SKYWEST Pilots: SAY NO TO ALPA!!

[ATR Pirate]

I can't understand why in the world there is a union drive here at Skywest! There is an open policy and we can move towards change anytime we want! We don't need an ALPA contract to fight over for an average of 4+ years everytime we need something changed! The only time a union is ever needed is when there is no communication between pilots and management LIKE AT ASA! Skywest management knows what they are doing, and have an open door policy and will listen to you anytime you want to speak with them. Take it from any of the 10's of 100's of ASA guys leaving and trying to come over to SkyWest....ALPA SUCKS! You will ruin a great thing at Skywest if you allow ALPA on the property. My last point is we have the ASAP program. Why do we need an ALPA lawyer or representative? If you're in trouble and fill out an ASAP report, you can't lose your job! Even with an ALPA lawyer you still run the risk of losing your case! And even now if you need a lawyer, SkyWest will provide you one for free! ALPA is a corrupt Woerthless union that doesn't care about the regionals! They are on a sink ship and their popularity is going down the drain. All I ask is that before you vote for ALPA, talk to anyone who has 121 experience with ALPA..The major thing in common with all the struggling regional airlines out there today...IS ALPA! Say No to ALPA!

 

[ASARJMan]

Take it from any of the 10's of 100's of ASA guys leaving and trying to come over to SkyWest....ALPA SUCKS! You will ruin a great thing at Skywest if you allow ALPA on the property. All I ask is that before you vote for ALPA, talk to anyone who has 121 experience with ALPA..The major thing in common with all the struggling regional airlines out there today...IS ALPA! Say No to ALPA!

What an ignorant rant! Who pissed in your wheaties this morning? 100s of guys leaving ASA to go to SKYW huh. Don't think so. There is a good amount going but it's not in the 100s.

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[rattler]

All I ask is that before you vote for ALPA, talk to anyone who has 121 experience with ALPA..The major thing in common with all the struggling regional airlines out there today...IS ALPA! Say No to ALPA!

Ok I have have 121 experience with ALPA and I am happy with our MEC and LEC. I would be very concerned to not have a union, especially in this industry environment. Your MEC or "your ALPA" is what you make of it. You can have a very different opinion of ALPA national. I know I do.

(I do not work for SkyWest or ASA, I'm just offering my opinion on ALPA)

 

[ASARJMan]

Ok I have have 121 experience with ALPA and I am happy with our MEC and LEC. I would be very concerned to not have a union, especially in this industry environment. Your MEC or "your ALPA" is what you make of it. You can have a very different opinion of ALPA national. I know I do.

(I do not work for SkyWest or ASA, I'm just offering my opinion on ALPA)

Well put rattler.

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[superatr]

Managment alert!

There is an open policy and we can move towards change anytime we want!

Why hasn't the student council done anything yet?

The only time a union is ever needed is when there is no communication between pilots and management LIKE AT ASA!

Isn't ASA owned by Skywest? Why hasn't JA fired the problem managers?

Skywest management knows what they are doing, and have an open door policy and will listen to you anytime you want to speak with them.

So you have no problem when you walk into your managers office and ask for a pay raise.

ALPA SUCKS!

Wow, an English major.

My last point is we have the ASAP program. Why do we need an ALPA lawyer or representative? If you're in trouble and fill out an ASAP report, you can't lose your job!

Who is the pilots' rep on the ERT?

talk to anyone who has 121 experience with ALPA..

Feel free to PM me.

The major thing in common with all the struggling regional airlines out there today...IS ALPA!

Skywest is struggling? Step away from the kool-aid.

Superatr
A proud ALPA member since 1999.

 

[Scapegoat]

Everyone at Skywest will have their own opinion on how to vote.

I highly doubt someone would be convinced to vote in favor or against ALPA by some of the moronic comments posted on this site. The Skywest vote is about the Skywest pilot group, it has nothing to do the ASA pilots unless ALPA gets voted in. I would be surprised if it did.

 

[ASARJMan]

Everyone at Skywest will have their own opinion on how to vote.I highly doubt someone would be convinced to vote in favor or against ALPA by some of the moronic comments posted on this site. The Skywest vote is about the Skywest pilot group, it has nothing to do the ASA pilots unless ALPA gets voted in. I would be surprised if it did.

I agree Scapegoat. It's the Skywest pilot's choice to select their representation as they see fit. ALPA's not the best but there are alot of positives about ALPA (legal, medical etc). But, I'm sure ya'll are aware of what ALPA does and does not offer. Good luck regardless of how the vote goes! I mean that sincerely too.

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[amcnd]

I heard there are so many ASA guys/gals trying to come over to SkyWest that ASA had to say no we need to keep them for 2 more months!! (for staffing)They have to meter them leaving now!!

 

[airtime42]

It is sad to think that some Sky West guys like your self think that there is no problem there. Actually you guys and gals have bigger problems than we at ASA have. Flying 900's for 50 seat rates. Somebodys getting the shaft there. It is funny that some like it though. As for the quick upgrade all an illusion if you are going to SKW for the quick upgrade now you have already missed it.

 

[hoover]

Twice in my life I worked for a non-union carrier that went union. I can tell you from firsthand experience that having a union never solves the problems that the rank-and-file expect it to solve. I am not talking about OT pay or scheduling rules or stuff like that. I am talking about communication. The main problem that exists in companies that go union is a lack of meaningful communication. A union doesn't solve that problem. It makes it worse.

 

[Long Time Gone]

Why do we need an ALPA lawyer or representative?..........Even with an ALPA lawyer you still run the risk of losing your case!

I'm not pro ALPA, believe me. However, in the case of a lawyer and a union, I look at it this way: If Alex Burdette can keep his job after the crap he pulled, you can get away with anything here. Not that I would do anything intentionally like he did.

 

[ASARJMan]

I'm not pro ALPA, believe me. However, in the case of a lawyer and a union, I look at it this way: If Alex Burdette can keep his job after the crap he pulled, you can get away with anything here. Not that I would do anything intentionally like he did.

What did he do? Do tell, send me a PM if you have to!

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[ASARJMan]

They have to meter them leaving now!!

Do they have to await ground control for metering???? Being silly...

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[:-)]

ALPA is nothing more than YOU. If your pilot group is a bunch of self serving unethical losers, your union will reflect that condition.

If your fellow pilots are loyal, hardworking, and decent; likewise your union will reflect that.

The biggest problem I see in ALPA is the amount of APATHETIC whiners who carp and complain about ALPA. They happen to be the same lot that never volunteer, never show up for an LEC meeting and never do anything to help a fellow pilot. OBTW, they are always the first to call their rep when they get their behind in a crack.

If your management is employee friendly, and you have a good group of elected union leaders, you will find that your life is quite good. That's a round about way of saying that management sets the tone for employee relations. If your management thinks that people are nothing more than cost units, there is nothing ALPA can do to change them. What ALPA can do is prevent a adversarial manager from arbitrarily ending your career.

To be blunt, ALPA will provide you benefits worth far in excess of the 1.9% you pay in dues, regardless of the relation you have with your present managment.

I think that the last five years have proven that pilots are willing to meet management more than half way as we attempt to save our careers. Yet the career is still on life support. That's another round about way of speaking. yes, Calvin likes to speak in circles. Maybe I should just say...the COMPANY is the enemy, not your fellow pilots.

with ALPA

 

[CAPTAINDEEZ]

If there is such a drive for a union, why not have an in house union that has the best interest for its own pilot group and company. As far as SAPA, I am not sure if they have any bargaining power. Look, if Southwest had ALPA, do you think they would be a success today? Just a question for you serious ALPA woodies out there. I mean I don't really care either way.

 

[Mookie]

When is the vote?

Mookie

 

[sweptback]

If there is such a drive for a union, why not have an in house union that has the best interest for its own pilot group and company. As far as SAPA, I am not sure if they have any bargaining power. Look, if Southwest had ALPA, do you think they would be a success today? Just a question for you serious ALPA woodies out there. I mean I don't really care either way.

Because in order for an in-house union to provide all the services that ALPA does, dues would need to be much higher to make up for the relatively low salaries of regional pilots. It works for Southwest because they make several times what the average SkyWest pilot makes. I guess if the SkyWest pilots were happy paying 6-8% dues then it might work.

Plus, didn't SkyWest try a in-house union drive a few years ago which failed?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

What are the skywest pilots going to do about bankruptcy laws?
What are Skywest pilots going to do about globlization and brand alliances?

Skywest pilots: The world is not Salt Lake City or St. George. At some point you will have to deal with what is coming over the horizon. Things may be fine now, but what do you want to be in five years?

 

[rickair7777]

What an ignorant rant! Who pissed in your wheaties this morning? 100s of guys leaving ASA to go to SKYW huh. Don't think so. There is a good amount going but it's not in the 100s.

VOTED IN FAVOR!

Apparently the last class wwas almost 100% asa...that's not 100 pilots, but it's in the ballpark.

 

[amcnd]

Last class was 7 ASA. The curent class is 3. The 4-6 more could not come do to ASA staffing needs. That is what I heard.

 

[CFIT]

What are the skywest pilots going to do about bankruptcy laws?
What are Skywest pilots going to do about globlization and brand alliances?

Skywest pilots: The world is not Salt Lake City or St. George. At some point you will have to deal with what is coming over the horizon. Things may be fine now, but what do you want to be in five years?

What's ALPA going to do? How are the guys at Mesaba doing? I think Duane Worthless described it as "indentured servitude". Is that the help ALPA gave them?

Or how about Comair, Delta, United, or any other carrier that went into BK. The reality is that management has figured out ow to circumvent organized labor on virtually every front. Organized labor hasn't won any significant battle in years and the clowns at ALPA are worse yet other than walking in holding patterns, they havn't done squat.

Globalization and Brand Alliances, management is going to do whatever has the best return. Scope settings and equipment shift will happen and be complete long before ALPA can do one damthing about it. Management will find a loop hole in the CBA and transfer everything they want. ALPA will grieve it but it will not stand. The next CBA will have wording in it, via concession of somthing else like pay, but then it will be too late.


In 5 years, is ASA any better off? They have been holding off for the "pie in the sky" contract and only recently has momentum begun to accept reality that that probably wont happen. Who knows where this industry will be in 5 years? Could flurish and grow, or one giant terroist attack or oil hits $125 a barrel or bird flu or who knows..........

When does ASA hit the 5 year mark themselves?????

 

[Clark W.]

for ALPA to represent both regional and majors is a contridiction.
ALPA needs to keep it's business with the Majors and the Majors only. They do better protecting Fed Ex 727 crews who avoid checklist and run off the runway, than they do regional pilots for less.

 

[DrewBlows]

What's ALPA going to do? How are the guys at Mesaba doing? I think Duane Worthless described it as "indentured servitude". Is that the help ALPA gave them?

Mesaba (and Northwest) managment drove the company into the ground. A bankruptcy court judge ruled to make them "indentured servants". Without ALPA, Mesaba wouldn't have had to go to court, they could have just unilaterally imposed cuts. Consequentially, they wouldn't have had to take such big pay cuts, because they wouldn't have been making nearly as much to begin with. If taking a smaller paycut in bankruptcy is your goal, then I guess non-union is the way to go.

Or how about Comair, Delta, United, or any other carrier that went into BK.

I wonder if the Delta Flight Attendants would have liked to been union while dealing with bankruptcy? I guess they don't have time to think about it during their nine hour break following their CVG-JFK-SAN (8:30) day.

 

[ATR Pirate]

What an ignorant rant! Who pissed in your wheaties this morning? 100s of guys leaving ASA to go to SKYW huh. Don't think so. There is a good amount going but it's not in the 100s.

VOTED IN FAVOR!

ALPA pissed in my wheaties every day for the last year! Everyone knows ASA pilots are dropping out like flies. I tried to believe ALPA was going to do something..I was optimistic just like the rest of you ASA guys still holding out for your dream contract...wake up and smell the coffee..When I resigned on the 9th of a previous month..I was the 40th person to have left THAT MONTH. ASA's chief pilots and secretaries told me I'd be an idiot to stay here (at ASA)...Now not everyone of those people leaving are going to SkyWest..but there were 7 in the class ahead, and several in mine, and several who couldn't make it. Thats just in the last 3 weeks worth of classes...just keep watching your pilot group get smaller and smaller over there...then you'll hire just to keep the planes flying, not to grow..Hey I'm not trying to piss anyone off..I'm just saying..ALPA doesn't do crap for you...

 

[www.]

Twice in my life I worked for a non-union carrier that went union. I can tell you from firsthand experience that having a union never solves the problems that the rank-and-file expect it to solve. I am not talking about OT pay or scheduling rules or stuff like that. I am talking about communication. The main problem that exists in companies that go union is a lack of meaningful communication. A union doesn't solve that problem. It makes it worse.

HMMM. Doesn't it take 2 or more to communicate.

SWA seems to do a good job and they are union.

 

[www.]

I'm not pro ALPA, believe me. However, in the case of a lawyer and a union, I look at it this way: If Alex Burdette can keep his job after the crap he pulled, you can get away with anything here. Not that I would do anything intentionally like he did.

Which part? The tennis shoes that Chromer gave him written permisson to wear or the FFDO thing?

 

[Rekks Inbound]

Do you anti-ALPA whiners truly believe that ALPA can just go to the company, or the bankruptcy judge, and say "no, we are not going to take any paycuts?". Or "no, you must keep these aircraft on our property?". Or tell the mothership that you must keep the flying we are doing with us? If that is what you believe, then you have no clue as to how an airline operates, or what the role of ALPA is concerning your career. ALPA is there to help you if you have a problem renewing your medical. ALPA is there for when some manager who never flies the line tries to discipline or fire you because of a percieved 'lack of judgement'. ALPA is there to assist in the negotiation and enforcement of employment contracts. ALPA conducts research into improving the safety of airline travel.

But ALPA does not control the operation or finances of the airline, so don't expect something of them that is outside of their purview.

And to you, ATR Pirate, your 2000 hrs really makes you an authority on the subject. Try doing something for your fellow pilots, instead of taking the lazy way out. Oh, looks like you already did.

Peace.

Rekks.

 

[gcaflyer]

ASA's chief pilots and secretaries told me I'd be an idiot to stay here (at ASA)...

Please tell me specifically who said this you can PM me if you don't want to post it. Otherwise, I call BS. I know most of the CP's and can't think of one (even behind closed doors) that would say that.

 

[Bizjet]

ALPA pissed in my wheaties every day for the last year! Everyone knows ASA pilots are dropping out like flies. I tried to believe ALPA was going to do something..I was optimistic just like the rest of you ASA guys still holding out for your dream contract...wake up and smell the coffee..When I resigned on the 9th of a previous month..I was the 40th person to have left THAT MONTH. ASA's chief pilots and secretaries told me I'd be an idiot to stay here (at ASA)...Now not everyone of those people leaving are going to SkyWest..but there were 7 in the class ahead, and several in mine, and several who couldn't make it. Thats just in the last 3 weeks worth of classes...just keep watching your pilot group get smaller and smaller over there...then you'll hire just to keep the planes flying, not to grow..Hey I'm not trying to piss anyone off..I'm just saying..ALPA doesn't do crap for you...

Bye. One whiner down and a few more to go.

 

[AV8700]

Last class was 7 ASA. The curent class is 3. The 4-6 more could not come do to ASA staffing needs. That is what I heard.

I know that there have been plenty to leave for Skywest but no way could applicants be denied based on ASA staffing issues.

Those that have left were very junior at ASA anyway and may have left to chase the upgrade. A risky move, had we taken the paycuts the shoe would be on your foot. Your not immune