Hypothetical question for ASA pilots

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A vocal anti-union pilot is advancing a theory that ALPA will be very unhealthy for SkyWest pilots. His theory is that if SkyWest pilots certified ALPA that the ASA MEC would file a single carrier petition to force integration. He further postulates that the petition would be granted and integration would take place with terms unfavorable to SkyWest pilots.

Good questions.

A single carrier petition would be filed by ALPA, not the ASA MEC. ALPA will probably file a petition whether, or not, the Skywest pilots have elected ALPA as their representative.

Both sides of the debate will try to use fear to motivate the SkyWest pilots. The SkyWest pilots will feel damed if they do, and dammed if they don't. If they don't, they will fear ALPA will be cutting deals to benefit the ASA pilots behind their backs. If they do, they fear ASA pilots will be cutting seniority integration deals.

Having one bargaining agent does not necessarily mean that the companies would merge. But, must of the reason for having redundant management teams disappears if the Company does not see a benefit by whipsawing employee groups - one against the other.

Neither the ASA, or Comair MEC, believed there was much of an advantage to be gained by fighting a single carrier petition on the property. There would still have been Mesa, Eagle, ACA, Skywest and Chautauqua in the portfolio. Reducing the portfolio from 6 or 7 to 5 or 6 just wasn't that beneficial. Both the ASA and Comair MEC's came out in support of a merger and even agreed to a date of hire proposal for integration, but it just was not percieved as being worth the fight. Further, until Comair's concessions, the ASA and Comair MEC did work together and presented a unified front to management. Remember that ASA said "NO" to concessions for airplanes - in part to support their Comair brothers.

A single carrier petition on the SkyWest property has a whole different dynamic. ALPA National wants the SkyWest pilots and the Delta pilots probably don't care enough to try to stop ALPA National from doing "the right thing" in this instance.

The future of Delta is anyone's guess at the moment. Based on purely objective data, Delta should be gone in a year. But airlines have a unique ability to survive much longer than it appears they should on paper. I think what happens to Delta is more important to ASA and SkyWest pilots than any other factor in the next 24 months.

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[Texx]

Good questions.

A single carrier petition would be filed by ALPA, not the ASA MEC.

Well not so fast. For National to do this they would have to be asked by one of the two pilot groups.

 

[Texx]

DC has upper management aspirations. Just wish he'd be man enough to admit it and quit acting like he is for the pilots.

Man this is great! We already have something in common.

We have a base Chief Pilot, CS, that tries to make it look like that he is for the pilots then he pulls this...

A MIL pilot gives the company his orders at the begining of the year for MIL leave with specific dates. Later in the year some of these dates fall on his days off. So the CP docks him 2 days of pay because "he was unavailible to be junior manned."

What is really funny is the CP is ex navy.

See, we have the same problems that you do at Skywest.

 

[C.Warrior]

"the ASA and Comair MEC did work together and presented a unified front to management. Remember that ASA said "NO" to concessions for airplanes - in part to support their Comair brothers."


Too bad Comair did not hold the line to honor your support.

 

[Tim47SIP]

Tex

A MIL pilot gives the company his orders at the begining of the year for MIL leave with specific dates. Later in the year some of these dates fall on his days off. So the CP docks him 2 days of pay because "he was unavailible to be junior manned."


CS did exactly what he was supposed to "By Law". He has bent over backwards for us on MLOA and takes care of issues we may have while away. An individuals orders start on a certain date and end on a certain date, period. Any days off or GDO's are gone if they were after the start day or before the return date. This same thing happened to me as I was below mins for the month. He prorated the month and deducted the rest as I left on the 8th of the month. It was no big deal. The only thing the company must pay you for (if you desire) is vacation owed or expenses such as moving which I deffered for my return. It may not seem fair, but it is.

 

[goodpilotithink]

"the ASA and Comair MEC did work together and presented a unified front to management. Remember that ASA said "NO" to concessions for airplanes - in part to support their Comair brothers."


Too bad Comair did not hold the line to honor your support.

Oh come on. WE held the line and got a much better contract only to have numerous Regional pilot groups stab us in the back. The first time we turned down concessions for growth was a joke. They NEVER thought we would go for it. It was designed to fail so they could put the aircraft with ASA, where they were destined to go no matter what.

They were wanting us to totally strip our contract back to where it was before the strike, knowing full well we would not do it. Now the second time they ask for a "freeze", and that made more sense, since it was apparent no one was going to pass us up .

Say what you will but we have done more to help the pilots who fly small jets than any one. It was a wasted effort in a way because of what the likes of Mesa, Cha. did when we handed them the bat.

Fly Safe

 

[Plug]

A vocal anti-union pilot is advancing a theory that ALPA will be very unhealthy for SkyWest pilots. His theory is that if SkyWest pilots certified ALPA that the ASA MEC would file a single carrier petition to force integration. He further postulates that the petition would be granted and integration would take place with terms unfavorable to SkyWest pilots.

So here's a few questions for ASA folks:

Do you think your leadership would pursue integration if SkyWest pilots certified ALPA? Any particular reason why or why not?

Would you personally hope for integration?

Would integrating be good in the long term as it would prevent the possibility of whipsawing?

I'd appreciate it if we can limit responses to folks that actually fly for ASA.

Dave,

I think our MEC would pursue integartion due to the fact that we have seen first hand the affects of whipsaw and Skywest management now has a huge whipsaw. Integartion would benefit both groups from the stand point of alleviating the whipsaw and offer more options for crew bases and trip selection.

As you may have gathered I am all for an integration because I like to think the bigger the pilot group the better. Now the "million dollar" question: How would we integrate? Good question and I don't think anyone has the answer right now. We do know that there are 2 extremes Staple and DOH. A staple would result in a winfall for the Skywest group and DOH would be somewhat of winfall for the ASA pilot group so neither is a viable option, but there is PLENTY of middle ground there. So over the next few months lets keep the "Staple vs. DOH" fight to a minimum and actually come up with some good ideas. I look forward to working with the folks at Skywest unless Jetblue or CAL call then Cya. ;-)

Cheers

 

[Texx]

"the ASA and Comair MEC did work together and presented a unified front to management. Remember that ASA said "NO" to concessions for airplanes - in part to support their Comair brothers."


Too bad Comair did not hold the line to honor your support.

Yes you are correct but it was not a formal request for single carrier status to the NMB.

 

[Texx]

CS did exactly what he was supposed to "By Law". He has bent over backwards for us on MLOA and takes care of issues we may have while away. An individuals orders start on a certain date and end on a certain date, period. Any days off or GDO's are gone if they were after the start day or before the return date. This same thing happened to me as I was below mins for the month. He prorated the month and deducted the rest as I left on the 8th of the month. It was no big deal. The only thing the company must pay you for (if you desire) is vacation owed or expenses such as moving which I deffered for my return. It may not seem fair, but it is.

The point is and it was not "By Law" that on your "scheduled days off" the company dock you 2.75 hours because you were not availible to be junoir manned. We are speaking of your min days off. I do agree that they are not required to make sure, after your final sch, to give you the required 10 days off per the contract.

 

[viper548]

A MIL pilot gives the company his orders at the begining of the year for MIL leave with specific dates. Later in the year some of these dates fall on his days off. So the CP docks him 2 days of pay because "he was unavailible to be junior manned."

That's messed up! I don't request my mil days until I have my schedule. If i'm scheduled to have the day off, I don't request it off.