SkyWest Had Made Hostile $3.50/Share Bid For ExpressJet

[SkyNation]

So, you are the airline being acquired, and Uncle Jerry should just extend you all raises? Does this make business sense to anyone?

how dare you come on here and try to speak sensibly! I've warned you about this, dammit!!

 

[10nCLR]

Besides, where in this proposal did SkyWest ever ask for the ExpressJet pilots to take a concession? All they are asking for is the ability to line all three companies up to be cost-effective and competitive. The current language constricts SkyWest ability to make all three companies viable. Giving up a little scope to secure a better future? Sounds like one hell of an offer to me.

XPOO you speak the truth. But, no I think he would rather slit his throat.

 

[flynryan15]

You sound like you've made up your mind already to leave your job/industry. You will probably get you wish.

Just don't try to paint it like your're doing it for everyone else in the industry. It's all about survival at this point to stay in the game. The game will be/is over for many.

That is were you are wrong I have made up my mind to stand behind my current job and CBA. I am not going to give it up out of my own free will. If it is taken from me in bk court then so be it.

What is so wrong with wanting to keep the part of my CBA that protects me from having my airplanes whipsawed against me. Oh yes I know they can't get transfered to Skywest like what happened to ASA.

If my MEC is able to strike a deal that protects are pilot group then I may support it.

 

[XPOO]

how dare you come on here and try to speak sensibly! I've warned you about this, dammit!!

I'm just a piddly dispatcher, what could I possibly know? But after watching the whole ASA deal go down, and what ASA is finally becoming, ExpressJet would have to feel good knowing that they can live as a seperate entity and thrive with a great management team and strong financial backing. Giving up a little to gain a lot, sounds fair to me.

 

[flynryan15]

If giving up a little can be achieved without putting my co-workers on the street then lets see. But as of right now the parts of the scope he wants to go away are the parts that protect us the most from that happening.

 

[XPOO]

If giving up a little can be achieved without putting my co-workers on the street then lets see. But as of right now the parts of the scope he wants to go away are the parts that protect us the most from that happening.

Actually those parts could potentially put a lot of SkyWest and ASA guys on the streets. But I guess the company being acquired should always be the one to come out on top. And who cares if it screws over the guys that made the money to buy your company in the first place? As long as your collective butts are safe right?

 

[XPOO]

How is SkyWest going to transfer your ERJs? You think Uncle Jerry is going to spend money to train the OO/EV pilots/fa/maint just to take your airframes? No. But I can guarantee that bases will move, the branded flying will be gone, and routes will change. And all three companies will benefit from such a change. I can agree to that.

 

[sweptback]

Actually those parts could potentially put a lot of SkyWest and ASA guys on the streets. But I guess the company being acquired should always be the one to come out on top. And who cares if it screws over the guys that made the money to buy your company in the first place? As long as your collective butts are safe right?

It wouldn't put any ASA guys on the street. We have a no furlough clause, plus scope protection. Oh, and our scope protection protects against a whipsaw from any SkyWest, Inc. entity too.

It's not as good as ExpressJet's letter, but it's light years better than what SkyWest has (nothing).

Jerry wants the holding company letter gone because he knows that SkyWest Airlines would be the entity that would suffer by keeping it in place, not anybody else. He's just looking out for the home team.

If this deal goes down (and I bet it will), SkyWest pilots will be wishing they had a seat at the table where the decisions are made, rather than just being observers.

 

[flynryan15]

No those parts protect all groups from being used against eachother.

Everyone comes on here and complains about the whipsaw and now that we may be aquired you guys ironically want us to give up the part of our contract that prevents that from happening.

 

[flynryan15]

How is SkyWest going to transfer your ERJs? You think Uncle Jerry is going to spend money to train the OO/EV pilots/fa/maint just to take your airframes? No. But I can guarantee that bases will move, the branded flying will be gone, and routes will change. And all three companies will benefit from such a change. I can agree to that.

If branded goes away that puts about 650 of r pilots on the street, 325 fa's and good knows how many ground personel how is that a good thing?

 

[XPOO]

No those parts protect all groups from being used against eachother.

Everyone comes on here and complains about the whipsaw and now that we may be aquired you guys ironically want us to give up the part of our contract that prevents that from happening.

Like the whipsaw where the ASA took a paycut, then the SkyWest guys took a paycut? Didn't happen. Did some birds move around? Sure. Did anyone get let go because of it? No. You can hate anything associated with management all you want, but you can't ignore history. SkyWest has a history of doing right by the pilots and all the employees. I think the ASA guys will agree that they came out of the deal smelling like roses.

 

[XPOO]

If branded goes away that puts about 650 of r pilots on the street, 325 fa's and good knows how many ground personel how is that a good thing?

No, if the branded goes away, Uncle Jerry can use you guys to pick up the Mesa slack at both United and Delta. No more losing money flying the branded routes, and secure making money with long-term contracts with three major airlines. What's the downside?

 

[sweptback]

No those parts protect all groups from being used against eachother.

Everyone comes on here and complains about the whipsaw and now that we may be aquired you guys ironically want us to give up the part of our contract that prevents that from happening.

Bingo. The SkyWest pilots want the letter gone because they know it means 200+ new airplanes for them. Think of how quickly upgrades will go now!

Keep in mind, after SkyWest bought ASA, we lost by my count 36 current or growth airplanes that were on the property, firm orders or options for ASA. Upgrades at ASA pushed 5-6 years while SkyWest pilots were upgrading in ASA aircraft in 18 months. Nobody over there cared either because "we bought you guys" and "I got mine!"

Nothing SkyWest, Inc. does will be in your best interest during this transaction. It will keep the company alive, sure, but your future prospects will be slim unless you keep that letter intact.

 

[sweptback]

SkyWest has a history of doing right by the pilots and all the employees. I think the ASA guys will agree that they came out of the deal smelling like roses.

That's quite arrogant of you. Of course, I expected nothing less.

How exactly did we come out smelling like roses?

Oh, that's right, you "saved" us. My mistake.

 

[XPOO]

That's quite arrogant of you. Of course, I expected nothing less.

How exactly did we come out smelling like roses?

Oh, that's right, you "saved" us. My mistake.

No, you guys got the contract you wanted and fought five years for. And now that BH is in there, he is already fixing the performance side of ASA. Once ASA fixes the little things, I suspect that they will start to grow again. JA wasn't going to keep awarding the worst performing airline more aircraft. Fix the performance and the growth will come. Makes total business sense to me.

 

[WalterSobchak]

How exactly did we come out smelling like roses?

Well, you're no one's bastard step-child anymore...that's a start.

From what I hear, Uncle Rico, et al...along with a much more cooperative pilot group...are turning that place around.

 

[flynryan15]

No, if the branded goes away, Uncle Jerry can use you guys to pick up the Mesa slack at both United and Delta. No more losing money flying the branded routes, and secure making money with long-term contracts with three major airlines. What's the downside?

Thats fine then if thats his plan then we an leave the CBA alone and those pilots will be transfered with those planes to pick up the slack.

Oh here is the kicker and your not gonna believe this but he needs to account for our moving expenses when bidding to replace Mesa. Or should wee give that part of our contract back to?

 

[XPOO]

I don't know, maybe you should hear Jerry out before jumping to conclusions. I'm pretty sure he honors ASAs contract to the letter. We are not talking about JO here. There's a reason JA is at the top of him game, and JO is on the bottom.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Jerry wants the holding company letter gone because he knows that SkyWest Airlines would be the entity that would suffer by keeping it in place, not anybody else. He's just looking out for the home team.

Of course he will...he has had a "good faith" relationship with SkyWest flight crews for 35 years. He could just go ahead without covering SkyWest Airlines because they would still make money one way or another.

Management looking out for pilots? That's unpossible!

 

[flynryan15]

I don't know, maybe you should hear Jerry out before jumping to conclusions. I'm pretty sure he honors ASAs contract to the letter. We are not talking about JO here. There's a reason JA is at the top of him game, and JO is on the bottom.

Well the only thing Jerry has done so far is enter a backdoor CPA with Cal and then demand that ALPA give up the parts of the contract that protect us from losing our airplanes.

Not a great first impression!!!

 

[XPOO]

Guess Jerry needs to show all of his cards beforehand from now on?

 

[WalterSobchak]

Well the only thing Jerry has done so far is enter a backdoor CPA with Cal and then demand that ALPA give up the parts of the contract that protect us from losing our airplanes.

Not a great first impression!!!

Your "backdoor CPA" is someone else's "securing YOUR flying for YOU" before attempting to strike a deal.

 

[bluefly72]

Well the only thing Jerry has done so far is enter a backdoor CPA with Cal and then demand that ALPA give up the parts of the contract that protect us from losing our airplanes.

Not a great first impression!!!

Maybe his CPA deal with CAL secures flying 274 airframes worth for years to come for you guys...would that not be a good thing. All I'm saying is, it's kind of hard to say where this will go until we have all the details...
Cheers

 

[cybourg10]

First of all if we got rid of branded then that could put 400 pilots out (only 40 planes left) not 650 that your quoted. But I would think those 40 planes (all new LR2s and XRs) would be put into the UAL or DAL system. I am not willing to cancel out the CBA but I am willing to renegotiate it. If we lose (did I spell it correctly?) some more CAL flying (I would rather see SKW or ASA planes flying for CAL then CHQ) but gain some more DAL or UAL flying then I am ok with that. I do not care about keeping all the CAL flying, I only care about keeping all the pilots' jobs. Mabye we can restructure the CBA so we guarantee that no XJT pilot will lose his/her job during all of this. We also do not know for sure if JA and LK have come to a deal, its all speculation. XJT pilots need to be focused on securing our jobs vs securing the right to fly a/c painted in CAL colors. We need to be reasonable and not be stubborn as to hurt our future job security.

 

[bluefly72]

First of all if we got rid of branded then that could put 400 pilots out (only 40 planes left) not 650 that your quoted. But I would think those 40 planes (all new LR2s and XRs) would be put into the UAL or DAL system. I am not willing to cancel out the CBA but I am willing to renegotiate it. If we lose (did I spell it correctly?) some more CAL flying (I would rather see SKW or ASA planes flying for CAL then CHQ) but gain some more DAL or UAL flying then I am ok with that. I do not care about keeping all the CAL flying, I only care about keeping all the pilots' jobs. Mabye we can restructure the CBA so we guarantee that no XJT pilot will lose his/her job during all of this. We also do not know for sure if JA and LK have come to a deal, its all speculation. XJT pilots need to be focused on securing our jobs vs securing the right to fly a/c painted in CAL colors. We need to be reasonable and not be stubborn as to hurt our future job security.

I think you're seeing the light....

 

[10nCLR]

Gee, the most logical and sensible posts on here are coming from SkyWest dispatchers, wow. I guess they look outside of the box.
Here we go again.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/jaydub919/ALPAPunchDogvskool-aidman.jpg

 

[WalterSobchak]

Gee, the most logical and sensible posts on here are coming from SkyWest dispatchers, wow.

We're also loud...like cabbies with an internet connection...ain't that right, Stif?

In all honesty, I think we (dispatchers) look at it a little more objectively from a business standpoint because we are much less emotionally attached to it...and because we see the business vs. operational side of things every day.

None of us want to see anyone lose jobs...we want all three airlines to prosper under SkyWest, Inc...because, if Inc. is strong, we are all strong...and that strength is job security for so many people...not just pilots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/jaydub919/ALPAPunchDogvskool-aidman.jpg

I may have just peed myself.

 

[whosurdaddy?]

the bottom line is this, without skywest buying xjet you WILL lose your job. skywest will never merge the carriers lists, its not what they want, they just want to secure flying in the long-term future. ALPA will never be the strong arm here, skywest pilots have continually voted it down and we have a good relationship with our management unlike many other ALPA represented groups. coincidence? it's funny how people can demand all sorts of stuff when they are the ones being bought. uncle jerry isn't going to tear down all you have done, just look at ASA. it's all about performance, if you perform you will be fine, if you don't, look for your flying to go elsewhere, that's just good business sense. you all could get skywest flying if we drop the ball on performance. the dispatchers are right, wow i just wrote that!!!

 

[JoeMerchant]

I like this idea Joe, but with one master seniority list, would the pilots be able to transfer between the different airlines? Like lets say an XJT guy couldn't upgrade there but could hold it at ASA, could he simply bid it at ASA and come on over?

I'm not sure how that works with CHQ/RP/S5.

Yes they would be able to bid back and forth, but there would be restrictions...Seat locks, etc....

 

[aircowboy]

The reason SkyWest wants Expressjet is because they can get a branded flying operating certificate and a computer reservations system etc. etc. It takes a shiz ton of money to establish those things and right now Skywest can get them for pennies on the dollar for future use.
The deal would also allow SkyWest to diversify their flying and avoid getting caught with their pants down in this big consolidation game. Jerry has wanted to fly for Continental for years and has repeatedly had the door slammed shut.

The biggest reason this is all happening is Brad Holts kid is an XJT pilot and he is just trying to bring the family all back together.

Good luck to every one it is going to be a wild year!