"Yeah, anybody out there feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, BUT...anytime, anyone, anywhere in the industry leaves a job, it's good for the industry as a whole, because it sends a message to management that things aren't where they need to be. "
Interesting point....i happen to agree...here is a copy of the letter I sent the Alaska CEO when I turned down the job offer. Not suprisingly I did not recieve a response.
I am a new hire pilot scheduled to go to class XXXXXXXX. It is with regret and disappointment that I must write this letter. As a long time Pacific Northwest resident, flying for Alaska Airlines has been my career goal. As you can imagine, I was overjoyed when I was selected for employment at my interview a short time ago. However, after more research and soul searching, I must decline the employment offer.
There were many reasons that Alaska was my first choice of major airlines to fly for. I have always equated Alaska Airlines with the spirit of the Northwest. After talking to many Alaska employees, I have come to find that the Northwest spirit has left Alaska Airlines, with little hope of it returning. There are a few specific reasons for my decision to decline the job offer. First, the fact that Alaska Airlines considers its pilots part time employees for the purposes of the FMLA is reprehensible. This is a federally mandated program and for the airline to use a technicality to deny some of its employees this benefit is unacceptable. This program is especially important for flight crew members, as we are gone for days at a time, and during a life changing event such as the birth of a baby, we are not able to be home every evening as most other employees are. If Alaska Airlines was as dedicated to their employees as they say they are, the benefits of this program would be put in place immediately. The fact that a few years ago, Alaska Airlines summarily fired all of its dedicated union ramp agents in Seattle and replaced them with lower paid contract workers, also factors into my decision. The fact that they were fired was bad enough, but then when they were not told and simply had their airport ID badges turned off one night is deplorable. I am not willing to put my family’s livelihood and myself at risk if upper management decides to once again replace all of its dedicated pilots with lower paid pilots overnight. Finally, a number of years ago, furlough notices were sent out to some junior pilots. The notices were sent out in such a way that they arrived at the pilot’s homes on Christmas Eve. A company that values their employees would not do such a heartless act. I am a professional pilot. I was ready to accept the decrease in wages in order to work in my dream job. However, as a professional pilot, I am not ready to sacrifice my dignity to work for a company that does not respect its employees. I will continue to wait for a company that treats their employees as an asset, rather than a liability.
I am sorry that the culture of Alaska Airlines that was the spirit of the Pacific Northwest has given way to a culture of disrespect. It is with a heavy heart that I decline my XXXXXXX class date. I hope that in the future, the culture that once was returns. If that day comes again, I will gladly be a candidate again to fly for Alaska Airlines.
