Skywest to Unionize?

[USCtrojan]

I can't paste it here!! Article written in the Salt Lake Tribune and is on the ALPA website! If anyone can paste it here it would be great!! Relevant info considering recent events!

Written by Paul Beebe, if you go to www.sltribune.com, article is about halfway down. I can't post the article or the link, sorry!

Trojan

 

[turbodriver]

They're chumps. They won't unionize. They love mgmt.

 

[Bluto]

For those of you that have trouble with statements such as the one above, let me translate.

SkyWest pilots bad. Me good.

The current union drive has been in the works since the UPA drive failed about two years ago. It's coming to a head, there's a great deal of interest, but it's far from over yet.

Now stand by for the veiled, and sometimes not so veiled, threats from a few bad-apple ASA pilots that if we don't vote in ALPA we are management lapdogs with no concern for the industry. If you ask them, they'll be happy to tell you that we're bottom-feeders, who are only interested in getting growth at any cost as long as we can be sure to step on some poor, hard-working, honest, unionized airline's pilots in order to do it. We all have SJS (a term I invented, by the way..) and would step on our grandmothers in order to fly a 70, 90, or 400 seat RJ for 50-seat rates. We all drink the company kool-aid and would never dare voice a differing opinion from that of our management because we are stupid and ignorant and believe everything they tell us. ASA and really any unionized carrier, is far superior to us because their individual unionized pilots are made of stronger stuff than our petty, weak, and morally bankrupt non-union pilots.

There, now that that's out of the way, this thread can go on with the original question. That is, unless some of the SkyWest haters want to reiterate some of the points I've already made for them. Adam Kooper? Tomct? Did I miss anything?

 

[~~~^~~~]

SkyWest pilots again consider unionizing
Third time since 1999: The Air Line Pilots Association would need to see a significant interest
By Paul Beebe
The Salt Lake Tribune
A number of SkyWest Airlines pilots are once again considering whether to form a union at the rapidly growing St. George airline.
The SkyWest pilots have approached the Air Line Pilots Association, which says it will determine whether the desire to unionize is great enough for it to distribute authorization cards to SkyWest's 3,500 aviators.
It would be the third such effort since 1999, and this one comes at time when the association has had mixed success in negotiating pay and benefits for its members with other airlines, including Delta and Northwest. Those carriers have negotiated concessions with their pilot groups, with Delta's aviators in the midst of a vote on whether to approve pay and benefit cuts.
As for the situation at SkyWest, "we are . . . looking for some significant [indicators] that would tell us that this is a serious effort on the part of pilots and that there is a realistic possibility of winning," association spokesman John Mazor said Tuesday.
Distributing authorization cards would be the first step toward forming a union. If the group received signed cards from a majority of pilots, the union could ask SkyWest to recognize it. If the company refused, the association could petition the National Labor Relations Board for a secret-ballot election. If the union won the election, SkyWest would be obligated to bargain with it as the representative of the pilots.
"If we get 50 [percent]-plus-1 we're probably not going to hold an election," said Mazor, who emphasized that the group has made no decision to distribute cards. "But if you get a strong enough response from the cards, that's concrete evidence that you should start moving to the next step, which is petitioning" the board.
If a unionizing drive does materialize, it would be the third attempt in seven years. In 1999, pilots narrowly defeated a proposal to join the union. Two years ago, pilots decisively rejected an attempt to form an in-house union, to the relief of the airline, which believes that remaining union-free is big reason why it is one of a few profitable carriers in the otherwise ailing airline industry. SkyWest executives did not respond to a request for comment.
This attempt would take place under different circumstances. In September, SkyWest's parent company, SkyWest Inc., bought Atlantic Southeast Airlines from Delta Air Lines. ASA's 2,500 pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association. Depending on which aircraft they fly, some ASA pilots earn more than their SkyWest counterparts. The company and union have been unable to agree on a new labor agreement since negotiations began in 2002.
The association is the largest pilots union in the world. It represents 62,000 aviators at 39 U.S. airlines and several Canadian carriers. Most major airlines are affiliated with it or, like Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, have their own unions.
"You have to get down to the level of the small- to medium-sized carriers to find an airline that isn't unionized," Mazor said.
[email protected]

First,ALPA is not likely to risk another embarrassing loss of a certification vote. Second, ALPA is not very excited about adding to the masses of RJ pilots who are demanding a say in the way that the Delta pilots run the union. A bunch of "non preferred" RJ pilots who could out vote the "preferred pilots" is one of ALPA's worst nightmares. A this moment SkyWest pilots voting with Comair and ASA pilots could force the Delta MEC to find alliances at BOD meetings. Third, the real benefit of ALPA, the local pilot volunteer staff, can be organized and supported on the local level.

Yes, I think the SkyWest pilots are better off with ALPA. If the National Union would work as a National Union which represents all members, then it would be a slam dunk in favor of ALPA. However, ALPA represents a few preferred pilots and wishes the rest of us did not exist. Occassionally ALPA acts to destroy its own members in favor of other members, like CC Air and what I think is going on with Mesaba and Compass.

If Duane shows up in the Crew Room, somebody please hold his feet to the fire and ask about the diminution of ALPA's merger and fragmentation policy, how ALPA has increased the number of alter ego competitors, why ALPA fights against regional carrier's efforts to engage their employers in scope and why th Continental SCABS were invited into ALPA without a penny of back dues.

I'd like to see SkyWest pilots put Duane on the hot seat like ASA pilots put Jerry Atkin on the hot seat. Turn about is fair play.

 

[OCP]

This guys list of the # of pilots that each company has is pretty far off.

 

[USCtrojan]

Skywest Article

Thanks fins for posting!! Frustrating I couldn't do it!!

Trojan

 

[Peter Griffin]

If Duane shows up in the Crew Room, somebody please hold his feet to the fire and ask about the diminution of ALPA's merger and fragmentation policy, how ALPA has increased the number of alter ego competitors, why ALPA fights against regional carrier's efforts to engage their employers in scope and why th Continental SCABS were invited into ALPA without a penny of back dues.

Awesome point. After cumming from an ALPA carrier to SKYW I can honestly say that ALPA did absolutely nothing for me at my previous employer that SKYW pilots arent accomplishing on their own here. Actually, SKYW pilots are getting more and faster than a union would (I know thats hard to believe, but look at how long ASA has been negiotiating that contract). Thats not to say that a union wouldnt be a good thing at SKYW, but I dont think ALPA is the one. They are sooooo far in bed with the big boys money that they dont give a darn about regional airlines. Id like to think thats why SKYW pilots turnn down the union drives, not because were "management lap dogs" or lack a spine, etc...imp:

 

[buscap]

rising tide

Every airline pilot owes their standard of living, good or bad, to the unions. It's as simple as that. It is impossible to deny this simple fact. Skywest management competes against every contract ever written.

Eventually this "rising tide" effect should run out, but who knows. It could last the length of a career.

Given the state of the industry and the relative state of Skywest, selling ALPA at Skywest is not easy. It takes an extremely forward looking viewpoint to see the advantages of having a union on property, when you are reaping some of the benefits without paying the dues.

The list for pro-union is long, ranging from legal protection, insurance, ability to strike, and so on. Obviously quite a few Skywest pilots agree, or the union vote would not be so close. I would bet the vote is within a few points of a similar vote at most carriers with unions already in place, given the right-wing political bent of most pilots and dissatisfaction with the industry.

The list for anti-union is almost as long. But my hope is the Skywest pilots get some sort of union on the property. I believe they and the industry would be better for it.

 

[Bluto]

After cumming from an ALPA carrier to SKYW I can honestly say that ALPA did absolutely nothing for me at my previous employer that SKYW pilots arent accomplishing on their own here.

If you don't mind my asking, which ALPA carrier? How long have you been with SkyWest? Most pilots I've spoken with that have been at SkyWest longer than 2-3 years have seen a disturbing trend with respect to pilot-mgmt relations. Can you name something over the past 3 years that we've received 'better and faster' than ALPA carriers? (Aside from the bonus program? We voted for a pay-rate increase instead, summarily ignored.)

 

[Gr82Aviate]

If you don't mind my asking, which ALPA carrier? How long have you been with SkyWest? Most pilots I've spoken with that have been at SkyWest longer than 2-3 years have seen a disturbing trend with respect to pilot-mgmt relations. Can you name something over the past 3 years that we've received 'better and faster' than ALPA carriers? (Aside from the bonus program? We voted for a pay-rate increase instead, summarily ignored.)

The "bonus program" was not an increase at all...we lost our year end profit sharing in the 401K, so it was a wash at best.

 

[Peter Griffin]

I was with PDT. Their position as a wholly owned regional under US Air put them in a very bad position with ALPA. Mainline USA was ALPA as well and always ALWAYS took priority over PDT concerns. Ask any PDT pilot about the whole MDA flowback and super-seniority and they'll tell you how effective ALPA was for them. As for SKYW, I am relatively new here, so I cant say anything about the trends over the past few. But just in the snapshot of how things are right now at SKYW compared to PDT, SKYW is at least equal, if not better to them in terms of compensation, schedules, labor-mgt relations, training, and the overall satisfaction of the workforce. People still seem proud to say they work for SKYW, which you hardly EVER hear with any airline. Its not that SKYW recieves things "Better and Faster" than others, but they get just the same (dont get me wrong, some things are better, some worse, but overall), and they do it without sending their paycheck to ALPA.

Would a union be good for SKYW? Maybe, and I'm open to arguments, just not for ALPA.

 

[Bluto]

ALPA gets a bad rap because of places like Mesa and Piedmont. Regardless of your representation there you guys would have been in for a pretty tough ride, I think. When I was furloughed from Expressjet, I received far more than I could ever have expected from ALPA, and in turn from Continental and Expressjet (pm me for details but I don't know of any furloughs that weren't mainline with as many opportunities as we had). Now, maybe my situation was unique because at the time there was a single CAL MEC; mainline and Continental Express pilots were both represented by the same MEC. My wife was at ACA (ALPA) and when she got furloughed she got seriously taken advantage of. So, obviously, your mileage may vary, but I and many of my coworkers had an exceptional experience with CALALPA.

Because of the environment you just described above, I have to think SkyWest ALPA would be more like the Expressjet experience than the Piedmont one. Comparing SkyWest to Piedmont is really an 'apples and oranges' situation.

Don't get me wrong, ALPA isn't the answer to all our problems, by any means. The thing I find ironic is that many of the most vocal agitators for ALPA at SkyWest sound strangely like the guys at Expressjet that blamed ALPA for all their problems. However you choose to vote on representation, I hope everyone in our pilot group has realistic expectations and understands what is required of them.

 

[Bluto]

The "bonus program" was not an increase at all...we lost our year end profit sharing in the 401K, so it was a wash at best.

So if the MBIP was the "largest raise in SkyWest pilot history" was this quarter's drop in MBIP percentage the largest pay-cut in SkyWest pilot history?

 

[Peter Griffin]

Thats the thing that bothers me the most about the union drive at SKYW. The people I talk to seem to think that if we can just get that union in here, we will have god-like power and can impose our will on anyone we desire, JA included. Instant pay raises! No more bad schedules! Puppies for everyone! It just doesnt work that way, and I think the ALPA pushers try to make it seem this way sometimes just to gain support. Its just like a presidential race.

The other half of the equation is to have a positive relationship with MGT. You dont have to be biking buddies with them or anything, but a good working relationship is key. Otherwise the "us vs. them" mentality develops and negiotiations turn in to a pissing match. This applies to any workgroup, union or non-union. From the outside, SKYW seemed to have this, but I am hearing dissent among the troops. I sincerely hope its only the minority...

 

[EMB Skillz]

They're chumps. They won't unionize. They love mgmt.

Sure, but being good pilots, they are probably willing to solve the problem by sacrificing 2% of their pay.

 

[USCtrojan]

Here's the deal

Let me begin this post by saying, I'm not in support of this. This is what I believe is to happen.....

First, as I've posted in the past, Skywest will run their operations as efficiently as possible. The fact they've kept Unions off the property is a testament to how good their Management is. Second, I'm an ASA pilot based currently in SLC. And let me also add I feel the Skywest Pilots are extremely professional. And as such I think we should take the pay cut Jerry is asking for. Yes, I think we should take the pay cut and here's why......

Skywest is Non-Union, Jerry can pretty much mandate anything he wants there. (I mean no disrespect here, it's just the facts). Skywest will simply continue to transfer assets to itself until somebody says no. Currently, ASA is saying GFY. Jerry will continue to say, "Okay, I hate Unions, always have, always will, so keep playing this game and I will continue to shrink ASA." ASA is now a one hub operation. We could see furloughs by the end of the year (my opinion). We have no power here, unless WE STRIKE NOW. Do you believe shutting down SLC and the negotiations reaching the compensation section are a coincidence? (I can't spell, sorry). We take the hit now, and lose the battle. We push for single carrier status and win the war. Jerry has always said he wants to rule the Regional World. This is what needs to happen. ASA is a loser if we continue down this road. Think about it. Jerry's baby is Skywest. It's his company since the beginning. What is ASA to Jerry? A bunch of airplanes he can simply transfer to his own Company HE STARTED! We have no George and John now. Nobody that LOVES THEIR COMPANY. Yes, we will lose this battle of wages and encourage the race to the bottom--FOR NOW. Maybe, and I mean this as a huge MAYBE, if we take the paycut......Jerry will go right back to Skywest and say, "Hey, listen, ops cost are too high, so we need another paycut...." Skywest will Unionize. This will stop the race to the bottom. I agree with all the Skywest pilots saying they hate the Union. I do too. However, you hopefully will see it is necessary now. Yes, I'm selfish by writing this. Yes, I'm looking out for my best interest. However, if we decide to take a paycut as a pilot group, you too will be looking for your best interest because the ball will be in your court. I love the Skywest crews. You all have been professional and courteous. I just want ASA and Skywest to work together as we should. Skywest is a great Company and I sincerely hope we all can work together to stop the race to the bottom. We need to be one, and that way we can work together. Otherwise, Jerry will continue to whipsaw, hopefully it's obvious. I hope ASA pilots do take the paycut, you will then see how obvious it is. Good luck to all.

Trojan

 

[sweptback]

First, as I've posted in the past, Skywest will run their operations as efficiently as possible. The fact they've kept Unions off the property is a testament to how good their Management is. Second, I'm an ASA pilot based currently in SLC. And let me also add I feel the Skywest Pilots are extremely professional. And as such I think we should take the pay cut Jerry is asking for. Yes, I think we should take the pay cut and here's why......

How does taking a pay cut stop the whipsaw? If anything it just proves that the whipsaw works and that we're scared of it.

The only way to stop this crap is to keep showing contractual gains, not give our hard-earned money back to management so they can have a larger bonus at the end of the year.

If every regional would stand up to their company and accept nothing less than an improvement over their previous contract, all this talk about whipsaw and cost competitiveness would come to an end. Unfortunately you have pilot groups that haven't figured this out yet, and that is what is keeping this mess going.

 

[USCtrojan]

Here's how

How does taking a pay cut stop the whipsaw? If anything it just proves that the whipsaw works and that we're scared of it.

The only way to stop this crap is to keep showing contractual gains, not give our hard-earned money back to management so they can have a larger bonus at the end of the year.

If every regional would stand up to their company and accept nothing less than an improvement over their previous contract, all this talk about whipsaw and cost competitiveness would come to an end. Unfortunately you have pilot groups that haven't figured this out yet, and that is what is keeping this mess going.

So ASA pilots should go head to head with a company without a Union? Contrair Morfrare. Jerry can do whatever he wants. That was the nice thing ASA had with Comair. We both would not sell our souls for growth. (reference the original RFP 45 planes for growth). Skywest Pilots have been in their own world for a long time. I envy that. Now things have changed. If Skywest pilots need an example, let's show them. ASA will continue to lose because our mgmt team sucks and nobody has a vested interest. Skywest is Jerry's baby. It's his company he started from the beginning and he's EXTREMELY SHREWD. I believe in him. I will not fall on the sword right now. It's stupid. Especially fighting against a Company without a Union. Sorry.

Trojan

 

[propjockey]

SkyWest to unionize? I sure as heck hope not! I posted this last week in another thread, so it's a bit out of context, but I think it needs saying again: (emphasis added)

"I take a giant step back and look at the airline industry as a whole. I see one of the (rare) shining successes is SkyWest Airlines. It's one of the few in the country that is really healthy, and it's non-union. Many will argue that these facts are not correlated, but personally I believe this is NOT a coincidence. I believe that the dawn of ALPA at SkyWest will be the beginning of our descent into the same abyss that you're all clamoring to get out of. I'm not about to shut SkyWest down over a couple dollars per hour. It's not worth all the heartache and upheaval it would cause. If you want to shut down ASA, you go right ahead. Personally, I don't believe SkyWest, Inc. would have any qualms about pulling the plug if you guys strike. I think they'd shut the place down, send all the aircraft to SkyWest Airlines, and give preferential interviews to ASA pilots. I don't think many SkyWest pilots will feel very sorry for you if you put an end to your own job. Like it or not, SkyWest pilots stand only to gain from ASAs demise.

Those who are unhappy with the details are the militant fringe at SkyWest, and they sound like a broken record. But we have it pretty good here when you step back and look at the whole picture. I wish everything was daisies, puppies, and sunshine at ASA, but it's not. SkyWest joining ALPA is not going to change that. I honestly don't think you'd be any worse off now if you all dumped ALPA and kept the 2% dues as a pay increase. ASA's struggle is not my struggle, and I don't want to be drawn into it."

 

[propjockey]

The people I talk to seem to think that if we can just get that union in here, we will have god-like power and can impose our will on anyone we desire, JA included. Instant pay raises! No more bad schedules! Puppies for everyone! It just doesnt work that way, and I think the ALPA pushers try to make it seem this way sometimes just to gain support. Its just like a presidential race.

The other half of the equation is to have a positive relationship with MGT. You dont have to be biking buddies with them or anything, but a good working relationship is key. Otherwise the "us vs. them" mentality develops and negiotiations turn in to a pissing match. This applies to any workgroup, union or non-union. From the outside, SKYW seemed to have this, but I am hearing dissent among the troops. I sincerely hope its only the minority...

You are so INCREDIBLY RIGHT about this!

 

[Dave Benjamin]

So ASA pilots should go head to head with a company without a Union?

You guys are on to something. If you can get SKYW guys to unionize you won't have to worry about assets being transferred from ASA to SKYW. And then we can get Mesa unionized so we can all stop losing flying to those guys.










Darn it. Mesa is already ALPA. Forgot about that. How come they keep getting all that flying? Could it be that UAL and DAL have something to do with it?

 

[Tomct]

Bluto...I don't feel that I am a skywst pilot hater, just frustrated at the "inaction" of the group. I hope ALPA comes aboard soon.

USC...I understand you thinking the battle now is better to lose and fight the war later, but guess what, that is what they possibly thought on the last contract. The fact that they want a pay cut when the company made over a BILLION DOLLARS...Thats right A BILLION makes no sense in WHY we should have to take a pay cut. If he chooses to close ASA down and TRY to transfer all of the assets to skywst, then so be it. He would lose a TREMENDOUS amount of money with all of those airplanes parked. A lot more than JA has on hand and there is NO WAY he could get pilots through the ground/sim any faster than about 6-8 weeks. That's a long time, and that would only be about 80 pilots IF he is lucky! I already have Plan B ready and will gladly go with it should JA try the tansfer dealio. I have been here almost 7 years and still don't make what we should! Good Luck to all of Us!! Go Get Em ALPA!!

 

[D'Angelo]

Keep courting them and then kick em to the curb boys! Nothing wrong with giving ALPO a little more egg on the face. Don't bow to the pressure of the ASA Pilots (Always Super Angry). They seem to want everyone to make their lives easier for some reason. That would be great if the majority did not want the union and threw their A$$es to the curb after making ALPO waste all that time. Trust me boys your better off without em.

 

[Bako Cap]

Tomct,

Where the hell did you get a Billion in profits. Skywest Inc. did more than a Billion in revenue but only $108 Million in profit in 2006. Do you understand the difference? You should check your information before posting like you know something. To start, please try www.skywest.com . SkyWest is a traded company and all the correct information is at your fingertips. Please research before posting.

P.S. $108 million in profits is still a crappy excuse to have ASA take a pay cut or SkyWest from not getting the "ace" we dealt the company 3 years ago.

 

[AVoiceOfReason]

The fact that they want a pay cut when the company made over a BILLION DOLLARS...Thats right A BILLION makes no sense in WHY we should have to take a pay cut. If he chooses to close ASA down and TRY to transfer all of the assets to skywst, then so be it.... Good Luck to all of Us!! Go Get Em ALPA!!

Tomct you are a fool! If you are so unhappy and you don't mind the assets being transferred to Skywest, then WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? Can you not get it through your tiny little brain that revenue is not an indicator of the health of a company? You don't need luck, you need an education. You are not speaking for me. Maybe you spend less time on flightinfo.com and more time looking for another job.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Or he could check out this website and enroll in a Business 101 class....

http://www.petersons.com/continuinged_home.asp?path=ce.home

 

[USCtrojan]

Transfer of assets.

You guys are on to something. If you can get SKYW guys to unionize you won't have to worry about assets being transferred from ASA to SKYW. And then we can get Mesa unionized so we can all stop losing flying to those guys.

Right now Skywest is getting 13 of our airplanes. Mesa and Chatauqua are the competition. Jerry is battling them. If you think Jerry will stop at 13 airplanes then fight him. He will slowly start manning the airplanes with Skywest crews and continue to shrink ASA. ASA's costs will rise and we will die. We take the hit now, play the game which means we buy time. Hopefully the Skywest crews will see this.

I sincerely hope our MEC is talking to the Skywest pilots. We need to draw a line in the sand. At some point we won't go below $xxx. Both pilot groups agree (reference ASA and Comair), and it stops there.

Trojan

 

[USCtrojan]

Union

SkyWest to unionize? I sure as heck hope not! I posted this last week in another thread, so it's a bit out of context, but I think it needs saying again: (emphasis added)

"I take a giant step back and look at the airline industry as a whole. I see one of the (rare) shining successes is SkyWest Airlines. It's one of the few in the country that is really healthy, and it's non-union. Many will argue that these facts are not correlated, but personally I believe this is NOT a coincidence. I believe that the dawn of ALPA at SkyWest will be the beginning of our descent into the same abyss that you're all clamoring to get out of. I'm not about to shut SkyWest down over a couple dollars per hour. It's not worth all the heartache and upheaval it would cause. If you want to shut down ASA, you go right ahead. Personally, I don't believe SkyWest, Inc. would have any qualms about pulling the plug if you guys strike. I think they'd shut the place down, send all the aircraft to SkyWest Airlines, and give preferential interviews to ASA pilots. I don't think many SkyWest pilots will feel very sorry for you if you put an end to your own job. Like it or not, SkyWest pilots stand only to gain from ASAs demise.

Those who are unhappy with the details are the militant fringe at SkyWest, and they sound like a broken record. But we have it pretty good here when you step back and look at the whole picture. I wish everything was daisies, puppies, and sunshine at ASA, but it's not. SkyWest joining ALPA is not going to change that. I honestly don't think you'd be any worse off now if you all dumped ALPA and kept the 2% dues as a pay increase. ASA's struggle is not my struggle, and I don't want to be drawn into it."

No problem, we take the pay cut, guess what? It will be your turn. Hopefully you will see the big picture here. It's ugly. And getting uglier. Unfortunately, you will be next. Only one way to stop it all--work together brother.

Trojan

 

[Dave Benjamin]

USC,

A union can negotiate scope clauses however you have to be realistic in your expectations. I don't like the idea of a whipsaw or either carrier losing flying. I'm not sure if any union could prevent aircraft from being transferred. The only way you can prevent lost flying is by having one list. If there is a fundamental shift of power in DC from the GOP to the Democrats you might see a more pro-labor attitude in the NMB. Right now all the shots are being called by management. SKYW management is smart enough to insulate themselves from an unwanted single carrier petition. If I were an ASA contract negotiator I might be trying to get a short term deal to survive until early 2009 when we might see a more labor friendly administration. the problem won't get resolved as long as you have two separate pilot groups and contracts/agreements.

 

[USCtrojan]

Transfer of assets.

USC,

A union can negotiate scope clauses however you have to be realistic in your expectations. I don't like the idea of a whipsaw or either carrier losing flying. I'm not sure if any union could prevent aircraft from being transferred. The only way you can prevent lost flying is by having one list. If there is a fundamental shift of power in DC from the GOP to the Democrats you might see a more pro-labor attitude in the NMB. Right now all the shots are being called by management. SKYW management is smart enough to insulate themselves from an unwanted single carrier petition. If I were an ASA contract negotiator I might be trying to get a short term deal to survive until early 2009 when we might see a more labor friendly administration. the problem won't get resolved as long as you have two separate pilot groups and contracts/agreements.

I personally believe Skywest Management wants a single carrier eventually. If their goal is to rule the world regionally, they will have to combine everything to get rid of unnecessary redundancy. Once they do this, costs will severely undercut Mesa and Chatauqua. Additionally, giving supreme service. In other words, everyone will want Skywest because they provide an excellent product extremely cheap. Skywest is currently looking into purchasing another carrier. Do you really believe they will operate 3 separate companies forever? Think of the excessive costs this adds.

If ASA decides to take a paycut, the ball will bounce the other way. It will be your turn to decide. Perhaps you take another paycut and it returns to us. I don't know, but hopefully you can see the spiral will hit you eventually. The best way to prevent this is for us to work together. I hope our pilot groups are talking a lot these days as it's necessary for survival. I'm not sure when, but your turn is coming too. I want to work with you to preserve your quality of life and payrates, I can only hope you would like the same for me.

Trojan