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I believe that most SKW pilots would prefer some type of union representation, but due to the MANY failures of ALPA with the majors and complete lack of representation of the regionals, it will not be anytime soon. ALPA has failed you.
way to change a quote, well done. if skywest goes to the grave doesn't that mean that everybody will then go to the grave. that also means that since we are "bottom-feeders" somebody would have to go lower, that must mean you!!!!! Bash mormons all you want, i'm not even one!!! plus i agree with that quote.
Mcpickle, I certainly understand what you are saying....Again, I really do. And if I read this as a XJT pilot, I would probably say the same thing.
But, you act like there is a VIABLE alternative to the situation. You look down on me because I am realistic about today's industry. I would love to take a stand if there is even a snowball's chance in hell it would work.......But right now is not the time.
You want to be a regional but act like a Major with regards to it's power. You have none! CAL/UAL, etc. can show you, me, us, everyone the door if we flex more muscle than the sytem can hold. Anything else is just foolish.
You can't just demand things like when you were the only CAL carrier or even the only, wholly owned, regional for CAL. The leverage right now, is gone. The majors can atleast try to play hardball, while defending their routes and ops. (but they haven't given all they can give and rightly so) YOUR routes on the otherhand, along with mine, are not ours. With $120 oil and possible shrinking feed, we have nothing. Zip.
We can try to be a major but as long as the UAL's and CAL's control the payments and the routes, we can do nothing. Again, not defeatist, just realistic when you have 4 months or so, cash on hand. You act like if you lose the CPA next month that you can just place those planes. Again, it's not the 90's or the post 9/11 environment for RJ's.
You will call me names and call me weak. Call me a fool and say I the reason for bringing the industry down. You will call me a bottomfeeder and that I have no heart. Sir, I believe you are wrong.
Just so you know, I don't like where this is going. I could "take a stand" with you and say right now that I deserve 150 dollars to fly a CRJ for one hour. SkW could do that and lose all it's contracts, and we would go down with you.
You blame me for being productive and a company sheep, when in reality, I am just maximizing my output for the company. Does the company notice.... Nope? But I have a decent job and don't work very hard. Am I properly compensated? Nope? But, again it is the reality of today's environment. So what do we do? I am open ears.....
I guess the schools we build in Texas go to the highest bidder. Nope. Let's try again. I guess the highways are built by the highest bidder. Ah, nope again. I guess all contracts that are put out are ALWAYS won by the highest bidder. Nope, not even close.
Do some places that take the lowest bidder get burned? Absolutely. But I'm guessing that is a chance CAL is willing to take. But that's SKW pilots fault too. Also, haven't you noticed that since the Comair strike, all carriers, including CAL, isn't willing to have one carrier disrupt their ops ever again? Diversification, my friend. But you tell them what you want and what you willdo and that you run the show. That will show them. Wrong.
Look, I am not trying to flight and I respect your opinion even though you don't respect mine.
You see me as a punk kid, happy to steal flying from anyone I can. That just isn't it. You basically say, anyone with a opinion unlike mine is just wrong. No if, ands, or buts. We will have to agree to disagree.
PS. I could understand your attitude if the situation was like when the regionals were growing and the airline industry was extremely profitable. If Jerry tried to buy XJT during that time and you didn't like the offer, then fine ridicule us and say no and go your merry way. But, with the current situation, I am scratching my head to figure why you act like you have a sure-fire hand for the poker game when the house's cards are stacked against you.....
But I guess we will see. Again, good luck.
Yellow Fever...get your facts straight. No SkyWest pilot has flown anything over 50 seats for 50 seat pay in over 2 years now. That little jab of yours is totally asinine now.
Yellow Fever...get your facts straight. No SkyWest pilot has flown anything over 50 seats for 50 seat pay in over 2 years now. That little jab of yours is totally asinine now.
Can you answer this riddle?
A SkyWest CRJ-200 pilot flys a 4 day trip with 3 hours of block time each day of the trip. A SkyWest CRJ-900 pilot flys the same 4 day trip with 3 hours of block time each day of the trip. Who makes more money?
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.
You're missing my point entirely. My point is, had SW pilots voted in a union you would have negotiated scope protection for yourselves and those whom you steam roll. This is not about pay. This is about scope. Thats all.
This is reality because you and your fellow pilots accept it as such. You haven't learned from what Mesa went through with Freedom. You haven't learned from what Chataqua went through, you haven't learned from what Trans States went through with Go Jets. What have you learned other than to look out for only yourselves? Your day will come. Long after myself, with 11 years and 10,000 hours is our of a job and out of aviation, your pilot group will be in this possition. I hope you learn before it's too late for you and whom ever else you take over.
I respect your opinion but may I humbly suggest there is a better way. One that you may have to fight for, as we did.