. you are not the greatest company that ever graced the skies over this great nation. you are not better than anyone else. and you are most certainly not the arbiters of what is right, wrong, professional, or anything else. in case you need a reminder, and it looks as though a bunch of you do, you work for a pissant regional just like the rest of us.

Amazing post....

 

[BrownStreak]

is anyone else tired of all the sanctimonious b.s. being posted around here by a majority of xjet people? you are not the greatest thing since sliced bread. you are not the greatest company that ever graced the skies over this great nation. you are not better than anyone else. and you are most certainly not the arbiters of what is right, wrong, professional, or anything else. in case you need a reminder, and it looks as though a bunch of you do, you work for a pissant regional just like the rest of us.

Didn't you get the memo? Jetlink represents all that matters for the regionals! If it weren't for them sticking it straight to the man every time they were handed a bs proposal we'd all be in shambles! LOL firesales to come, gettin creepy around here....anyone got the number for that truck driving school?

 

[flynryan15]

Didn't you get the memo? Jetlink represents all that matters for the regionals! If it weren't for them sticking it straight to the man every time they were handed a bs proposal we'd all be in shambles! LOL firesales to come, gettin creepy around here....anyone got the number for that truck driving school?

Bite me Brownstreak who you gonna fly for when Airways goes TANGO UNIFORM?

 

[BrownStreak]

Bite me Brownstreak who you gonna fly for when Airways goes TANGO UNIFORM?

Got me a nice cropdusting job set up in Yuma. Get any interview calls lately, smart@ss?

 

[flynryan15]

I'll make more money crop dusting then you will at PSA nice blended rate dueche!!!

 

[Ben Dover]

A few points:

1. Have you considered blaming YOUR management for the situation you are in? After all, they have been at the helm of Expressjet and gotten you in this situation. Why do you need a union at Expressjet? Has your management treated such that you need protection from them? Whose fault is that?

2. Where did you get the idea that pilots are not supposed to compete with each other? Do you believe in a free market system? And if so, why shouldn't pilots participate in it?

3. The union philosophy of pilot labor (in current practice) is counter to the idea of pilot/labor mobility. Again, another idea counter to the free market. How are you better off with this union mentality? In other industries workers can change employers without it costing them everything. Whose fault is it that you must stay at a failing company or virtually start over in your career?

Who is John Galt?

 

[SSDD]

I'm trying really hard to understand this post....it's just not making sense.

WTF, over?

I understand what he's saying. Its not Skywest Airlines who's made the offer for XJT, its the holding company, Skywest Inc. They also own ASA Airlines. But the post is only addressed to the Skywest pilots, not the ASA pilots who stand to benefit just as much from the acquisition.

 

[BrownStreak]

I'll make more money crop dusting then you will at PSA nice blended rate dueche!!!

You'd have to sling a whole lot of pasta on the side to do that, b!tch, but at least you aren't that out of practice.
As far as our payrates go...yeah they suck donkey balls, but talk to our fagship friends about rates....cause at least we have rates for the planes we're flying.

 

[flynryan15]

Flagship got those rates forced on them by a arbitrator set by an 8 yr old contract. You took your rate so you could get bright shinny new crj 700's. Big difference but I can't wait to hear you cry when they come after your precious Airways flying!!!

 

[XPOO]

Does it just kill every other airline out there to know that the most successfull regional airline has no need for a union? Isn't that really what this thread is all about?

 

[siucavflight]

Get out of the regionals, work internationally, that is where the money is!

 

[whosurdaddy?]

boy, i wish we had had alpa here, so they could take my dues from my pay AND my 401K, that sounds sweet, sign me up!!! then i can get half assed representation, the ability of a union to sign a crappy contract (mesa), the ability to never get a contract signed (TSA). yeah that's for me!!! how is it, that one union can represent people that work for different companies, how is that fair? it's competition, capitalism baby!!!! does that not sound crazy? if every airline had it's own separate union then you have a fair deal, but if alpa was to say every contract will be the same then fine, but that's not how it is. we are in the most competitive time in aviaition history. everybody has to do what's best for themselves and their company, if not then you can end up on the street with no pay check and the ability to not be able to support my family. screw you and your alpa, no one is looking out for me, not alpa, not anyone. i have to do what's best for me, if skywest ever gets so bad that i can't stand it i can leave and take up truck driving!!! i guess if everybody is so pissed at skywest, then they should protest by not using any skywest flights to jumpseat to get home. never mind that we always try to get everyone on our flights and help people get home.

rant over

 

[Bushhatesyou]

boy, i wish we had had alpa here, so they could take my dues from my pay AND my 401K, that sounds sweet, sign me up!!! then i can get half assed representation, the ability of a union to sign a crappy contract (mesa), the ability to never get a contract signed (TSA). yeah that's for me!!! how is it, that one union can represent people that work for different companies, how is that fair? it's competition, capitalism baby!!!! does that not sound crazy? if every airline had it's own separate union then you have a fair deal, but if alpa was to say every contract will be the same then fine, but that's not how it is. we are in the most competitive time in aviaition history. everybody has to do what's best for themselves and their company, if not then you can end up on the street with no pay check and the ability to not be able to support my family. screw you and your alpa, no one is looking out for me, not alpa, not anyone. i have to do what's best for me, if skywest ever gets so bad that i can't stand it i can leave and take up truck driving!!! i guess if everybody is so pissed at skywest, then they should protest by not using any skywest flights to jumpseat to get home. never mind that we always try to get everyone on our flights and help people get home.

rant over

You're a ******************************.. Let the other union carriers fight for improvments, and QOL, then you can ride their backs.. Seriously, go play in traffic.

 

[whosurdaddy?]

You're a ******************************.. Let the other union carriers fight for improvments, and QOL, then you can ride their backs.. Seriously, go play in traffic.

boy that's a professional attitude of an alpa pilot, we have better QOL then some of your great ALPA carriers. I've worked at an alpa carrier and skywest, i've seen alpa work first hand and was not impressed. why would i want that here?

 

[XPOO]

boy that's a professional attitude of an alpa pilot, we have better QOL then some of your great ALPA carriers. I've worked at an alpa carrier and skywest, i've seen alpa work first hand and was not impressed. why would i want that here?

Because it only benefits the other ALPA carriers, not you. It levels the playing field for them by you voting in a union.

 

[WalterSobchak]

I can't wait to hear you cry when they come after your precious Airways flying!!!

I swear...Pilots + Internet = retarded, 13 year old, West Side Story-style gang wannabes sometimes with the hatred towards one another.

FFDO program
Jumpseat programs
Legislation on CapHill
ICAO representation
Runway Safety
NAS Modernization

As long as we are going to turn this into YET ANOTHER union debate...

Perhaps if ALPA national took a little time to UNIFY (novel concept for a union, eh?) all of its member pilot groups and get behind things like a national seniority list instead of pitting all of the member groups against each other in a massive clusterfark...maybe, just maybe, the pilots who don't have such a strained relationship with their
management would be more inclined to join.

Rez, you always talk about ALPA being as strong as the local leadership. As the outside man looking in, that tells me that national is weak. And, based solely on my conversations with friends that are pilots and what I read on this God-forsaken message board...it is the national, universal QOL issues that ALPA needs to be working on...and spending a little less time on the small things like the FFDO program and keeping Captain Kangaroo...er, I mean, Captain Prater's moustache so neatly trimmed.

Don't get me wrong, I applaud ALPA's work as a safety advocate...however, there apparently needs to be more work on actually taking care of the livelihoods of the current member pilots before even considering chasing more membership.

I think, when faced with the decision of whether or not to organize, the average pilot doesn't put alot of thought into ALPA's advocacy on The Hill...they look at the state of QOL of other ALPA pilots. And, when they see the messes of US Airways/America West...ALPA pilots losing jobs left and right...and the general lack of brotherhood and unity amongst all of the ALPA pilot groups...not to mention the "Me vs. The World" and general unhappiness with life
mentality conveyed by many ALPA pilots...and can you see why 2/3 of SkyWest pilots might not want to join up.

I wish nothing but the best for the ExpressJet guys and gals. I truly hope this doesn't go down the way you guys are saying. However, if it does...you must remember that this is business...and your management deserves the blame, not the SkyWest line pilot.

 

[Bushhatesyou]

Because it only benefits the other ALPA carriers, not you. It levels the playing field for them by you voting in a union.

................................ not worth it..................