Skywest Raise?

[DontFeedTheBear]

Dave,

Firstly I must commend you on using your real name on here. It says a lot about your integrity. But I think you are not truly understanding the big picture here. You mention about a "well managed" company, but what you need to understand is that management is only partially responsible for profits. True corporate profits are attained at the field management level. In our industry, thats the Capt, lead F/A, ramp sups, etc.... Think how we alone as a pilot group can destroy profits by just a few little items. Just to name a few; not worrying about on-time perf, two engine taxis, no reduced thrust, returning to gate for minor mechanicals instead of using our cell phones, heavy braking, wasting fuel by not flying efficient profiles, Type IV deicing when not truly nec, refusal to accept aircraft, the list goes on and on. We could eat up the cash reserves in no time at all. I feel that since we work so hard for the company, and I know you know what I mean, we should be compensated as such. Let us worry about competative pay rates when we are having the same competative profitability as our competitors.

Just my 2 cents,
Yogi

 

[Squak7700]

Skywest Kicks A$$!

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Think how we alone as a pilot group can destroy profits by just a few little items. Just to name a few; not worrying about on-time perf, two engine taxis, no reduced thrust, returning to gate for minor mechanicals instead of using our cell phones, heavy braking, wasting fuel by not flying efficient profiles, Type IV deicing when not truly nec, refusal to accept aircraft, the list goes on and on. We could eat up the cash reserves in no time at all.

I agree with you 100% that the employees are largely responsible for SkyWest's success.

Although SkyWest is not represented by ALPA I think the ALPA code of ethics is worth a look. If you don't want to read through the whole thing here's a relevant excerpt - "He will do all within his powers to operate his aircraft efficiently and on schedule in a manner that will not cause damage or unnecessary maintenance. "


Code of Ethics http://www.alpa.org/?tabid=270

 

[Crossky]

Skywest Kicks A$$!

I hafta respond if you're going to get all boastful like that.

Yes, they kick their trainee's a$$es by not paying them during training. Does the CO pay for hotel and perdiem though?

Their management think they kick a$$ because their pilot's voted no for a union.

So I guess your pilots aren't that unhappy. And in regard to all that, some of you need to stop complaining about low morale and feared pay or benefit cuts. Especially in light of what some of our other brothers are going through in this industry.

Service wise, though, I give you credit, you set the bar for UAX. I am impressed, you have the best snacks, hottest FA's (and good ones), clean A/C, good stations, and your own freakin' magazine.

Are the busses/boeings your head master of propaganda dangled out there for yourselves or under another carriers wing?

Happy Flying.

 

[Bluto]

Interesting that you would choose the ALPA code of ethics. I agree we should hold ourselves to ALPA standards. Every pilot should. Should we not hold our management to higher standards as well? Where do you draw the line?

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Where do you draw the line?

What was proposed is an illegal job action. Besides being illegal it's morally and ethically questionable.

If management does not bargain in good faith the pilot group must decide whether to continue with substandard compensation and work rules or to vote in a union and pursue improvement through legitimate means. Anotherwords if SAPA can't get you down the road it's time for a different car.

 

[surplus1]

Your "different car" is to little to late. You SKYW folks started the regional concession trend with your last unnecessary agreement and your willingness to fly everything for the same rate. I remember your telling us that you would fix it all in 18 months and get a proper rate for your bigger airplanes. You were dreaming then and you're dreaming now.

You deserve to reap what you have sown. It is just unfortunate that you negatively affected so many other carriers. I have little doubt that you'll be applauding with glee if your Company succeeds in taking some or all of AWAC's flying.

 

[Ben Dover]

What was proposed is an illegal job action. Besides being illegal it's morally and ethically questionable.

If SkyWest isn't represented by a union, how is it an "illegal job action" to have a work slow down? What law's are being broken? I can't think of any, but I'm not a lawyer so I don't know.

 

[Russ]

Don't get uppity Surplus, your company has strong history with PFT. We screwed the pooch with the 50/70 thing, but original sin belongs to your company.

 

[bayoubandit]

Your "different car" is to little to late. You SKYW folks started the regional concession trend with your last unnecessary agreement and your willingness to fly everything for the same rate. I remember your telling us that you would fix it all in 18 months and get a proper rate for your bigger airplanes. You were dreaming then and you're dreaming now.

You deserve to reap what you have sown. It is just unfortunate that you negatively affected so many other carriers. I have little doubt that you'll be applauding with glee if your Company succeeds in taking some or all of AWAC's flying.

Man, talk about hitting the nail on the head!

Just a sailor on a ship of fools!

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Man, talk about hitting the nail on the head!

Just a sailor on a ship of fools!

No I think Russ hit it on the head by reminding you of how the race to the bottom really began with you that chose to PFT.

If you think we're a bunch of fools I have only one thing to say to you and surpuss.
Go f__K yourselves.

Regarding the comment on AWAC flying it's a hell of an assumption to make that I'd like to see AWAC lose flying. Personally I hope they keep their flying. AWAC has a fine pilot group and they are the last guys that I want to see get furloughed. I've spoken to many AWAC jumpseaters and expressed my concerns for them losing flying. It's bad enough what's happened at ACA with all the bleeding.

 

[trip]

Surplus is still bitter for cutting that check after all these years. It will haunt him his entire career. How many pilots did you screw over with the "I got mine" attitude?

 

[bayoubandit]

Dave,

Say what you will and call me what you may, we have talked before, hell, I'm the one who got called so you could have christmas off.

I am not calling any individual a fool, I hope you can understand that. Poor decisions have been made by our pseudo representation, that is the ship. Many have been duped by trusting too much, and those of us who said NO have been forced to live with the outcome of those who say yes.

The last several months have been interesting in that a majority of the pilots have grown tired of the BS. Hopefully the ship is coming to dock soon, until then, I have to agree with Surplus that we reap what we sow.

We can point fingers all we want on lowering the bar, it doesn't excuse the fact that we as a whole settled on the 18 month TA (and counting).

I guess a more accurate description would be that we are rudderless for the time being.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Dave,

Say what you will and call me what you may, we have talked before, hell, I'm the one who got called so you could have christmas off.

I am not calling any individual a fool, I hope you can understand that. Poor decisions have been made by our pseudo representation, that is the ship. Many have been duped by trusting too much, and those of us who said NO have been forced to live with the outcome of those who say yes.

The last several months have been interesting in that a majority of the pilots have grown tired of the BS. Hopefully the ship is coming to dock soon, until then, I have to agree with Surplus that we reap what we sow.

We can point fingers all we want on lowering the bar, it doesn't excuse the fact that we as a whole settled on the 18 month TA (and counting).

I guess a more accurate description would be that we are rudderless for the time being.

Bandit,
I didn't think we worked for the same company based on your post. Small world isn't it? I was quite surprised my vacation request on Xmas was granted. I guess since you're on reserve you probably counted on working Xmas.

I don't think we're a ship of fools. I think people who supported the TA believed their reps and management. Now many of those folks feel they were lied to. It's anyone's guess what lies ahead. The old saying of "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice......." however the saying goes comes to mind.

I'll agree with you on your assessment of the ship's complement if a decent TA fails to surface and the group says no to real representation.

 

[bayoubandit]

See ya around Dave!

Keep up the vocalness, it's making a difference around campus.

 

[Beechnut]

Hey Russ,



Why don't you enlighten us ignorant folk about AWAC's long history of PFT? I'd really like to hear about it.



And you guys “settled” on a TA? Whatever makes you feel better I guess. Those management gurus in St. George are going to give you what they have to give you and no more. Not going to give you a raise? Then you'll take NOTHING it and like it!

 

[Russ]

"Why don't you enlighten us ignorant folk about AWAC's long history of PFT? I'd really like to hear about it"

Easy tiger, that was aimed at Surplus who works at Comair. I never mentioned anything about AWAC. Any inferences were assumptions on your part.

Peace

 

[Beechnut]

Gotcha!

Thanks.

 

[bayoubandit]

Hey Russ,



Why don't you enlighten us ignorant folk about AWAC's long history of PFT? I'd really like to hear about it.



And you guys “settled” on a TA? Whatever makes you feel better I guess. Those management gurus in St. George are going to give you what they have to give you and no more. Not going to give you a raise? Then you'll take NOTHING it and like it!

None of it makes me feel better.

Since pay was put up to a vote and not implimented, yes it was a settlement. It can be changed at anytime. Currently the settlement still stands until mgmt unsettles it if they so choose, or refuses to come to agreement on any new payrates, which would be further unsettling.

 

[propjockey]

I was going to write something else, but I really don't have anything new to say, I guess.

Where will it end? At a time when the whole industry needs upward pressure on ticket prices, airline management just keeps cutting prices and passing the cost onto the workforce. Meanwhile, executives continue to make a fortune regardless of whether the airline they "manage" is profitable or not. And the unions just stand by and watch it happen, and even worse, let one union carrier undercut another union carrier. (By the way, you could insert almost any other industry in America everywhere I use the word "airline." See Wal-Mart.)

I know I keep beating the same drum, and here I go again:

Airline employees are literally subsidizing cheap air travel in the United States. Why do we need ever-cheaper fares when planes are full? Economics 101 teaches: If you have customers coming out of your ears, the price is too low. Let's go back to 70% load factor and making money. Load factors are now above pre-9/11 levels. Why are airlines still losing money with full airplanes?

I've asked others on this board why Southwest doesn't raise their prices. Answer: because they don't have to. Whatever. I understand that.

I believe it's time for a shift in airline management thinking. Airlines (including Southwest) ought to raise prices because they CAN. I don't think US aviation is going to come to a screeching halt if people have to pay a bit more for a ticket.