ASA future with Skywest

[USCtrojan]

I don't know what kind of fantasy world people are living in. Skywest won't unionize, they won't combine any list. ASA will just get smaller (how many bases do we have now?) until there is nothing left. Skywest has a history of doing this to other carriers, it was just on a smaller scale... The writing is on the wall, no one should be shocked. Even if Skywest unionized that wouldn't create a single list. ASA will eventually go away, the non unionized rock stars at Skywest will upgrade to RJ captain (living the dream) but that'll be their final upgrade with all of the outsourcing etc. Like it or not, that's the reality of the situation.

Whew, glad that's out. Oh, too bad our little Contract thingy we negotiated a few years ago prevents any type of significant transfer of aircraft. Everyone is downsizing right now. Hey, maybe you haven't heard, but we are teetering on the edge of a Depression. Part II, the sequel. Except this time the whole World gets to join in on the fun. Sorry to let you down about your quick upgrade aspirations.

Good luck with that United flying there. Hopefully, for your sake, Obama won't let them go out of business. Could be really ugly for you. Take care, glad I work in one of the safer havens in the Industry...Atlanta. If I was a betting man about SLC or ATL going bye bye...You're never gonna guess which one I'd bet on.... What is it SkyWest is operating for the United side now, 1200 flights daily? That's a lot of lost money in your pocket.....

Trojan

 

[whalefat]

I actually work for ASA, we flew together in Salt Lake. I was present when they were transferring airplanes, just like you were. It should be pretty clear who the priority is and it's not ASA. We were bought and now we're second to Skywest. I have no reason not to call it like it is.. I know you put a few good years into ASA & so did I but the fact of the matter is that we're screwed. The eventual disappearnce of ASA might take a decade but make no mistake it is happening (look at the size difference between the carriers) and will continue to happen regardless of what the economy is doing. One note on ALPA, it's only as strong as our pilot group & we were in contract talks for years... We are not a strong pilot group. There aren't many left. Maybe AA & UPS but that's it. Unless we are that militant we'll never get anywhere. Face the music dude we're screwed it just might take a while....

 

[Bako Cap]

ASA will just get smaller (how many bases do we have now?) until there is nothing left. Skywest has a history of doing this to other carriers, it was just on a smaller scale.

What HISTORY are you talking about?

 

[whalefat]

What HISTORY are you talking about?

Well, is ASA the first carrier that Skywest has purchased? Was there any seniority integration? I'll give you a hint if you really need one.

 

[USCtrojan]

I actually work for ASA, we flew together in Salt Lake. I was present when they were transferring airplanes, just like you were. It should be pretty clear who the priority is and it's not ASA. We were bought and now we're second to Skywest. I have no reason not to call it like it is.. I know you put a few good years into ASA & so did I but the fact of the matter is that we're screwed. The eventual disappearnce of ASA might take a decade but make no mistake it is happening (look at the size difference between the carriers) and will continue to happen regardless of what the economy is doing. One note on ALPA, it's only as strong as our pilot group & we were in contract talks for years... We are not a strong pilot group. There aren't many left. Maybe AA & UPS but that's it. Unless we are that militant we'll never get anywhere. Face the music dude we're screwed it just might take a while....

Let me get this straight....SkyWest bought ASA for $425 Million, has made its money back ALREADY and then some, but we're "screwed." RIGHT NOW THE WORLD IS ON THE EDGE OF A DEPRESSION. We are riding out a nasty storm. Militant gets you as far as Comair. I don't think that's the right play in this day and age. The best you can do is get people from A to B safely, on time, and hopefully with a smile. Doom and gloomers are all over the place and they haven't been right yet. But keep on keepin' on. I don't think or believe as you do. We are going through something right now we have never seen the likes before. Things will eventually turn around.

Trojan

 

[Tarzan]

Let me get this straight....SkyWest bought ASA for $425 Million, has made its money back ALREADY and then some, but we're "screwed." RIGHT NOW THE WORLD IS ON THE EDGE OF A DEPRESSION. We are riding out a nasty storm. Militant gets you as far as Comair. I don't think that's the right play in this day and age. The best you can do is get people from A to B safely, on time, and hopefully with a smile. Doom and gloomers are all over the place and they haven't been right yet. But keep on keepin' on. I don't think or believe as you do. We are going through something right now we have never seen the likes before. Things will eventually turn around.

Trojan

Trojan,
Could not agree with you more. The militant part had me blinking my eyes when it first was put out there. When you have a company that actively seeks to make the employee group happy (PERF PLUS checks even though we missed the numbers), that last thing we need to do is GET MILITANT! We have enough of those guys as it is and they are miserable to be around.

 

[johnpeace]

Also, had your side won, there would have been much more furloughs because you never would have negotiated a no furlough clause.

Dang! You hit the nail on the head![/QUOTE]

Only if you neglect to consider that had his side won, our total labor costs would be lower...resulting in the need for fewer furloughs.

 

[Abernathy]

Dang! You hit the nail on the head!

Only if you neglect to consider that had his side won, our total labor costs would be lower...resulting in the need for fewer furloughs.

You know if we paid $5.00/hr we could keep labor costs even lower and have all the shiny 900s we want!!

 

[DirtySowf]

Is there any way ASA can just furlough all non-commuters. I need to pick up some open time to pay for new jean shorts.

 

[SSDD]

Well, is ASA the first carrier that Skywest has purchased? Was there any seniority integration? I'll give you a hint if you really need one.

Ok I'll bite. How many carriers has Skywest bought, and what was the result of the integratio, if any?

 

[johnpeace]

You know if we paid $5.00/hr we could keep labor costs even lower and have all the shiny 900s we want!!

Hey, you're right.

The obvious right thing to do is to just negotiate the absolute highest wage for everyone that we possibly can.

Nevermind the potential to price ourselves right out of our jobs.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Hey, you're right.

The obvious right thing to do is to just negotiate the absolute highest wage for everyone that we possibly can.

Nevermind the potential to price ourselves right out of our jobs.

It's hard to convince the die hard union hardliners.....The union will save them!

 

[outtahere]

So you guys really believe that a two dollar per hour difference between us and some other dci carrier makes us that much more expensive? Hell, skywest makes the same if not more than us in total compensation. Please explain how it's the pilot groups pay that makes us so much more expensive. What's the point of working if you can't make a living?

 

[Tarzan]

So you guys really believe that a two dollar per hour difference between us and some other dci carrier makes us that much more expensive? Hell, skywest makes the same if not more than us in total compensation. Please explain how it's the pilot groups pay that makes us so much more expensive. What's the point of working if you can't make a living?

At risk of sounding like a union hater, I'll toss this one out there...

One thing the SkyWest management does not have to contend with with is the cost of dealing with a union. Grievance processes can be expensive and drawn out. Instead the union chooses to defend the indefensible (360 on the arrival?) and cost the company more money that could be going to the shareholders or to lower costs to make it more attractive to other potential customers.

 

[sweptback]

Only if you neglect to consider that had his side won, our total labor costs would be lower...resulting in the need for fewer furloughs.

Labor costs have as much to do with the longevity of the pilot group as the pay rate. The "Jackson 5" winning would not have changed the longevity of pilots one bit.

Why do you think SkyWest is a cheaper operator than ASA? It's not the payrates, they're almost identical. SkyWest is a much more junior airline, and there's nothing ASA can do to fix that other than grow, which isn't an option now.

 

[Speedtape]

At risk of sounding like a union hater, I'll toss this one out there...

One thing the SkyWest management does not have to contend with with is the cost of dealing with a union. Grievance processes can be expensive and drawn out. Instead the union chooses to defend the indefensible (360 on the arrival?) and cost the company more money that could be going to the shareholders or to lower costs to make it more attractive to other potential customers.

PM me your address. I have a Skywest application I will mail to you.

 

[Speedtape]

It's hard to convince the die hard union hardliners.....The union will save them!

Maybe you should run for office, and if elected (don't think so), shirk your duties and never participate in protest, like that other guy did once from the RJDC. uke:

 

[Tarzan]

PM me your address. I have a Skywest application I will mail to you.

If Skywest was hiring and if I was able to keep my original date of hire, I'd be on it.

 

[JoeMerchant]

If Skywest was hiring and if I was able to keep my original date of hire, I'd be on it.

Ditto!

 

[JoeMerchant]

Maybe you should run for office, and if elected (don't think so), shirk your duties and never participate in protest, like that other guy did once from the RJDC. uke:

Actually there is a group trying to recruit me to run....The RJDC is to this day, protecting us more than our own MEC.....

You are a smart guy....why you continue to cling to the current way of doing things and the current way we are represented is beyond me....