Sky West pilots response to mgt

[WWEfan]

Lets take a look at what Sky West management put out to its pilots in a letter today. I can’t believe they are fighting ALPA so hard, ohh wait a minute yes I can ALPA has nearly 61,000 members and $190 million dollars to represent pilots at 41 airlines. Lets put things into prospective here:
Issues:

1. Acquisitions and Mergers. Please look at this issue closely and get all the information you possibly can on the topic. ALPA will likely tell you that this is an area where they can protect you. If you look at recent cases (e.g., the America West-US Airways merger), it reveals the contrary. The pilots at both carriers are ALPA members, and the US Airways pilots have now filed a lawsuit against ALPA regarding the way ALPA handled the seniority list integration.

The situation at US Air is a mess simply because the pilot representatives themselves chose to go to arbitration over the seniority integration. Now they have to live with the arbitrators ruling. The situation is much different than a potential ASA, Sky West merger.

1. Scope. ALPA has pushed for more restrictive scope clauses in nearly every mainline contract negotiation. As a regional airline pilot, this is not in your best interest and has limited your ability to fly larger aircraft. Many of ALPA’s actions affect regional carriers negatively. Please reference the lawsuit against ALPA filed by the RJ Defense Coalition.

Funny they should mention Scope. ASA is working on scope to protect ASA flying and it has reciprocal agreements for Sky West pilots. In reality management doesn’t want any scope because it restricts their ability to transfer aircraft if your wages exceed what they are willing to pay.

1. Legal Representation. ALPA advertises that it will provide lawyers in both incident situations and loss of license for medical reasons before the FAA. However, SkyWest already provides this today— and at no charge to you.

ASA has a full team of pilot elected and appointed pilot representatives serving in various committees such as, Agreement Compliance, Hotel, Safety, Professional Standards, Medical, Contract negotiations, Pilot to pilot and Family awareness. Also ALPA legal staff is on hand to assist in contract matters and representation. 2 attorneys are dedicated to ASA issues and the entire ALPA staff consists of Economic and Financial analysts, Communications and Retirement and Insurance specialists to name a few. The legal team has an excellent track record in defending pilots in contract issues, FAA violations, and wrongful termination of employment. Its no wonder Sky West doesn’t want ALPA, all the sudden they have to face a highly trained legal staff.

1. Cost. ALPA is not free. The economic cost, to both pilots and the company, associated with ALPA representation is formidable. SkyWest funds SAPA rather than asking you for dues.

How much money does SAPA get from management? ALPA has allocated 4 million dollars to ASA to obtain a fair contract. The money is closely monitored, but I doubt SAPA would be allowed to picket or demonstrate in any way against the company.

1. Lengthy Bargaining.Some carriers have negotiated for more than five years prior to getting a contract. In many cases, what they are negotiating for are things you already have at SkyWest, and we continue to make improvements on an ongoing basis to help us remain competitive in terms of pilot wages and benefits

This is true it takes a long time to reach a fair contract when you are dealing with a management that doesn’t want to pay you what you are worth. It really easy to reach a deal when management has the final say on any contract and suffers no consequences if the pilots don’t get what they want. How much more money would the Sky west pilots make if they had a true CR7 rate at the $102.57 rate the ASA pilots are paid to fly the CR7?

1. Culture. SkyWest has always treated our pilots well and we will continue to do that regardless of the outcome of this election. We believe, however, that we can better act in the interest of our pilots by working face-to-face rather than through third party representation that cares more about a national agenda rather than your local issues.

We don’t want you to have the money and representation to collectively say no. We want to tell you what we will pay you we don’t want you to have true representation. It has been habit at Sky west to not pay cost of living increases every year. If ALPA comes on the property we will have to give you cost of living raises every year, in addition to your longevity pay increases, like in all ALPA contracts.

There are undoubtedly additional issues of concern to you. Please let us or your Chief Pilots know what these issues are. It is critical that you make an informed decision, and we will do all we can to help you get the information you need.'


It is critical that Sky west pilots vote YES to ALPA because if left to his own accord Jerry will continue to stash away 200 million dollars a year while never giving the pilots what they are truly worth. Even if you are only planning on staying at Sky west for 2-3 years wouldn’t it be nice to have the ability to bargain for an extra $3000- $15,000 per year and know that if something happens the jeopardizes your career that you have immediate legal representation?If you don’t vote, it is a vote for management! If you are planning on moving on did you know that DELTA, UNITED, NORTHWEST, FEDEX, ALASKA, and USAIR are all ALPA represented carriers, why not be a part of something big and join the union now? How do you think the ALPA pilots who are doing the interviews at the majors will feel if Sky West doesn’t pass the union vote?
[FONT=&quot] Every once and awhile you bump into an older pilot who was part of a union drive and they all remember it. It truly will change your career for the good. You have a chance to be apart of something big! Come be a part of one of the strongest unions in the world. The choice is yours. [/FONT]

 

[WWEfan]

I double posted this thread before done editing sorry guys!

 

[viper548]

1. Acquisitions and Mergers. Please look at this issue closely and get all the information you possibly can on the topic. ALPA will likely tell you that this is an area where they can protect you. If you look at recent cases (e.g., the America West-US Airways merger), it reveals the contrary. The pilots at both carriers are ALPA members, and the US Airways pilots have now filed a lawsuit against ALPA regarding the way ALPA handled the seniority list integration.

Yeah, US Airways got screwed but at least they got to negotiate (arbitrate) the integration. As it stands now, skywest could get stapled to the bottom of the ASA list if there was an integration.

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

If you are planning on moving on did you know that DELTA, UNITED, NORTHWEST, FEDEX, ALASKA, and USAIR are all ALPA represented carriers?

Continental is ALPA too, speaking of majors.

 

[SkyNation]

gosh, it sounds like things are really swell over there at ASA, and they have lots of neato stuff. jimminy, maybe we should be more like them!

so, just to save time on this soon to be 10 page, SkyWest bashing, ALPA chest thumping pissing match in it's latest yet far from original incarnation, I'll assume the following responses are forthcoming, saving the haters the time:

"yeah, you've got it good now, but you just wait!"

"nobody that was non-union can ever move on to a legacy that is union"

"you're getting screwed and don't even know it!"

"you only have what you do because of ALPA, so join the club"

and on, and on, ad naseum. all of it is untrue, and I know that from coming here from a supposed 'top notch' unionized pilot group and seeing the difference.

things, while not perfect at SkyWest, are really good compared to our counterparts elsewhere.

(slow inhale, exhale)....bring on the hate!

Official: everyone hates a winner

 

[Skywest Pylot]

At this point in my SkyWest career, I am very familiar with this letter. It shows up in one form or another before every union drive (including the UPA drive). I sure wish we had locked in our contract back then. Let's not make the same mistake this time! Mark my word, if we don't get some representation on the property now, things will continue to go down hill. Maybe you should ask Mr. Holt and Mr. Atkin why they were so opposed to UPA (A southwest type, in house union). They don't want us to have a seat at the table. Talk to the guys who have been down this road before and vote your conscience.

 

[atrdriver]

"you only have what you do because of ALPA, so join the club"

If you really think that JA would give you what you have now if not for the ALPA carriers that you have to compete with you are fooling yourself. If he could he would pay minimum wage for everyone in the company. That is not because he is evil, it's just business. You have what you have now simply because he has to compete with other carriers for people, and most of those other carriers are ALPA. I no longer have a dog in this race, so I really don't care how your vote goes. But if you vote it down, and JA decides to take pay, rigs, or airframes away from you, don't even think about crying about to anyone, because it will be your own doing.

 

[jea]

If you are planning on moving on did you know that DELTA, UNITED, NORTHWEST, FEDEX, ALASKA, and USAIR are all ALPA represented carriers, why not be a part of something big and join the union now? How do you think the ALPA pilots who are doing the interviews at the majors will feel if Sky West doesn’t pass the union vote?
[FONT=&quot]Every once and awhile you bump into an older pilot who was part of a union drive and they all remember it. It truly will change your career for the good. You have a chance to be apart of something big! Come be a part of one of the strongest unions in the world. The choice is yours. [/FONT]

You did go to riddle didnt you? So youre saying I really have the chance to be someone important if I vote yes? How is it that skywest pilots get hired at all of the above listed airlines when we already voted alpa down? We must really suck huh?
Your awesome letter just shows me how childish alpa and their scare tactics are.... I cannot wait to vote no!

 

[Troutbait]

My favorite thing about all the union pushers is the mention of what they think ALPA brought to the airlines. Yes, they helped in a messed up time, but join em just because of what they did 30 years ago. No thanks. Also, the idea that ALPA is responsible for TCAS and the such. Right....If you noticed, ALPA supported such innovative technologies. So did everyone else. It is not because of ALPA. That is a stupid notion. And for all they boys and gals who will respond against what I am saying, research before you speak. It is embarrassing. Also, it is not ALPA that enforces regs, it is the FAA. So a lot of work rules are there due to the FAA. It was not worth 2% at my last job and not here either. And you can bet that all our brothers at ASA want us to go ALPA so there will be a merger. Who is going to get screwed? I hope you get the contract you need at ASA, I do. But worry about yourselves and not what we are dealing with. It is so transparent. You only get what the company will give you. ALPA doesn't make anything happen. And all this talk about medical and legal protection. Crap, I get the same services from AOPA legal and medical services for cheaper. And that money actually helps the industry, verses pay for stickers, full page ads and magazines. Crap, all the tree lovers should be pissed. America uses 32 million trees just for magazines each year. Global warming baby.

 

[dumbidea]

If you really think that JA would give you what you have now if not for the ALPA carriers that you have to compete with you are fooling yourself. If he could he would pay minimum wage for everyone in the company. That is not because he is evil, it's just business. You have what you have now simply because he has to compete with other carriers for people, and most of those other carriers are ALPA. I no longer have a dog in this race, so I really don't care how your vote goes. But if you vote it down, and JA decides to take pay, rigs, or airframes away from you, don't even think about crying about to anyone, because it will be your own doing.

EXACTLY! Its just business, so come on now boys and girls and lets all be a little more capitalistic. Pilots are on the OTHER side of the table, but all of the seats seem to be empty. Mgmt funds sapa to "negotiate" pilot pay? Seriously, does that REALLY make any sense? I would rather sit around by myself on a saturday night and have sex with a bowl of broken glass than listen to someone tell me this company doesnt need a third party bargaining for my pay and schedule. I dont care who it is, ALPA, or whoever....as long as the pilots at least could say they at least TRIED to get paid more to fly airplanes with people in them, and not just sit around and wait for bigger paychecks to magically appear.


And for the love of the placenta covered fetus of our lord and savior of all humankind, jesus christ almighty the good shepard himself.........JUST FUITJKCING VOTE! yes or no...its shameful to not have an opinion in this matter, given how much time of your life you devote to working for a company. I would feel much better, even if the majority vote was no, knowing that 100% of the pilots participated in the vote.