Skywest Alpa Drive

[John Pennekamp]

D@mn! You went and blew it. I was actually giving you more credit than you obviously deserve for being intelligent in another thread. If you truly believe that ANY COUNTRY in Europe or Canada have a better QOL or a middle class growing at a quicker rate than here, you obviously don't deserve the credit I was giving you.

D@mn man! Just D@mn.

I knew you'd love that one.

And where did you give me credit? I mised it.

 

[ohplease!]

I knew you'd love that one.

And where did you give me credit? I mised it.

nope. You answered it.

 

[Ben Dover]

If you truly believe that ANY COUNTRY in Europe or Canada have a better QOL or a middle class growing at a quicker rate than here, you obviously don't deserve the credit I was giving you.

D@mn man! Just D@mn.

Why don't you educate yourself before you post crap like this. The fact is, few economists disagree that middle-class families have LOST purchasing power (real dollars adjusted for inflation) over the last twenty years. AND, the composition of the middle-class family is increasingly composed of two wage earners rather than one.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Why don't you educate yourself before you post crap like this. The fact is, few economists disagree that middle-class families have LOST purchasing power (real dollars adjusted for inflation) over the last twenty years. AND, the composition of the middle-class family is increasingly composed of two wage earners rather than one.

Of course. That's easily proven. But you're wasting your time ond logic on him.

I avoided the argument because you can't reason with people like ohplease! who refuse to see both sides of the debate.

 

[JoeMerchant]

With Mesa/Freedom, a vote wasn't necessary because the NMB handed down a ruling right after the contract was signed that Mesa and Freedom constitued a "single transportation system" In other words, ALPA was succesful in our single-carrier petition in this case. In the eyes of the NMB, there weren't two carriers to merge, so no new vote was needed.

PCL,
I read the single carrier petition, and it seems like it was dismissed because of the LOA that MESA ALPA negotiated. Read thru it and let me know what you think. It sounds like it was negotiated before the NMB could rule on it.....

 

[JoeMerchant]

I have talked to many different SkyWest pilots, and they all say the same thing -- that ASA pilots are getting hosed. Most I talked to know that SkyWest could just as easily be the airline getting hosed in the blink of an eye. They know what is going on, and hopefully they will step up and do something about it. Otherwise there is a fine line between being outraged and looking the other way if it benefits you.

Of course they told you that. Pilots don't want to hurt each other, and the Skywest pilots are going to be sympathetic to our situation. Don't confuse that with support for ALPA however. ALPA has not been able to eliminate the whipsaw, and the Skywest pilots know that. They have a good thing going, and they don't want to upset the apple cart... I don't blame them. Maybe ALPA should work on the whipsaw issue.... might get Skywest to sign on then....

 

[JoeMerchant]

Continental? FedEx?

They voted in ALPA, but were already union. I can't think of a similar situation where a non-union carrier the size of SKYW, that was near the top of the industry, voted in ALPA, much less any union. The deck is stacked against ALPA in this situation..... time to face up to it...

 

[Exskydiverdrivr]

Quote:ask yourself this: which regional do you look at that is represented by ALPA and say to yourself 'man, I wish we were in their position'?

Continental Express ain't lookin so bad.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Now John, you know better than to let facts get in the way of CFIT's argument.

I think CFIT has his facts in order. Can you site an example of a carrier the size of SKYW, that was near the top already in compensation, going from non-union to ALPA or any union?

 

[JoeMerchant]

Yes, the term is "coat tail riding" and that never lasts forever.

May not last forever, but might as well ride it as long as you can. ALPA hasn't been able to stop the whipsaw/race for the bottom, and voting in ALPA will end the "coat tail riding"..... why risk it? If I were at Skywest, I would keep riding that coat tail.......

 

[JoeMerchant]

Yes, until your company decides to replace you with cheaper workers and you have no protection.

Go ask the 3500 Circuit City employees who just got told they're losing their jobs and being replaced with cheaper labor. It was on the news this morning. It could happen at Skywest tomorrow.

About 12000 union pilots have been replaced by cheaper labor at DAL, AA, UA, NWA, and USAIR. Several thousand ALPA pilots at ACA, ALG, Mesaba, and CMR have also been replaced by cheaper labor. Did I mention that they were replaced by "fellow union pilots"????

"Free Market Economy" only benefits the corporations and managers. It does nothing for the workers or the average citizen, aka the "middle class". The middle class has been suffering and sliding downhill since World War II. If you call that successful, than there's not much else I can say.

"Free Market Economy" benefits ALL who harness it. Socialism and Communism don't work. Maybe we as a union should learn to harness the "Free Market Economy". National seniority/transportability of seniority and barriers to entry would help us harness that................. JP, don't fight the system, work with it....

 

[JoeMerchant]

Then how do you explain socialist economies like those in Europe and Canada where the unions are very strong? Their economies are prospering, their businesses are prospering, the middle class is prospering. In many countries, the people enjoy a much better quality of life than we do.

What are the unemployment rates in Europe? What are the taxes like in these socialist "utopias"? What are the regulations like in these contries? As a dual citizen Canadian, of German descent, I like the US system much more. This isn't Europe or Canada.............. thank God!

 

[JoeMerchant]

Why don't you educate yourself before you post crap like this. The fact is, few economists disagree that middle-class families have LOST purchasing power (real dollars adjusted for inflation) over the last twenty years. AND, the composition of the middle-class family is increasingly composed of two wage earners rather than one.

Only because of the rising burden of taxes, health care, and higher education.......

 

[theo]

Then how do you explain socialist economies like those in Europe and Canada where the unions are very strong? Their economies are prospering, their businesses are prospering, the middle class is prospering. In many countries, the people enjoy a much better quality of life than we do.
Easy, Those countries have governments that have fostered a set of rules that favor union activity. Our government on the other hand does not create the same set of rules for unions here. Yes they are legal but no they do not get the same support. Since we are based in the good ole USA than we wont enjoy that same set of rules. Here we rely principally on a Free Market economy to create our wealth. Again I say it has worked pretty well for most Americans, I doubt we will be changing any time soon.
It's been proven time and time again that free market only benefits the wealthy corporate robber-barons.



I disagree. Skywest aint the mom & pop operation it used to be. At one time, I agree a union was unecessary, but as the company grows, it becomes more important. Skywest may have finally reached that critical mass.

That is just another way of saying the dues revenue is now large enough to make Skywest attractive to ALPA.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Here we rely principally on a Free Market economy to create our wealth. Again I say it has worked pretty well for most Americans, I doubt we will be changing any time soon.

Including the 3400 Circuit City employees... but who cares! Just as long as I can get my junk cheap!