Skywest announces IAH and MSP bases.

[johnpeace]

Lol, I love it!

 

[Flopgut]

Joe: You're a smart guy. What do you see that makes you think you can do this without violating my contract?

 

[BOX OFFICE]

There is nothing to work out. CAL has it's own contract and it is fully in force. With CAL/UAL JCBA efforts now back to zero the issue is even less in flux. We are going to enforce our scope. Pilots who fly this will have to cross a picket line and it will be a scab operation. It is a 100% violation of a prevailing CBA..

Time out. I didn't realize that the NMB had released the groups and a strike had been called! nobody tells me anything!!!

Oh, wait? You mean CAL isn't on strike? Well that would make flopgut full of crap! Oh, I get it now!

Carry on my chest beating FI friends, carry on. Next up, we'll get a tape measure and see which one of you's manhood is bigger. I shouldn't need a very large tape measure.

 

[Dubya]

Joe: You're a smart guy. What do you see that makes you think you can do this without violating my contract?

Seriously STFU. This went down during an ACTUAL strike with Comair. Remember? There is no strike. There is no struck work being done.
So shut the @#CK up and walk, or keep taking in your wrinkled ass taint from management. You don't scare anyone, you are talking out of your ass, and until CAL routes are being replaced while you are on strike there are no scabs.

 

[FSIGRAD]

There is no legal way for CAL[UAL] mgt to do this. Otherwise they would have included Republic. Or XJT would already have 70 seaters.

Republic is starting up Houston-Montreal service in a few months and a bunch of new EWR service.

 

[ROSWELL41]

Republic will be flying a ton of E-170's out of EWR. This was announced in the same press release as the SkyWest flying.

 

[badog]

As an XJT pilot i wouldn't fly a 70/90 seat jet for CAL because it violates its scope...... er um I mean, I wouldn't fly a 70/90 seat jet for 37 seat wages. I don't want to work for a regional any more, they are a dying breed. Especially the higher paid ones like us and COMAIR. SOME folks on this form are beyond help! Good luck getting hired outside of your current job, I'm out.
RZ

 

[Flopgut]

Three things will earn the title "scab". Failure to strike. Replace a striking worker. And failure to join a labor union. (look up the term on any labor specific website) Skywest has had 3 votes and they refuse to join. Additionally, the 3rd criteria speaks to the class warfare that exists with chronically low pay in an operation that is non union and is engaged in drawing down union workers. When Skywest violates the CAL scope clause they will become the perfect example of the 3rd criteria.

 

[Morning Wood]

Three things will earn the title "scab". Failure to strike. Replace a striking worker. And failure to join a labor union. (look up the term on any labor specific website) Skywest has had 3 votes and they refuse to join. Additionally, the 3rd criteria speaks to the class warfare that exists with chronically low pay in an operation that is non union and is engaged in drawing down union workers. When Skywest violates the CAL scope clause they will become the perfect example of the 3rd criteria.

Failure to strike. And how many people that fit that description do you have on property?

 

[777forever]

Lo and behold, the two important pilot unions have replaced “over promise and under deliver” with two new but seasoned presidents: Captain David Bates at the APA and Captain Lee Moak at ALPA. [Moak has been the subject of much commentary on this blog and I encourage you to learn more about him]. I had the opportunity to spend time with both men last week at the Boyd Group International’s 15th Annual Aviation Forecast Summit in New Orleans.

I don’t want warm and fuzzy from union leaders and I don't expect it from management. What I want is a sense that each side understands and negotiates with a clear understanding of the economic environment in which the industry operates. From both pilot leaders I am confident that principled negotiations and decisions will be the rule of the day. From both pilot leaders I sense a potential to depart from gridlock and enter disciplined negotiations. From management I want to see a renewed effort on communicating clearly the rigors of the business from a global perspective. That would be true leadership.

Unions and management must break through the gridlock that leads to protracted contract talks and ultimately keeps money from pilots' pockets. And both sides need to be honest with pilots about the extent to which the world has changed and the industry continues to change with it. For example, today’s union negotiations should be less about who should fly 76-seat small jets and more about how to position an airline to challenge new and vigorous competition in Latin America, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific regions. For the mainline carriers, competition is now more about Dubai than Duluth, and more about Auckland than Austin.

 

[Flopgut]

Failure to strike. And how many people that fit that description do you have on property?

We have pilots who failed to strike and who crossed the picket line. I don't know what your point is? It's an unfortunate thing to have expertise in this area, but we most certainly do. We are not confused about what does and does not make somebody a scab or what constitutes a scab operation.

 

[Morning Wood]

We have pilots who failed to strike and who crossed the picket line. I don't know what your point is? It's an unfortunate thing to have expertise in this area, but we most certainly do. We are not confused about what does and does not make somebody a scab or what constitutes a scab operation.

My point is that you seem to like throwing that word around when you have some of the very same on site that actually crossed picket lines. SkyWest has been flying these airplanes for the past 6 years. Unless I'm missing something, a picket line is not being crossed now nor has it ever been.

 

[FORESTGUMP]

Three things will earn the title "scab". Failure to strike. Replace a striking worker. And failure to join a labor union. (look up the term on any labor specific website) Skywest has had 3 votes and they refuse to join. Additionally, the 3rd criteria speaks to the class warfare that exists with chronically low pay in an operation that is non union and is engaged in drawing down union workers. When Skywest violates the CAL scope clause they will become the perfect example of the 3rd criteria.

on point 3: what about the hundreds of folks at Skywest who voted yes for alpa?

 

[Flopgut]

on point 3: what about the hundreds of folks at Skywest who voted yes for alpa?

CAL and UAL ALPA are trying to get a plan together. We have asked CAL to give us the legal basis for how they believe they can operate this flying legally. They can't. I think it would be prudent for Skywest pilot leaders (including XJT, ASA) to ask their mgts the same question. Skywest is hanging you out to dry. No pilot group should be asked to willfully break another groups legal contract.

At this moment nothing is going to happen, this is all in the works. CAL and UAL pilots are angry and we want to see our scope honored. However, we will be careful to not cause detriment to anybody that should not be. What is going on right now is discussion, the managing of expectations, and initial social enforcement. *Edit* when/if the line get's drawn, you'll know it. No one wants to ambush anybody with a new title. We all know there are a lot of great pilots involved that don't desreve that.

 

[Flopgut]

My point is that you seem to like throwing that word around when you have some of the very same on site that actually crossed picket lines. SkyWest has been flying these airplanes for the past 6 years. Unless I'm missing something, a picket line is not being crossed now nor has it ever been.

I hear what you are saying. We've got those pilots. What I can tell you is this: We have to be consistent. ALPA has let some pilots skate, and others they have not. I don't know for sure how this will pan out.

No one on our side begrudges anything the Skywest pilot group has earned. If they've had 70 seat airplanes for 6 years that's great. But they haven't been flying them for CAL. We have a scope clause and we are not going to give it up. You would want the same for yourselves I'm sure. This isn't a greed thing on our part. We don't have enough work to go around. We have coworkers who are furloughed and have no income. Scope this time isn't something some overindulged, underworked mainline louse from the late 80s early 90s gives away for some premium pay for a very few. We are trying to take care of our coworkers and their families.

 

[BOX OFFICE]

Flop, unless your name is Wendy Morse or Jay Pierce (it's not), you have no right to be speaking for your pilot group with all your "we this" and "we that"! In fact, I think you may be encroaching upon Article VIII territory by continuing to do so. You need to read ALPA's Constitution and Bylaws if that means nothing to you. Then you might want to lie low for a while.

Why don't you just go take some Valium and stop embarrassing your pilot groups. All you're doing is stoking a fire that doesn't need to be stoked. None of your threats here will change one thing about it anyhow. SkyWest is non union. If they refuse the flights, they get fired. Period. The SkyWest pilots are not going to fall on their swords for you, especially the way you're acting. Grow up.

 

[Flopgut]

............................

 

[ROSWELL41]

Again, why no talk of Republic? They will be doing the SAME 70 seat flying out EWR and IAH. Do they get a pass because they are Teamsters? If CAL and/or UAL strike over this, SkyWest pilots will honor their picket line. Trust me.

 

[SuperPilot]

Any word from CAL or UAL ALPA about this flying? I know they are looking into it, but what have they found out?

--SP

 

[JUNK YARD DOG]

If ALPA can not handle a direct violation of our scope clause... What can we expect of them? If ALPA does nothing then we should seriously consider a petition to recall.. Those of us who may be lucky enought to still have a job...

 

[SkyNation]

Just curious when is it up to Skywest pilots to fix the ridiculously low compensation that both your capts and especially your FO's take home?

SkyWest FOs are the highest paid in the regional biz. (Had a 7 year FO the other day who will make about 63K this year). Capts are more in the middle.

We've been over this.

 

[KSwift]

As a long time member, rare poster, but frequent reader of this forum, I just wanted to pass along my experience with all of this.

Since 1999 I have been through 4 regionals and one legacy carrier. I worked for Commutair, was interviewed and hired at Air Whiskey (in Aug 2001). I flew for Piedmont, ACA/Indy, and Comair. After my Commutair and Piedmont experiences (furloughs) I decided to go to a regional I could "retire" from if that's what it came to. Having finally "made" it to CAL that thought process was a huge mistake. I am fully aware of CAL's reputation in the past as the bottom Legacy, poor contract and pay, etc.... All that being said, my time at Continental has been 100% better than all of my regional airlines. It really is the difference between the minors and the majors. While I do still work a lot, it is not nearly as exhausting as the work done at commuters. It's far less cycles which actually equates to less work. For the most part, there is no comparison in the hotels we stay at. The layovers are longer and mostly in large cities with lots to do (no offense to cedar rapids, sioux falls, peoria, erie, etc...).

While the pay could be better, (at year four I make 86/hr. for large narrowbody), I will make in the mid 90's this year while flying about 700hrs. I suspect this is on par with or more than most RJ captains.

I write all this to say that while I thought getting on with one of the "good" regionals was a potential career move, it is not. Life is FAR BETTER at even a mediocre legacy carrier. At the regionals your flying is never your own. You will always be subject to the major partner (either management or scope). Ideally we would all be under one list or have a national pay scale or something that made the cost of flying airplanes a fixed cost and management would actually have to manage. That won't happen in my career. Scope will benefit us all. I believe that. Good luck to everyone.

KSwift

 

[STINKER]

As a long time member, rare poster, but frequent reader of this forum, I just wanted to pass along my experience with all of this.

Since 1999 I have been through 4 regionals and one legacy carrier. I worked for Commutair, was interviewed and hired at Air Whiskey (in Aug 2001). I flew for Piedmont, ACA/Indy, and Comair. After my Commutair and Piedmont experiences (furloughs) I decided to go to a regional I could "retire" from if that's what it came to. Having finally "made" it to CAL that thought process was a huge mistake. I am fully aware of CAL's reputation in the past as the bottom Legacy, poor contract and pay, etc.... All that being said, my time at Continental has been 100% better than all of my regional airlines. It really is the difference between the minors and the majors. While I do still work a lot, it is not nearly as exhausting as the work done at commuters. It's far less cycles which actually equates to less work. For the most part, there is no comparison in the hotels we stay at. The layovers are longer and mostly in large cities with lots to do (no offense to cedar rapids, sioux falls, peoria, erie, etc...).

While the pay could be better, (at year four I make 86/hr. for large narrowbody), I will make in the mid 90's this year while flying about 700hrs. I suspect this is on par with or more than most RJ captains.

I write all this to say that while I thought getting on with one of the "good" regionals was a potential career move, it is not. Life is FAR BETTER at even a mediocre legacy carrier. At the regionals your flying is never your own. You will always be subject to the major partner (either management or scope). Ideally we would all be under one list or have a national pay scale or something that made the cost of flying airplanes a fixed cost and management would actually have to manage. That won't happen in my career. Scope will benefit us all. I believe that. Good luck to everyone.

KSwift

Good post KSwift ..civil and to the point.

 

[rfa]

As a long time member, rare poster, but frequent reader of this forum, I just wanted to pass along my experience with all of this.

Since 1999 I have been through 4 regionals and one legacy carrier. I worked for Commutair, was interviewed and hired at Air Whiskey (in Aug 2001). I flew for Piedmont, ACA/Indy, and Comair. After my Commutair and Piedmont experiences (furloughs) I decided to go to a regional I could "retire" from if that's what it came to. Having finally "made" it to CAL that thought process was a huge mistake. I am fully aware of CAL's reputation in the past as the bottom Legacy, poor contract and pay, etc.... All that being said, my time at Continental has been 100% better than all of my regional airlines. It really is the difference between the minors and the majors. While I do still work a lot, it is not nearly as exhausting as the work done at commuters. It's far less cycles which actually equates to less work. For the most part, there is no comparison in the hotels we stay at. The layovers are longer and mostly in large cities with lots to do (no offense to cedar rapids, sioux falls, peoria, erie, etc...).

While the pay could be better, (at year four I make 86/hr. for large narrowbody), I will make in the mid 90's this year while flying about 700hrs. I suspect this is on par with or more than most RJ captains.

I write all this to say that while I thought getting on with one of the "good" regionals was a potential career move, it is not. Life is FAR BETTER at even a mediocre legacy carrier. At the regionals your flying is never your own. You will always be subject to the major partner (either management or scope). Ideally we would all be under one list or have a national pay scale or something that made the cost of flying airplanes a fixed cost and management would actually have to manage. That won't happen in my career. Scope will benefit us all. I believe that. Good luck to everyone.

KSwift

Good post - thanks.

 

[rfa]

SkyWest FOs are the highest paid in the regional biz. (Had a 7 year FO the other day who will make about 63K this year). Capts are more in the middle.

We've been over this.

You are such a tard dude - looking at you sig makes me want to puke. ...ashamed we work for the same company.

 

[SkyNation]

You are such a tard dude - looking at you sig makes me want to puke. ...ashamed we work for the same company.

It's tongue in cheek. I love 'tards' like you that don't get that. Guess I'm only part of your cool guy club if I constantly whine, piss, moan and spank to the ALPA mag, eh?

 

[AWACoff]

SkyWest FOs are the highest paid in the regional biz. (Had a 7 year FO the other day who will make about 63K this year). Capts are more in the middle.

We've been over this.

And do you know why you make the money you do...? It's because of all of the UNION airline pilots that have risked their families financial well being. All you have done is ride their coattails. You provide nothing to further this profession. Please have your union card handy when trying to jumpseat.

 

[SkyNation]

And do you know why you make the money you do...? It's because of all of the UNION airline pilots that have risked their families financial well being. All you have done is ride their coattails. You provide nothing to further this profession. Please have your union card handy when trying to jumpseat.

riiiigggghhhht. keep tellin' yourself that, tough guy.

I guess it doesn't have anything to do with company profitability at all, right?

Union thuggery raises it's ugly head, sadly, again.

 

[txpilot1974]

Skynation: If you can't tell we are in quite the sticky situation here at SKYW....a situation that most here don't want to be in. Do the rest of us a favor and lay off. Coming on here and stirring the pot helps no one.

 

[SkyNation]

of course we are. but doouchebag comments like that the one I replied to help...how?