SkyWest pilots to petition NMB...

[Morgoth]

"TAKE THEM DOWN!"

Isn't that strangely reminiscent of the UAL mechanics who wore T-shirts that said "HIGHEST PAY TILL THE LAST DAY!" This "take them down" attitude, while no doubt manly and testosterone-driven, does nothing but reinforce the notion that you're more interested in grinding an axe and/or inflicting pain on management than doing what's best for the pilot group, let alone other employee groups at SkyWest. Indeed, it seems to advocate a willingness to be a willing participant in your own airline's demise if you don't get your way.

Don't you agree that it fosters if not advocates an adversarial position? While there are definitely airlines out there where management and labor have an acrimonious relationship, I don't think SkyWest is like that. I also disagree that SkyWest pilots are always having things "shoved down their throats." There is an amicable and professional relationship which has been nurtured over 30+ years. Do SkyWest pilots get everything they want? Of course not. Neither would they with UPA, ALPA, or any other union. The company must satisfy both its shareholders and its employees. In this day and age of cut-throat competition, low-fare economics, it is increasingly difficult to accomplish (IMHO).

On a different subject, as a SkyWest pilot, a few questions for you:

(1) are you content with UPA's nebulous financial estimates of dues/expense ratios -- i.e., do you think their budget can be accomplished on 1 percent dues without an initial assessment,

(2) how comfortable are you with their lack of experience running a union, their negotiating skills, etc.,

(3) do you think that UPA will prevent the company from creatively interpreting any contract any more than they do your current policy manual?

(4) Are you really willing to lock in your current pay agreement for however many years it takes to negotiate a contract that may or may not be as good as the arrangement you have now?

Inquiring minds and all that.......

P.S. The above is NOT intended to be flame bait in any way, or a personal attack -- I'm seriously interested in your perspective.

 

[barondriver]

Auto Throttle's attitude is exactly why I don't support a union here. No union was one of the first things I was attracted to coming to SkyWest, and still feel that way. From the guys I've flown with, it still seems as if it's just a small group again trying to start it up.

 

[MILF Hunter]

If you dont like unions, I guess your going to spend the rest of your life at skywest. You wouldnt want to fight for anything, that would require some effort and you might make someone angry with your pilot group. Your management will fight, they will always fight.

Dont forget to pick up you handbook, I would hate to hear that one of you guys got fired for not following the rules set by your mgmt.

Dont listen to any of your senior crj captains, they may want a union. What would they know? Some have only been around 6+ years. Take your advice from a 6 month 120 FO who loves the company, and they love him for being that way.

 

[Splert]

...and please don't do enjoy the fruits of other peoples labor.

 

[Morgoth]

Some of the people who went to SkyWest actually DO plan on staying there for the rest of their careers, due to domicile location, QOL, or whatever other personal reason they may have.

Also, the implication that a nonunion pilot force will just roll over and die is ludicrous. Management may be that way at other carriers, but SkyWest management has a 30+ year history of looking after its employees -- and that includes the pilots. Yes, I know that's a rarity in this industry -- which might explain the mindset of "us vs. them" that rages throughout our profession. But it seems to be different at SkyWest.

Interestingly enough, the SkyWest pilots that I've talked to regarding UPA have widely varying opinions. You suggest that we should talk to senior RJ pilots because they've been here and know what they're talking about. Perhaps. But the majority of west coast RJ captains that I've spoken to (all with at least 10 years of seniority, I might add) are adamantly opposed to UPA -- not because they're anti-union, but because UPA has failed to demonstrate financial common sense (e.g. their budget to dues ratio is fiscally impossible), they have no experience running a union, and most importantly because they refuse to answer many pertinent questions (which, BTW, they also accuse the current representative group of doing), and are already talking about a transition plan after they're voted in (according to one post I've been told about) -- which is rather arrogant and presuming, especially since they haven't even petitioned the NMB yet.

So it's not just junior, inexperienced, naive EMB F/O's who oppose UPA. There are quite a few of the senior RJ guys that you hold in such high esteem who oppose it too. Their sage advice should be heeded too. In the latest polls, less than half the pilots polled even support petitioning the NMB at this time, let alone having a certification vote. If I were a UPA organizer, I'd be very nervous with only that amount of support.

 

[Auto-throttle]

(2) how comfortable are you with their lack of experience running a union, their negotiating skills, etc.,

(3) do you think that UPA will prevent the company from creatively interpreting any contract any more than they do your current policy manual?

2. We offered you guys ALPA, lots of experience, but you turned it down, too. just curious, what was your argument then? Many of you anti-ALPA guys/gals were crying for an "in house union"...well?? what is it this time??

3. NO, but at least we can fight back. Does SAPA fight for you? yes, if you're management.

 

[sstearns2]

2. We offered you guys ALPA, lots of experience, but you turned it down, too. just curious, what was your argument then? Many of you anti-ALPA guys/gals were crying for an "in house union"...well?? what is it this time??

I think ALPA would be more popular than UPA.

3. NO, but at least we can fight back. Does SAPA fight for you? yes, if you're management.

That's just not true. For example payroll somehow decided to change the way they pay us for cancelled legs recently. The change resulted in us looseing extra pay for any legs that went over normal credit time that day if we had a cancelled leg. SAPA was informed, they documented it and took it to management and got it corrected with back pay. It took less than 2 days. Over the summer SAPA got the company to make junior manning volentary. The company can call on you day off, but they can't require you to goto work. SAPA has a PR problem of sorts. A lot of little problems are getting fixed, we're getting better jumpseat agreements, the pay committe is calculating, etc. all while everyone is standing around talking about how useless SAPA is. And by the way IT'S FREE!

Scott

 

[reno]

, we're getting better jumpseat agreements, Scott

BTW, How's the jumpseat agreement coming along for the IAH guys?

 

[SSDD]

Scott,

I've got news for you....The reason all these problems are getting solved so quickly is that there is a union drive going on!!! This is all part of their strategy to derail the union petition.

On a different vein, do you really think that some $6.75/hr clerk makes pay policy? NOT. These policies come from much higher up, and if the stink gets to bad, they reverse it.

This is deja vu all over again.

 

[rightrudder]

You Skywest folks should ask some Horizon pilots about their experience transitioning from non-union to union agreement. They can tell you if they believe going union is better than non-union.

 

[CRJDriver]

During recent conference calls certain management people have stated that SkyWest’s plan is to fly 70/90 seat jets at the lowest crew rates in the nation.

Ok, so tell me why we don't need a union? Doesn't look like SkyWest management is looking after the pilots with that statement.

Also a certain someone :cough: CEO :cough: recently stated that we in the 50 seat RJ are over paid.

We need someone to look after OUR interests. Is that UPA? I'm not sure. I do know that SAPA does a better job of representing management to us, rather than us to management.
(i.e the reserve bucket system, "oh come on guys this will help out the company", - who cares that it totally throws the senioirty system out the window - thanks SAPA).

 

[tomdav]

Horizon union transition

Yes we've had our problems, but there the same ones we will always have. Only now we have a REAL contract instead of an agreement that could be changed at managments will. It could have been better but Its better than nothing.

CRJ 700 cpt DOS + 24mo only three more years to go!

1-65.07
5-73.52
10-87.16
15-101.49
18-110.90

Raise the bar and get what you deserve

 

[BoilerUP]

With "about $561 million in cash and equivalents on its balance sheet at the end of September", it'd be hard for the company to claim a wage increase would be detrimental to the company's bottom line.

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aviationdaily_story.jsp?id=news/sky02024.xml

Especially after reading this article, I agree with tomdav; stand up to management and fight for what you deserve.