SkyWest Had Made Hostile $3.50/Share Bid For ExpressJet

[Andy Neill]

This may illustrate the type of concern some ExpressJet are feeling:
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-04-28/

 

[rudder]

Now, last I checked, an alter-ego carrier is one that is created to circumvent the rules of a CBA...i.e; GoJet.

You can claim whipsaw all you want, but ASA and SkyWest are not "alter-ego carriers".

You could not be more wrong. The 'Skywest' empire is the quintessential alter ego operation and is looking to grow even larger......

 

[L.A.pilot]

Call it what you want, but the end result is the same. After SkyWest acquired ASA and decided to keep them divided, they owned two airlines with two identities and two separate pilot groups. In fact, SkyWest already has a large population of union hating pilots which makes their job a lot easier than trying to build a new union-busting airline from scratch.

Keeping the pilot groups separated is absolutely not good for pilots. It may benefit some in the short term, but at the expense of other pilots. I would feel like I scab if I allowed myself to be used by management to screw over other pilots. But that's just me. Apparently most of the SkyWest pilots will take glee in it because they get more shiny jets to fly! Yay!

 

[flyboyzz1]

I'm afraid you sir don't know the definition of a scab

 

[L.A.pilot]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scab

SCAB: 3 a: a contemptible person b (1): a worker who refuses to join a labor union (2): a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended (3): a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike (4): one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms

3a, 3b(1), 3b(4) apply.

 

[Dubya]

Call it what you want, but the end result is the same. After SkyWest acquired ASA and decided to keep them divided, they owned two airlines with two identities and two separate pilot groups. In fact, SkyWest already has a large population of union hating pilots which makes their job a lot easier than trying to build a new union-busting airline from scratch.

Keeping the pilot groups separated is absolutely not good for pilots. It may benefit some in the short term, but at the expense of other pilots. I would feel like I scab if I allowed myself to be used by management to screw over other pilots. But that's just me. Apparently most of the SkyWest pilots will take glee in it because they get more shiny jets to fly! Yay!

Curious...does it sting when you talk out of your ass?

W

 

[Andy Neill]

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

South Pacific

 

[auspac]

Merge seniority lists and have a bunch of senior to me (9+ years) ex Continental Express PFTers above me? Hell No!!!!! Use the scab word all you want, but believe me son, you have some senior guys who did more harm than a no vote to ALPA has ever done.

 

[L.A.pilot]

Dubya, are you a SkyWest pilot? How did you feel about getting all of those ASA planes? Were you excited about it? How about the legion of airplanes in Delta and United colors you received while their respective pilots were put to the street?

How did you feel when your management asked you to take pay freezes and agree to fly larger planes for significantly less than pilots at competing airlines? How about when they lied about taking pay cuts of their own so you'd feel better about it all the while bragging to investors about how much money they were bringing in?

No one has crossed picket lines at SkyWest, but the mentality seems to exist there. As long as I get mine... Many of the people on this message board are giving that impression. The fact that the pilots overwhelmingly voted against a union gives the impression that most of you support the actions of your management that have degraded the profession.

It sure takes a lot of gall to come here and tell someone that they need to ditch their contract so you can steal their job!

 

[Dubya]

Dubya, are you a SkyWest pilot? How did you feel about getting all of those ASA planes? Were you excited about it? How about the legion of airplanes in Delta and United colors you received while their respective pilots were put to the street?

How did you feel when your management asked you to take pay freezes and agree to fly larger planes for significantly less than pilots at competing airlines? How about when they lied about taking pay cuts of their own so you'd feel better about it all the while bragging to investors about how much money they were bringing in?

No one has crossed picket lines at SkyWest, but the mentality seems to exist there. As long as I get mine... Many of the people on this message board are giving that impression. The fact that the pilots overwhelmingly voted against a union gives the impression that most of you support the actions of your management that have degraded the profession.

It sure takes a lot of gall to come here and tell someone that they need to ditch their contract so you can steal their job!

I have friends there that were paid to sit on their arse for over 6 months following 9/11...by the same greedy management that you don't really know anything about. I don't agree with every decision they make...but I don't have to look far to find union carriers...regional and major...that have gotten screwed much harder.

I've personally talked to ASA pilots that are seeing positive changes in their workplace...still union...still under contract....by the same greedy management you speak of.

So again curious...what kind of ointment to you spread on your anus after spewing spicy BS out of it?

W

 

[L.A.pilot]

It's great getting paid to not fly. I had a month of pay with no work following 9/11. Was your friend one of the SAPA guys that got paid 25% more than line pilots to spread anti-union propaganda? I hear they've got a pretty sweet deal.

I agree that working for SkyWest isn't all pain and misery. It is actually a great company. The problem is that as pilots we need to protect the profession. There have been a lot of things that have degraded the profession over the years. There is much harm from having pilots divided against each other.

Here is a true story about SkyWest: A new hire ground school was taking place on 9/11/01 in Salt Lake City. The students showed up to class after hearing some reports about the events of the morning, but not really knowing what is going on. The instructor comes into the room twenty minutes late, and starts calling on the students to go over homework problems. A few minutes into this, one of the students asks the instructor if he knew anything about what was going on. The instructor's response: "Well, yeah, but that's not really important here because it's happening way over in New York."

Don't be caught up in your own little world.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Call it what you want, but the end result is the same. After SkyWest acquired ASA and decided to keep them divided, they owned two airlines with two identities and two separate pilot groups. In fact, SkyWest already has a large population of union hating pilots which makes their job a lot easier than trying to build a new union-busting airline from scratch.

Keeping the pilot groups separated is absolutely not good for pilots. It may benefit some in the short term, but at the expense of other pilots. I would feel like I scab if I allowed myself to be used by management to screw over other pilots.

ALPA doesn't care about separate pilot groups that are owned by the same parent corporation....In 2000 the ASA and CMR pilots tried to get ALPA to negotiate a single list on the DAL property.....ALPA was opposed to that idea...

You're right about a single list...but dont fall for the ALPA cheerleaders....they can't achieve single lists....

ALPA even deleted the alter-ego definition after ASA and CMR were purchased by DAL....

"Those in glass houses"...and ALPA is occupying a glass house with many broken windows....

 

[JoeMerchant]

http://www.rjdefense.com/alpaletters.pdf

 

[L.A.pilot]

Joe,

I don't know whether ALPA can achieve a single list at SkyWest, but is there another option? ALPA is only as strong as the pilot group it represents. If the pilots are not willing to fight for it, it will not happen.

I spoke with a friend at ExpressJet this morning. He said "it will be a cold day in hell" before they throw out their merger clause for SkyWest. At airlines with bigger iron, there is not a question about this. They will not allow a merger without seniority integration no matter how painful it is. The alternative is worse.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Joe,

I don't know whether ALPA can achieve a single list at SkyWest, but is there another option? ALPA is only as strong as the pilot group it represents. If the pilots are not willing to fight for it, it will not happen.

I spoke with a friend at ExpressJet this morning. He said "it will be a cold day in hell" before they throw out their merger clause for SkyWest. At airlines with bigger iron, there is not a question about this. They will not allow a merger without seniority integration no matter how painful it is. The alternative is worse.

That will be your choice....But I believe the alternative will be the unemployment line...and that is going to be a long line for awhile....

ALPA is afraid of pushing a negotiated single list because it will result in a representation vote for the new group and ALPA may lose that vote....They can ill afford more losses as they have lost 7000+ members in the last month.....

The choice is yours....don't cut off your nose to spite your face....

Jerry and CAL are holding guns to both sides of the XJT head....Do you feel lucky....well do ya..????