Skywest, It's time to unify

[boeing76]

1. We can change that. It's our job to enlighten the newbies. Something we haven't done a good job of in the past. That will change as the koolaid is starting to taste like crap.

2. Possibly, but they are small bases with small numbers.

3. Flat out wrong. Let's just say I'm in the top 7% of the seniority list. Those around me (with a few exceptions) are all pro union. Have been for a long time.

4. Again, it's our job to change that line of thinking. We may not change all minds, but a few may be all it needs. Witness the last ALPA drive results.

5. Yep.

6. Yep.

7. By your logic, I should therefore vote no. My Dad isn't a big fan of ALPA at all, but is a retired airline pilot.


AF

Maybe you should change your user ID to JimJones. Sounds like your intentions are to poison the minds of those not as embittered as yourself. Why not let the employees, whether new or seasoned, make the decision for themselves.

 

[ArcticFlier]

Naw...I don't think so! But the next time you are in PHX...I have Scotch!

Copy.........no yelling down the hall, though.


AF

 

[ArcticFlier]

Oooooh, my feelings are hurt. NOT

Maybe you should change your user ID to JimJones. Sounds like your intentions are to poison the minds of those not as embittered as yourself. Why not let the employees, whether new or seasoned, make the decision for themselves.

Embittered? Nope................just walkin' around with my eyes open. Yours will be too some day.

You call it poisoning, I call it education. In the past us senior pilots have done a poor job of educating the new guys as to how our QOL has been degrading.

As to the Jim Jones comment........didn't he drink the koolaid? That's what I'm trying to stop. I'm not forcing anyone to vote anyway other than the way they want, but in the past it's been the new guys that are just 'happy to be here' that have been the swing vote. We've got to go after that voter block and poison (as you put it) their minds with respect to how things have gone here, especially in the last few years. Loss of COLA, ready reserve, -700 flying for -200 pay (if you think voting 'no' on that little gem would have stopped our delivery of -700's you are naive. We're at will employees.), training on days off (didn't use to be that way), no pay raise for how many years?, PBS being shoved down our throats, ad infinitum.


AF

 

[Bluto]

There's the union mentality again. It's always about what is best for me and not the company. Next thing you know, the airline is strapped for cash because the wages have increased and the profits have decreased.

There's the management mentality again. An airline as profitable as SkyWest can afford to pay it's pilots more. If it can't, it doesn't deserve to be in business. Southwest spends over 40% of it's costs on labor and manages to be continually profitable. The sky is not falling at SkyWest. Most importantly, it is not the pilot's job to sacrifice compensation to make the company profitable!!

 

[Splert]

the new hires in the past 2 years the new guys are most likely fine without a union. They don't want to rock the boat or maybe, just maybe they are actually happy to have a job and enjoy what they do. There's my $.02. Enjoy

How long have you been at SkyWest?

Good Day

 

[Skywest Pylot]

United Connection? It appears that someone doesn't know what they are talking about. Boeing76, you don't have a dog in this fight so do us all a big favor and get lost!

 

[BigHangar]

Interesting thread, I didn't realize things are getting worse over there. It it seems to be the same sentiments as what most of my friends at Skywest have been saying about their company. What's going on over there? They seem more and more unhappy over time, and they're so pissed off they won't even really engage me with a conversation about it...they just say, "it's not like it use to be a couple of years ago". Someone enlighten me with some details.

 

[boeing76]

United Connection? It appears that someone doesn't know what they are talking about. Boeing76, you don't have a dog in this fight so do us all a big favor and get lost!

Pardon me...UAX...is that better. The point was made. No need to detract from the subject at hand. That is a very unprofessional attitude you have. I have seen first hand a profitable airline basically disentgrate because of the union demands. I don't want to see the same fate for Skywest. Don't berate me just because of a simple error. Peace out.

 

[Ben Dover]

What's going on over there?

In a nutshell what's going on is the SkyWest pilot group is embarrassing themselves. Five months after the last pay agreement expired, there is still no end in sight on a new agreement. Mgmt is basically thumbing their noses at the pilots and laughing, yet the pilots collectively don't seem to care.

Keep in mind, we're not talking about big changes to the agreement. The pay increase is purported to be somewhere between 1%-1.5% and a minor change or two in some work rules. Never mind that the pilots (stupidly) agreed to fly 99 seat airplanes for 50 seat pay two years ago in return for some unspecified reward (read concessions). And haven't had an increase in rates in years.

It won't be long before SkyWest pilots relieve the Mesa boys as laughing stock/whipping boy of the industry.

 

[Ben Dover]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the company has approx. $600 million in the bank. I believe, more than all other regional airlines in the nation combined.

 

[Splert]

...

Mr or Ms boeing76,

How long have you worked at SkyWest?

Good day

 

[Skywest Pylot]

Boeing76,

I would also like to know how long you have been with SkyWest. Well.........we're waiting!

 

[Gr82Aviate]

I think Boeing 76 is a dipspatcher, not a flight crewmember and therefore shouldn't be giving us his "2 cents worth"!!

 

[boeing76]

Mr or Ms boeing76,

How long have you worked at SkyWest?

Good day

I don't see the relevance to the post, but to answer your question, going on 3 years. I am concerned because whatever the pilots do affects the rest of the company. I realize that my words are not going to change the minds of thousands of pilots, but I am entitled to my opinion. I only know of one union that has worked for an airline and that is WN. Herb approached the pilot group and encouraged them to unify but with Skywest and other airlines I have been with in the past, the threat of union is to intimidate management. This is just too volatile of an industry to bankrupt a company. Think for a moment if UAL strikes because of the pension issue. It is a travesty that they have all lost their retirements but if they walk then the company most likely would liquidate. There would be a huge influx of airline employees on the street trying to get work and there wouldn't be enough positions. To me, that gives Skywest the upper hand. They know that there aren't enough jobs available out there so you have to decide...take what you have or attempt to start over.

I am sure that the union vote will pass this time. There has been a lot of discontent amont the pilots. At least I can say I got my opinion out. Nothing more to say here. I am leaving this lynch mob while I still have my running shoes on.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

Boeing 76,

I understand your concern but I do not believe that a union will destroy SkyWest. Personally I support building a relationship with management similar to Southwest. Unions can and do work if run correctly. Many of our pilots (myself included) are completely fed up with SAPA. It is nothing more than a mouthpiece for management. We voice our suggestions and concerns and it goes in one ear and out the other. We just want to put balance back in the relationship rather than continue to have things shoved down our throat. A union at Skywest is inevitable now lets work on doing this thing right.

 

[ArcticFlier]

I don't see the relevance to the post, but to answer your question, going on 3 years. I am concerned because whatever the pilots do affects the rest of the company. I realize that my words are not going to change the minds of thousands of pilots, but I am entitled to my opinion. I only know of one union that has worked for an airline and that is WN. Herb approached the pilot group and encouraged them to unify but with Skywest and other airlines I have been with in the past, the threat of union is to intimidate management. This is just too volatile of an industry to bankrupt a company. Think for a moment if UAL strikes because of the pension issue. It is a travesty that they have all lost their retirements but if they walk then the company most likely would liquidate. There would be a huge influx of airline employees on the street trying to get work and there wouldn't be enough positions. To me, that gives Skywest the upper hand. They know that there aren't enough jobs available out there so you have to decide...take what you have or attempt to start over.

I am sure that the union vote will pass this time. There has been a lot of discontent amont the pilots. At least I can say I got my opinion out. Nothing more to say here. I am leaving this lynch mob while I still have my running shoes on.

MD,

No one is trying to bankrupt SKYW, but at what point do you say, 'you know what, that thing needs a tournequet?' I've seen things go downhill here in the last few years, and apparently no one seems to give a rats ass about it in SGU. From ready reserve (that is rarely used, but required o crew members coming off a trip), to the -700 out of seniority training going on to staff ORD (TDY would have covered that nicely (it's in the roll of toilet paper we call a policy manual), but would have cost the company money, so screw seniority), loss of COLA, being told to 'deal Capt Holt an ace, we won't regret it (-700 flying for -200 rates. Bald-faced lie too if you ask me), bucket system reserve (out of seniority), an insult of a pay raise proposal(1.2%) with no QOL improvements, PBS (if the pairings suck, it doesn't matter what I bid, it all sucks), do I need to go on? What, in Dispatch have you seen that compares to this?

You may ask around, but I know of quite a few dispatchers that quietly hoped we would have organized last time around. Apparently, no one in dispatch has the balls to get things rolling on their own. Wait for someone else to jump first, paving the way for them (you). Too close to the koolaid cooler, maybe? A union at SKYW doesn't have to be adversarial, but management is doing a fine job of that on their own. Notice there is no union.....................yet you mention discontent (adversarial relationship with management) among the pilots. Gee, I wonder who started that? Us? I don't think so. Who has been dragging this whole thing out with the pilot group? Could it be the same person that told us to 'deal' Holt the ace?

You need to do some research before you accuse anyone of being 'embittered'. I'm not. I'm just tired of some of the crap coming out of SGU via SAPA with the associated excuses.


AF

 

[ArcticFlier]

I think Boeing 76 is a dipspatcher, not a flight crewmember and therefore shouldn't be giving us his "2 cents worth"!!

He's entitled to his opinion, but maybe it should come with a dispatch point of view? I would be interested to know how content the dispatchers are with the way things are in their realm.

AF

 

[Morning Wood]

I think Boeing 76 is a dipspatcher, not a flight crewmember and therefore shouldn't be giving us his "2 cents worth"!!

Absolutely. Since a union on the property only has ramifications
for the pilots, no other employee group is entitled to say anything
or be concerned. I for one wish you guys would just vote a
union in and be done with it instead of this sabre rattling that goes
on every two years.

 

[ArcticFlier]

Absolutely. Since a union on the property only has ramifications
for the pilots, no other employee group is entitled to say anything
or be concerned. I for one wish you guys would just vote a
union in and be done with it instead of this sabre rattling that goes
on every two years.

We're trying..................


AF

 

[SkyWstman]

Managment has brought this company to the point where a union is absolutely
necessary. Ya can only kick the dog so many times before it bites back. As far as adversarial relationship, it's been here for a long time. There are too many things to mention but the biggest one for me is the TA that they never intended to make good on. My understanding is that two days after the vote a pilot had someone from management in the jumpseat and they said they never intended to go back and separate the payscale for the 50 and 70 seaters. That's adversarial. They are laughing all the way to the bank with your money and mine.