As a former fence sitter........
There is absolutely no way skywest would have the pay and QOL that it has today if it were not for the work, sweat and dues of other ALPA members...
you give ALPA the credit for what the market has, does and will dictate. It doesn't matter who negotiated, the results are a reaction to what the market will bear. people who suggest that we'd all make Mesa wages (approved by ALPA via their contract, BTW) or worse assume that we're all idiots and would do this job for whatever we were given. give yourself more credit than that. it's ludicrous to suggest that without the all-mighty ALPA that we'd make $5 bucks/hr. and work 20 days/mo. no we wouldn't. nobody would do this job for that. so employers have to react to market forces to attract and retain employees, while still remaining profitable. that is not a reaction to unions, but to the market. SkyWest has reacted over the years to keep pace with the industry to attract and retain pilots, not to keep up with ALPA. If that were true then everyone else would negotiate for A, then get it. Then we'd negotiate for A, then get it. Then B, then C, and so on. Truth is we have lots of things at SkyWest that are better, so who's trying to keep up with who? BH et al will always give us what they feel like will attract quality employees while keeping the company competitive in the marketplace, whether others in the market are represented by ALPA, SAG, the Girl Scouts or the United Federation of Elephant Dung Scooper Uppers.
That being said my vote is coming down to an obligation to this industry and those that have fought before, the belief that it will make things better at skywest in the long run (even if it not immediately),
I'd love to know what would be better immediately? nothing will change, for years.
and the belief that we all need to be united as professionals if we are ever going to stand up managment.
classic 'Us vs. Them' union mentality. Good luck. While things at SkyWest are by no means perfect, I've worked at a union carrier, have you? are you really that eager to foster and promote that kind of work environment? The feelings of anger, resentment, and wanting to 'stick it' to management will absolutely serve to the detriment of this company.
If you were going to buy an insurance policy, would you feel like it was valuable to hear from others who have bought that policy about what their experience with that company was like? Start asking everyone you can that has come to SkyWest from ALPA carriers about their experience. Don't be simplistic enough to just discredit all of them as wanting a fast upgrade, just happy to fly, etc. Those are stupid arguments and are insulting to all who seek a better life for themselves, their family, etc. by coming here, and are contrary to the supposed good intentions of those support this drive.
If we didn't have things good here, I wouldn't hold the position I do. If I worked for Mesa and wasn't represented, you bet I'd be on board. But they have reacted poorly to the market, and ALPA has allowed it. I don't blame ALPA, because they don't dictate market forces-
and they don't prevent them either. That is what people need to understand.
Bad things may happen at your company, ALPA or not. ALPA doesn't cause them to happen, and they sure as hell can't prevent them. So in the end, go with what works. Talk to your fellow pilots here that are former ALPA. Talk to guys at other regionals in your same seniority, seat, AC, etc. Compare. I have 3 friends at Express, 2 at Mesa, and 1 each at AWAC, Pinnacle. In our discussions on this topic they all generally agree that we have it pretty good at SkyWest.
I support ALPA for all efforts made towards safety in our profession. If they left it at that, I'd be all for it. It's when they try to dictate and run the business end of things that I diverge.
