SkyWest DEN Base to be dismantled.

[Marsupial]

Looks like some new hires are getting DEN right out of class. Some are waiting 2 or 3 months.

Uh, no, started in 4/2007, still not in DEN. Awarded COS in NOVEMBER so not as fast as you might think.

it just depends on the need at the time... about 2/3 of my class got denver straight out of training last sept. i just recently saw a new hire award list and there were a ton of people assigned to denver. and i know some people that got transfers within a month. and obviously this person hasn't yet got it after 3 whole months.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

I don't call people names for having valid opinions.

 

[Gr82Aviate]

Next Mesa? I don't think I'd go that far. Yes, morale isn't what it used to be, but I'd still rather be here than any other regional. Are the majors really going to hire "full stream?" One could only hope. Call me an idiot (I'm sure you guys will), but I still have a pride of ownership in my work and my airline.

You know, it's possible to "have a pride of ownership in my work", and still admit that the 0 or 1% from a company with the highest profit margins in the entire airline industry is pathetic beyond belief!

 

[ArcticFlier]

Sad part is, most of the senior guys still believe it's the mom and pop operation with some metro's and a new shiny brasilia coming online.

Most? I don't think so. Some? Definitely.

Time for the used car salesmen to start pitchin our 08 rates. (Remember, they are up for review yearly, now).

Yearly? HAHAHAHAHA! Don't hold your breath. But then again, I get your sarcasm.

 

[SKYW Pilot]

You know, it's possible to "have a pride of ownership in my work", and still admit that the 0 or 1% from a company with the highest profit margins in the entire airline industry is pathetic beyond belief!

Ummm... when did this 0-1% come into the conversation? I admit in a heartbeat that our last pay package was %&#$ and that's why I voted it down. No argument there, but I think comparing us to Mesa is pretty far fetched.

 

[Gr82Aviate]

Ummm... when did this 0-1% come into the conversation? I admit in a heartbeat that our last pay package was %&#$ and that's why I voted it down. No argument there, but I think comparing us to Mesa is pretty far fetched.

Ummm, I think the 0-1% came into the conversation as proof we have been sliding from the top of the industry(years ago), in the direction of Mesa...every time management gets a chance!

 

[SKYW Pilot]

Hey, we're the ones who voted that crappy pay scale through. SAPA is the group that negotiated that scale. Last time I checked, SAPA was made up of Skywest pilots. You can't blame management for wanting to save money. We need to stick together as a group and stand up to them. We also need effective leadership. This needs to occur with or without ALPA. If we don't "unify" we're just going to be a unionized weak pilot group instead of a non-unionized weak pilot group. The vote results of our last pay package show just how divided we are and how we would sell each other out (the Brasilia pilots).

Why do you think regional airlines pay so poorly? Because they can... we're our own worst enemy. "Ooooo.... look at the shiny new jet! I'll PAY $30,000 to fly right seat in it for a year!" "I'm just here to get my time and move to a major!" There's always somebody out there ready to do your job for less pay. It sucks and I sure as heck don't know how to fix it.

 

[SKYW Pilot]

Ummm, I think the 0-1% came into the conversation as proof we have been sliding from the top of the industry(years ago), in the direction of Mesa...every time management gets a chance!

Your post sounded like you brought it up earlier in the thread. As much as I don't like the pay package, how are we "sliding in the direction of Mesa?" When I fly the 700, I'm still making almost 7% more than a Mesa Captain. We didn't go down on pay with this last package. If we were taking pay concessions, I could see your point. I know many people who have flown at Mesa, and our pay and QOL is leaps and bounds above them. Yes, there are many areas where we can improve, but I'm just not biting on the whole Mesa thing.

 

[Tarzan]

The attitude at all the regionals, though, has always been "get your time and get out." The fact that we get a ton of pilots making lateral moves from other regionals speaks volumes of the quality of our airline compared to others. At least I'm hoping it does... ok... you can call me an idiot again...

I'm not going to call you an idiot but what are you smoking? Guys are making the lateral move because of the hope for quick upgrade and the bases, not because the "Little Mormon Airline That Could" is a quality airline.

And your airline does not have the highest profit margin in the business. That one goes to ASA last quarter with Pinnacle next.

 

[ranger17]

it just depends on the need at the time... about 2/3 of my class got denver straight out of training last sept. i just recently saw a new hire award list and there were a ton of people assigned to denver. and i know some people that got transfers within a month. and obviously this person hasn't yet got it after 3 whole months.

what recent new hire class did you see that people got den?? b/c wouldn't that be awarding out of seniority if there are a bunch of us trying to get DEN? I got COS in nov and only a few from den now, but its not like they are short staffed in DEN so why award it to a new hire, when ord is soo short right now?

 

[doug_or]

b/c wouldn't that be awarding out of seniority if there are a bunch of us trying to get DEN?

Yes it would. But it would not be the first time. And it would not be the last. The company will award by senority... unless it is operationaly neccessary to do otherwise.

Guess who get to define operationaly neccessary?

 

[Skywest Pylot]

SAPA made up of Skywest pilots? Maybe we ought to ask our E.B. how many hours they fly each month. As far as I can tell, the good old boys club is nothing more than an extension of management. I will continue to be skeptical of our current voting system. Having SAPA conduct a vote is like leaving the fox to guard the hen house.

 

[Gr82Aviate]

Your post sounded like you brought it up earlier in the thread. As much as I don't like the pay package, how are we "sliding in the direction of Mesa?" When I fly the 700, I'm still making almost 7% more than a Mesa Captain. We didn't go down on pay with this last package. If we were taking pay concessions, I could see your point. I know many people who have flown at Mesa, and our pay and QOL is leaps and bounds above them. Yes, there are many areas where we can improve, but I'm just not biting on the whole Mesa thing.

How are we sliding towards MESA??? I don't know...let's start with the fact that in the past we always had COLA until the company used 9/11 as an excuse to stop! This means that the last COLA was our anniversary the year prior to 9/11, combined with our generous 1% we locked in for the next four years means we have been taking a pay cut every year for the last 6&1/2 and will continue to slide backards for the next 4!
This all from an airline that has been earning "the biggest profit margins in the entire airline industry"!!

 

[Marsupial]

what recent new hire class did you see that people got den?? b/c wouldn't that be awarding out of seniority if there are a bunch of us trying to get DEN? I got COS in nov and only a few from den now, but its not like they are short staffed in DEN so why award it to a new hire, when ord is soo short right now?

i don't remember, i will have to let ya know next time i go to work.

DEN actually is short on FO's (and seems like capt.'s too)... for august 155 fo's bidding with pbs targeting 179 lines. not that i'd ever want reserve, but ya can't even bid it if u want it most months. we get lines with no less than 90 hours and 10 or 11 days off. i don't doubt ord is short, but den is as well.

 

[Nightrain_080]

Your post sounded like you brought it up earlier in the thread. As much as I don't like the pay package, how are we "sliding in the direction of Mesa?" When I fly the 700, I'm still making almost 7% more than a Mesa Captain. We didn't go down on pay with this last package. If we were taking pay concessions, I could see your point. I know many people who have flown at Mesa, and our pay and QOL is leaps and bounds above them. Yes, there are many areas where we can improve, but I'm just not biting on the whole Mesa thing.

Flying the 700 for 7% more than mesa is a bad place to start comparing pilot wages. How about flying the 700 for a real wage instead of 1990 rates. The BEND OVER OVERRIDE is a worthless scam, PBS and QOL are great if your in the top 3rd the other 2/3rds get the shaft and more forced flying that they don't want. Let's not try promote that it is a good thing we are one or two items better than Mesa. If management wanted to improve morale and the workplace they can't start by sharing the $$$ with the Brasilia and get rid of the override and make a real raise. Let's not forget were supposed to have industry leading pay and work rules.