SkyWest ALPA VARS Update

[ASAFOE120]

Absolute BS. Mesa hourly rates mean NOTHING because mesa pilots DO NOT GET PAID for most of their duty time! (I know, I worked there once).

The mesa contract is the most poorly written joke in the industry, every other sentence is "to the extent possible" or "at the discretion of the company"...well guess what, it's NEVER possible, and the company uses their discretion to not pay you and not give you days off...

Get your facts straight, MAG alpa is a joke, and if you're trying to sell me on alpa by telling me what a great deal MESA has, well you just blew it.
With "facts" like these, you're either a drooling moron or a lying con-artist...are you representative of what alpa can do for me?

Remember at least 50% of SKW new hires came from alpa carriers...you can't make up a fantasy and expect them to buy it...

I guess Skyw's working agreement is not at the "discretion" of the company? Looks like that promise of a separate pay rate for the 700 was at the company's "DISCRETION". Sure looks like a separate pay rate for 900 is at the company's "DISCRETION".

And we all know what a joke Mesa's contract is. But Mesa's advantage over Skyw's is that their contract will become amendable and a new one will be negotiated. It may take years, but then again, how long was Skyw supposed operate those 700's for 200 rates?

Look, I have no problem with any Skyw pilot and wish nothing but the best for yall. Big D used the whipsaw between us and CMR back in the day and we were both ALPA so I believe JA will continue this tactic even if yall do get ALPA. I do believe that ALPA would offer yall more protection during hard times though than not having ALPA because JA could just impose whatever he wanted on yall. I am a captain at ASA being downgraded back to the right seat because our a/c are being sent to yall. Do I blame ALPA? NO! I am glad we have ALPA because if the company does something illegal during this process or against our contract, I know ALPA has got my back! PERIOD! Who do yall have at Skyw? SAPA? I've heard how much power they have.
Oh well, sorry bout the ramble,
just my $.02
Former ATR CA

 

[rickair7777]

I guess Skyw's working agreement is not at the "discretion" of the company? Looks like that promise of a separate pay rate for the 700 was at the company's "DISCRETION". Sure looks like a separate pay rate for 900 is at the company's "DISCRETION".
And we all know what a joke Mesa's contract is. But Mesa's advantage over Skyw's is that their contract will become amendable and a new will be negotiated. It may take years, but then again, how long was Skyw supposed operate those 700's for 200 rates?

How many years have you worked under mesa's "contract"?

How about SKW? (no ASA doesn't count).


I have lived under both mesa and SKW management...

MAG alpa was useless and took 2% of what little money I did make.

SKW management is 1000% better, with no alpa. Maybe a union would be best in the long run, I am not opposed to unions. But if you want to try to sell me on alpa, telling me how wonderful alpa has made mesa compared to SKW is NOT the way to go about it...if you are that much of a moron about the state of the regional industry, why should I take your advice as to my economic and professional future? ROTFLMAO



You are a fool to speak of things of which you know nothing...anyone who would say anything positive about mesa's contract or work-rules is demonstrating their absolute ignorance, don't bother to respond further your comments are no more relevant than a third grader's. Or maybe you should go to work for mesa...they are hiring street captains... That would be far better than being an ASA FO under the SKW umbrella, right? Well...what are you waiting for?

 

[ASAFOE120]

Well, after almost 8 yrs with the airlines I probably am better educated on contracts and work rules and probably everything flying related than you son, so go back to your piano lessons or needle point and dont lecture me about things you obviously know nothing about.
Now that we got our ding dong reply out of the way, educated people now have the floor.

 

[rtmcfi]

Yes and No. Until a new contract is ratified the present agreement is enforced. That being said North American Airlines was able to reduce compensation packages prior to contract ratification due to operational/financial necessity. So yes, labor is not protected, the company wins. As far as contract negotiations go, the company is going to open with a huge reduction in compensation and and reduced work rules. The contract starts with a clean sheet of paper and everything, all of it is negotiated. All of it starts out with the company and ALPA miles apart. Pay, insurance, schedules, vacation, the company is going to come out swinging and they will spare no expense to win, plus they have time on their side.

I can't wait, a reduction of pay to give Duane his half million compensation package, years of prolonged negotiations, possibly ending up with less (most first contracts historicallysuck). Ya sign me up, can't wait to wear my shiny new pin.

And now for the rest of the story.......
North American Airlines never had a status quo. There was no pay agreement to work from in the first place. From what I understand, and what the anti-alpa folks tend to espouse, SkyWest has a psuedo-contract, signed by mgmt, and the pilots representatives. Looks like you do have a status quo to work from.

North American slashed everyones pay. Mgmnt, pilots, FA's, mechs. That helped to make it legal. Had they singled the pilots out, they would have been on treacherous legal ground. How long has SkyWest been profitable? Do you see OO reducing everyones pay?

This quote below is taken straight from the NMB web site...
http://www.nmb.gov/mediation/faq-mediation.html
18. Q: What does "status quo" mean? A: "Status quo" is used to describe the terms of the contract in place at the beginning of direct negotiations. During direct negotiations, mediated negotiations, and any cooling off periods after mediated negotiations, neither party may violate the status quo by making unilateral changes in wages, benefits, or working conditions.

 

[Mercyful Fate]

How Many Times Do We Have To Beat This Dead Freakin Horse?!!!! Good Lord Give It A Rest

 

[SkyNation]

I have a buddy who got fired at skywest for posting on these forums, did you know that you can get fired for any reason? Does that not scare you. I know many people that have been canned at skywest where at other carriers, alpa would have fought for your job. Dont say it wont happen to you because management is nice and fair.

Please PM me with the names of these 'many' people and the person you mention. Your failure to do so will prove what everyone at SkyWest already knows and what most level headed people here probably suspect-that this is complete crap.

 

[sweptback]

From what I read here, a lot of SkyWest pilots are simply ignorant about the ALPA drive. Things like status quo and the negotiation of your first contract should be explained to you by the organizing committee. With as many pilots that come on here and spout incorrect things as "fact" it tells me that either they're burying their head in the sand and not paying attention to the information, or the organizing committee is not doing a good enough job of getting the information out.

I am not going to tell you how to vote, other than to pay attention to the information and make an informed choice. Don't base your vote on what happened at a former airline or how you think ALPA might have done you wrong because you couldn't upgrade in 2 years. I imagine that the vote will be pretty close, and most FOs will vote against it while most Captains will vote for it. But that's just what I think.

 

[thebest]

Well, after almost 8 yrs with the airlines I probably am better educated on contracts and work rules and probably everything flying related than you son, so go back to your piano lessons or needle point and dont lecture me about things you obviously know nothing about.
Now that we got our ding dong reply out of the way, educated people now have the floor.

Yep, time for you to go then! ( 8 Years! HEHEHEAHAHAHAH) The airline's- wow you have been at all of them! THEBEST

 

[SkyNation]

From what I read here, a lot of SkyWest pilots are simply ignorant about the ALPA drive. Things like status quo and the negotiation of your first contract should be explained to you by the organizing committee. With as many pilots that come on here and spout incorrect things as "fact" it tells me that either they're burying their head in the sand and not paying attention to the information, or the organizing committee is not doing a good enough job of getting the information out.

I am not going to tell you how to vote, other than to pay attention to the information and make an informed choice. Don't base your vote on what happened at a former airline or how you think ALPA might have done you wrong because you couldn't upgrade in 2 years. I imagine that the vote will be pretty close, and most FOs will vote against it while most Captains will vote for it. But that's just what I think.

I think the OC has actually done a good job of getting their message out.

My observation is that people fall into something like the following groups.

1-Newbies who came from other 121 jobs, some ALPA some not. They are against it because they see SkyWest as offering a better overall package in terms of QOL, pay, growth opportunities, etc.

2-People who have been here forever and will be until they retire who don't want to 'rock the boat' and see things here deteriorate to what they observe at other regionals. They feel that though ALPA may not have caused those things to happen elsewhere, it certainly didn't prevent it.

3-People who describe themselves as 'on the fence,' which really means they're waiting for A-to see how it goes for ASA B-for someone to convince them that things (Overall pay, QOL, career outlook, etc.) WILL improve with ALPA and that we WON'T go the way of the other ALPA regionals of similar size.

4-Rabid unionistas, whose views and opinions have been well represented here.

5-Well spoken, well intentioned OC members, and others, who really believe that life will be better with ALPA.

6-People who don't really care and won't really bother with it all (human nature)


According only to me, I'd put the percentage of these groups as being:

1-20%
2-25-30%
3-30-35%
4-10%
5-10%
6-5-15%

now, I know many will reply that I'm totally making this up, that I have no idea what I'm talking about, that my %s are wrong, blah blah blah.

This is just my observation. I ask everyone I fly with, and this is my impression.

 

[Ponchus pilot]

Answer me this, what are they REALLY guarding? Not holding up to their name AGAIN!

Answer me this, what are they not guarding?

Ponchus Pilot

 

[MYFpilot]

I think the OC has actually done a good job of getting their message out.

My observation is that people fall into something like the following groups.

Could be, But after 3 years 2 A/C types and 4 domiciles and both seats, I see it a little different. I would say if you have been at SkyWest for more than 2 years you are probably, for one reason or another, more likely in favor of a union. Most of those who've been here for less than two years are probably, for one reason or another, less likely to be in favor of a union. From my observation it's going to be close, but if I was a betting man I'd say ALPA by a field goal, in over-time. I don't think it will matter a whole lot though, SkyWest will still be a good airline and a good place to work.

 

[SkyNation]

. Most of those who've been here for less than two years are probably, for one reason or another, less likely to be in favor of a union.

Agreed. That represents a ton of folks, since we've hired a ton in the last two years. I agree it will be close.

 

[thebest]

Answer me this, what are they not guarding?

Ponchus Pilot

You like aplo but can't see what they are NOT guarding???
T H E B E S T