My Concern if ALPA comes to SkyWest

[SkyNation]

You'll get a magazine.

and a pin---don't forget the neato pin!!!!!!!

 

[embdrvr]

Stick with SAPA. It's really the best. Especially for aspiring chief and asst chief pilots. Looks like another one is getting his own desk. Lessee, how many is that now?

 

[Gobi Gred]

You also have to love all of management's weekly "wraps" we are now getting not to mention the fancy new letter from SAPA. Of course those of us that have been at SkyWest for more than a week and are past the "it's different and better here, I'm just happy to be here" phase have seen it before. As far ALPA not giving SkyWest another chance, we were told that last time when the vote missed by less than 10 votes. I'm just wondering if the SkyWest pilot group will ever be something other than 30% "We need a union!", 30% "No we don't!" and 40% "Gee fellas, I just don't know about this ALPA stuff. I mean what will it do for me? I just don't think we need that here at SkyWest. In the meantime though I've applied to every major unionized carrier I can think of and will gladly pay dues there."

 

[Detroitpilot22]

My main concern if SkyWest goes with ALPA is the cost. In addition to 2% of my paycheck (now nearly $1000 a year), I'm concerned that ole Brad will try to take away Performance rewards (for most pilots... 1000 to 3000 per year). Furthermore, I think we'll lose pay for wx/mx cancellations amongst other things.

In return, what is ALPA going to do for me? The FO that called telling me to send in the card the other day mentioned that they'll pay us if we go on strike - just like the paid comair pilots for 49 days. What's ALPA doing for COMAIR guys now? Looks like they're gonna be gone soon...

Lastly, what's YOUR vote going to be? ALPA or No?

Oh come on man! Bringing in ALPA will improve your pilot group morale to the highest it could ever be!!! Don't believe me, ask the pilots at Pinnacle, Mesaba, comair, piedmont, asa, northwest, and delta. Morality is at an all time high! There is nothing wrong in the world. Plus we have our valiant leader Dwayne Worthless who claims that the 72 airplanes in the RFP for northwest are "already built and painted and are being hidden somewhere ready for delivery."

Your airline ,whom has never laid off anyone even after September 11th, is a perfect choice for alpa as they will definitly save you from certain doom!

 

[ArcticFlier]

Morality is at an all time high! There is nothing wrong in the world.

Did we just change this to a religious debate?


AF

 

[Gr82Aviate]

Oh come on man! Bringing in ALPA will improve your pilot group morale to the highest it could ever be!!! Don't believe me, ask the pilots at Pinnacle, Mesaba, comair, piedmont, asa, northwest, and delta. Morality is at an all time high! There is nothing wrong in the world. Plus we have our valiant leader Dwayne Worthless who claims that the 72 airplanes in the RFP for northwest are "already built and painted and are being hidden somewhere ready for delivery."

Your airline ,whom has never laid off anyone even after September 11th, is a perfect choice for alpa as they will definitly save you from certain doom!

Did anyone else ever notice how all the low time junior guys seem to have all the answers and know it all?

 

[www.]

Did anyone else ever notice how all the low time junior guys seem to have all the answers and know it all?

I think every airline has them.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Did anyone else ever notice how all the low time junior guys seem to have all the answers and know it all?

I'm more bewildered by the number of pilots that blame their union for their airline's woes as opposed to holding their management teams responsible.

As of right now, my union is fighting to prevent me from having to take a 13% paycut. Without my union, my management team would have forced that paycut on me, resulting in a loss of approximately $5,000 per year. Seems to me that my 2% has saved me approximately $5,000 in the last 12 months.

That same union could have given the SKW pilots more money in their paychecks by negotiating a separate payscale for the different airframes, as opposed to the "temporary 18-month" agreement, that SKW management has reneged on.

 

[CFIT]

That same union could have given the SKW pilots more money in their paychecks by negotiating a separate payscale for the different airframes, as opposed to the "temporary 18-month" agreement, that SKW management has reneged on.

You mean the same union that hasn't gotten a contract at ASA in over 4 years?

It seems as though ASA needs SkyWest to go union more than SkyWest does.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

You mean the same union that hasn't gotten a contract at ASA in over 4 years?

It seems as though ASA needs SkyWest to go union more than SkyWest does.

Always the pessimist aren't you?

It's actually the same union that has kept ASA management from forcing a paycut on its pilots for the past 4 years.

It may seem that this union drive at SkyWest is more about ASA than SkyWest, but in reality it is about an opportunity for both groups to stand together and stop this whipsaw now.

 

[rtmcfi]

You mean the same union that hasn't gotten a contract at ASA in over 4 years?

It seems as though ASA needs SkyWest to go union more than SkyWest does.

Right up until ASA caves, or strikes.....then the SkyWest pilots will need a union much more than ASA.

Will you personally fly struck work? What will happen to you if you refuse?
OK, let's say ASA lacks the stones to do it......

What then, do you think JA, BH, etc won't come to you with new competitive rates? How will you defend yourself against this?

You are right, a union would be of no use to SkyWest pilots......

 

[sstearns2]

Did Skywest fly stuck work during the Comair strike?

Scott

 

[embdrvr]

Did Skywest fly stuck work during the Comair strike?

Scott

Did SkyWest's parent company own Comair?

 

[rtmcfi]

Did Skywest fly stuck work during the Comair strike?

Scott

Not from what I recall. However, this is much different. SkyWest Inc. did not stand to lose a dime due to comairs strike. An ASA strikewould be crippling to SkyWests bottom line. So much so, that the SkyWest pilots may be required by mgmnt to work those flights. CanSAPA keep you from scabbing, and all that comes with it?

 

[Captain Overs]

Run away as fast as you can.

 

[viper548]

Not from what I recall. However, this is much different. SkyWest Inc. did not stand to lose a dime due to comairs strike. An ASA strikewould be crippling to SkyWests bottom line. So much so, that the SkyWest pilots may be required by mgmnt to work those flights. CanSAPA keep you from scabbing, and all that comes with it?

SkyWest doesn't have enough pilots to staff their own flights let alone ASA's flights.

 

[LAMESAUCE]

I think the ALPA drive at SKYW is a great thing, now we're talking pay again, and getting free carrots and dip.

But seriously, if SKYW pilots think we need a union, why just bite the first worm? People tend to say that "Because of ALPA, we have this and that" well, thanks ALPA. I'll take it for free. If legal protection is what you need, call Jacoby and Meyers and get them on staff. Other than that, those stupid magazines and stickers are mere coasters, and not worth the 2% they cost. I'm afraid pilots are going to make the vote on a whim, without reading into ALPA's history in the regionals.

 

[embdrvr]

Can SAPA keep you from scabbing, and all that comes with it?

Some pilots say it's hard to distinguish between SAPA's leaders and management so I wouldn't count on much protection. If told to fly struck work or be fired one better do the right thing. I'll take my chances being unemployed before crossing that line. If enough pilots react the same way there is nothing to worry about. They're short as it is.

 

[79%N1]

Boy, I bet if Atkin is reading these posts he is grinning ear to ear! He is getting EXACTLY what he wants! Keep that false sense of security and well-being to placate his SKW boys. Enjoy it!

 

[Publishers]

One thing that has to be realized is that ALPA is like any big union, it need to focus on where the largest dues come from. The most successful of the legacy carriers during all this time has been American Airlines which has their own union which worries about --- well, them. ALPA has to be concerned with its position with the legacy carriers where it has taken quite a beating lately.
For those of you who are Kit Darby fans, I am sure you realize his relationship with ALPA.
I do not claim to know whether ALPA is right for Skywest, but I do know that not having a group that understands your situation and opertes for you like the long drawn out process at Netjets is a black hole not to be gone down. ALPA is like the legacy carriers that spawned it, big nad not very responsive to today's environment.