Midwest Express Skyway Paycuts

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Reuters
Midwest Express Skyway pilots union agrees to cuts
Thursday July 10, 4:01 pm ET


CHICAGO, July 10 (Reuters) - Pilots at Midwest Express Holdings Inc.'s (NYSE:MEH - News) Skyway Airlines regional carrier have agreed tentatively to cost cuts intended to help the airline avoid bankruptcy, the union for the group said on Thursday.
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Midwest Express, based in Milwaukee, said in June that a bankruptcy filing by mid July was likely if workers, airplane financiers and lenders did not agree to restructure deals to help restore profitability.

Jet captain pay would be cut more than 7 percent, plus some nonwage reductions, under the five-year tentative agreement to be voted on by mid July, said Brian Belmonti, chairman of the Skyway unit of the Air Line Pilots Association (News - Websites).

There are about 220 Skyway pilots, with jet captains paid $32,000 to $45,000 per year, Belmonti said. With 10 regional jets and 15 turboprop planes in the Skyway fleet, more than half the group makes less than $20,000 per year, he said.

"We are pleased to finally reach an agreement that addresses the needs of the Skyway pilots while providing the necessary financial relief to our airline," Belmonti said.

Pilots for Midwest Airlines previously agreed to temporary pay cuts under the Midwest Express cost-cutting plan.

Shares of Midwest Express were off 4 cents, or 1.78 percent, at $2.21 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites).

 

[stillaboo]

Jet captain pay would be cut more than 7 percent, plus some nonwage reductions, under the five-year tentative agreement.

There are about 220 Skyway pilots, with jet captains paid $32,000 to $45,000 per year . . . more than half the group makes less than $20,000 per year.

"We are pleased to finally reach an agreement that addresses the needs of the Skyway pilots . . ."

Wow! This addresses your needs?

Can anyone provide details on this TA, like is there a provision for a resumtion of the normal wage if certain financial goals are met?

Good luck guys. You must be in desperate straights to be 'pleased' with this option.

Does anyone think ALPA might refuse to sign this if it's approved by the pilots, ala CC Air?

-Boo!

 

[DoinTime]

Does anyone think ALPA might refuse to sign this if it's approved by the pilots, ala CC Air?

In this case there is economic justification for employee givebacks. Skyway and Midwest Airlines are closing in on the brink of bankruptcy and other carriers (Northwest and Airtran) are moving into MKE for the kill.

The CCAir case appeared to just be whipsawing on the part of Mesa Air Group.

 

[stillaboo]

Thanks for the info.

Totally agree, CC Air (and Freedom) looked like a whipsaw on Mesa.

-Boo!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Stillaboo's avatar

Don't EVER change that avatar, Boo

 

[jobear]

RE-TA

Having Road shows Sat-Tuesday on the TA in MKE.

Jobear

 

[Thunderchief]

It sucks but...

The first year concessions suck but it leads to pay and work rule changes that bring Skyway to the middle of the pack. The old contract is ALOT worse.

The Beech payrates will be better than MESA's and the Jet rates are the same as ACA's.....

Coming from what we had it is a HUGH improvement.

That's if we even survive another year


It was alot harder to leverage better pay after the MESA contract........

-TC

 

[Thunderchief]

Sorry Stillaboo, I forgot your question staring at your avatar....

ANyway, the concessionary period is for one year.

 

[DoinTime]

Pretty sad when a pilot group the size of Skyway faced with the extinction of thier only code share partner can secure better rates than Mesa.

 

[Birddog]

I agree with Thunderchief. The TA is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Some pay was given up for a year, but when you look at some of the things we get to offset that, both in pay structure and work rules, it is not a huge loss. I think an important thing to remember is that, assuming the company survives ( and that is a TREMENDOUS assumption at this point) those who come behind us will have it better than we did and they will have a better contract to build upon.