The Silent Majority at ASA

[buscap]

I checked my posting history. I only resorted to name calling in 30% of my posts. And the other 70% of the posts didn't read nearly as well.

I will try to save the name calling for recess.

I'm about to retract my "No name calling Pledge".

Talk about personal. The last few posts against Will and John, wether it's them or not, go above and beyond.

Now onto the actual topic, my opinion is this, though it may be a big fat waffle. Both sides are right. We have to get this thing settled soon, but to say we are holding out for "Big Bucs" is an insult to us all. Look at what the industry bars are for pay and QOL and it is plain, we are not asking for much.

And I am not looking forward to signing onto a concessionary contract, (and yes, the current table is concessionary in many areas as it sits) only to have company officers earn "job well done" bonuses after conning us into it.

One of the most profitable regional carriers can certainly afford to fairly compensate its employees, provide a rewarding work environment and a good quality of life.

And you so-called silent majority types may want to consider that you may just end up stuck at this stepping-stone of an airline a bit longer than expected. (No, I'm not stuck!) We're all just a hiccup, bad landing, baby, altitiude bust or bombing away from homesteading at the ATL.

 

[Flyguy801]

I may not be an ASA pilot, but after what Delta has done in ATL with ASA ground grews is kind of alarming...

I work for SkyWest and I feel for you ASA guys, it sucks with management is doing to you all but didn't you guys vote to strike? I like Scarlets Idea, take the day off on July 4th. How long has your contract been in negoations?

I really hope you guys get what you want, there are some great crews that I have seen with ASA coming via SLC. It's not right what they are doing to you. I hope you guys get what you want!

 

[Beergut]

I heard that Newie has Prater in his ear everyday telling him not to settle for anything less that an industry leading contract because it's all part of his "Taking It Back" campaign. I don't want to cave in but I also don't want to shoot myself in the foot to please ALPA National. An industry leading pay raise doesn't mean crap when it only lasts for a few months while your flying and airplanes are transferred to SKYW.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Will,

You had your chance. You were a voting member for at least 3 of those years. Go clean your pool! It doesn't sound like life is too bad for you!

When the contract is over, what will be your next soap box?

John,

How many screen names do you have?

ASA is not going away. According to recent communications, the company plans to hire 500 pilots in 2007.

Will and JB both had their chances. Now that they left ALPA offices, they're on their own self-serving missions. Spoiled little brats comes to mind. JB continues on even after being voted down in the recent elections. Oh, he wasn't running for office you say? Yeah, righttttttttt!

Isn't it sad that this is the best response we can get from the "union guys". Resort to flaming, insults, name calling and assault on character... all because I'm excercizing my RIGHT to question the actions of the union. And the worst part... THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I REALLY AM!

No wonder we're where we are. These are the incompetents we have representing us.

Just keep up the insults and personal attacks, y'all. You're only making our case for us.

 

[John Pennekamp]

"Don't Be a Jerk"!!!

You stated that the ALPA reps are not paid. I did not slander you, call you a name or disagree. I merely stated what I thought to be true prior to your saying that "they were not paid and that I would be corrected by a rep soon enough". Are you now saying that I am a Jerk and that I should not have believed your first post? Your last two posts and name calling are not very mature responses to a debate.

If I misread the intention of your post, then you have my apology, but it seemed very sarcastic. It seemed to be a veiled attack for all the wrong reasons. While I disagree with the actions of the elected reps, I still respect them for volunteering, and don't want to see unfair and untrue attacks leveled at them.

 

[MELIT]

Yes. We do.

Why would Skywest Airlines want one list?

 

[79%N1]

I heard that Newie has Prater in his ear everyday telling him not to settle for anything less that an industry leading contract because it's all part of his "Taking It Back" campaign. I don't want to cave in but I also don't want to shoot myself in the foot to please ALPA National. An industry leading pay raise doesn't mean crap when it only lasts for a few months while your flying and airplanes are transferred to SKYW.

And just hat is "Captain Prater" going to do for us when Delta and Skywest transfer our jobs away?

I thought so......

 

[wms]

Why would Skywest Airlines want one list?

Because they can be whip-sawed as easily as us. If we're cheaper to operate after our contract is settled, like some of our own want us to be, then SKYW management will use that as a reason to cut Skywest pilot's pay and work rules. Mgmt will just continue to volley back and forth until some one finally stops giving in. This isn't about who's cheaper or where flying will go. It's about mgmt exploiting the situation to get as much out of it as they can while they can. Being one list will help to prevent it. ASA will either be sold or liquidated, or the companies will be merged. But until then they're going to try to use the situation to cut the pay of the pilots on both sides.

Right after we were sold SKYW execs doing the "best practices" study at ASA were saying the plan was to merge the companies. They wanted to start by dealing with the non-union employees(that's been done) and wrap it up in four years with the union employees. That talk stopped when the whip-saw began. I think the merger will happen when they feel that whip-sawing is no longer worth the effort. Or when we're on the verge of a contract they'll announce a merger in order to drag things out even more. In any case I hope JA starts following through with the good business practices he's respected for rather than the labor wars that have brought down many an airline.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Why would Skywest Airlines want one list?

To avoid a strike and the complete destruction of their airline seems like a pretty good reason to me, as a SkyWest shareholder.

Another reason is that it would reduce costs by eliminating management redundancies and expenses of transferring aircraft across Certificates. Further efficiencies could be gained by reducing the number of required spares, increasing crew utilization, reducing training costs and increasing schedule efficiencies inherent in the larger scale of the operation. Also, recovery time following an interruption of normal operations would be reduced allowing SkyWest to offer Delta, United, and their other business partners a higher quality product preferred by the travelling public.

But the real reason is to uphold SkyWest and Jerry Atkin's reputation for fair dealing and integrity.

Or he could just be a Frank Lorenzo wanna be and enjoy similar long term "success" and reputation.

 

[WWEfan]

[/quote]
Signing Bonus:
Could be up to 5 million depending on other areas of contract. When using previous ALPA formulas for signing bonuses, about 4500 for captains, 2500 for F/O's. Depending on previous earnings and seat.
[/quote]

Anything less than 30 million is a "NO" vote from me.

According to the DoT press releases which you can access here.....

http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/index.html

.....ASA had an operating profit in 2006 of $164.5 million. Now I'm sure all the management lurkers on this board will say that the DoT numbers are misleading because they don't take into account this or that. I say, "whatever". Show me the money. I'm sure if I actually did a little more leg work I could find that ASA easily averaged $100 million + per year in profit over the last five years. Do the math and you'll find that $30 million equals about 6% of what ASA pocketed during that time. I don't find that unreasonable at all.

 

[theo]

To avoid a strike and the complete destruction of their airline seems like a pretty good reason to me, as a SkyWest shareholder.

Another reason is that it would reduce costs by eliminating management redundancies and expenses of transferring aircraft across Certificates. Further efficiencies could be gained by reducing the number of required spares, increasing crew utilization, reducing training costs and increasing schedule efficiencies inherent in the larger scale of the operation. Also, recovery time following an interruption of normal operations would be reduced allowing SkyWest to offer Delta, United, and their other business partners a higher quality product preferred by the travelling public.

But the real reason is to uphold SkyWest and Jerry Atkin's reputation for fair dealing and integrity.

Or he could just be a Frank Lorenzo wanna be and enjoy similar long term "success" and reputation.

So if he does what you want he gets to maintain his reputation earned over the years as a fair dealing, high integrity indivdual. If he doesn't he is immediately tranformed into a Frank Lorenzo clone? Classic union BS, and another reason it is hard to take ALPA seriously.

 

[GeekMaster]

Speedtape and all:

I AM NOT JB, WF OR ANY OF THEIR ASSOCIATES. To the contrary, I am somewhat active in our union though I can't say to what degree. WE ALL KNOW THAT ALPA'S FIRST COMMANDMENT IS "THOU SHALT NOT SPEAK ANY NEGATIVE WORDS ABOUT OR PUBLICLY DISAGREE WITH ALPA OR ANY ALPA SUPPORTED DOCTRINE".

I am not an elected rep nor have I ever been, but that's about as far as I can go.

 

[VeeOne]

GeekMaster- good post with logical, intelligent content. I hope we get this contract right as I feel everyones future, senior or junior, depends on it.

 

[~~~^~~~]

So if he does what you want he gets to maintain his reputation earned over the years as a fair dealing, high integrity indivdual. If he doesn't he is immediately tranformed into a Frank Lorenzo clone? Classic union BS, and another reason it is hard to take ALPA seriously.

Ok then, I will let a fellow SkyWest pilot explain it to you....

I may not be an ASA pilot, but after what Delta has done in ATL with ASA ground grews is kind of alarming...

I work for SkyWest and I feel for you ASA guys, it sucks with management is doing to you all but didn't you guys vote to strike? I like Scarlets Idea, take the day off on July 4th. How long has your contract been in negoations?

I really hope you guys get what you want, there are some great crews that I have seen with ASA coming via SLC. It's not right what they are doing to you. I hope you guys get what you want!

 

[79%N1]

How funny that ASA's performance numbers have taken a hugh dump since Delta took over the ATL ramp. Just when ASA was turning this around! Hilarious!!!!

 

[ASARJMan]

It'll be alright VeeOne. Get over yourself man!

 

[rightseatjocky]

I have always agreed with John. Seems to me that he has a pretty good head on his shoulders and what he says seems to make sense.
ANYONE SEEN THE NEW ADD THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE PAPER. 500 TTL/50 MULTI. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HIRE 500 PILOTS? Doesn't make sense to me to come to an airline that might strike when they can go to another one, make captain quicker and be happier.
Am I wrong?

 

[VeeOne]

It'll be alright VeeOne. Get over yourself man!

I just want to know something- since you are so quick to bash JB and WF....

You always paint them as a group of radical, left wing nuts with far out conspiracy theories, but if what they predict comes true? Will we see an apology from you on this board and an acknowlegdement that JB was right? For some reason you M.P., have been able to turn this entire contract into a battle of waring factions (old MEC vs. new MEC).

I'm very suprised that MEC/LEC has allowed you to continue your postings/rantings and remain as close as you are to their public figure. You aren't exactly winning the hearts and minds of our pilot group with your attitude and rantings. Your rantings and posts are very similar on the ALPA web board and don't exactly hide who you are- funny thing is that it is your hatred for JB that gives you away.

 

[ASARJMan]

Now now Junior, take a deeeeepppp breath, it'll all be ok.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Here are some quotes from the recent Pilot2Pilot conference call:

"We are comfortable with our position with the board (NMB)"

"The only logical outcome is a release"

We are:
"quite far apart on rates"
"very far on retro"
"very far on scope"

JR, the CNC Chairman said:

"We are trying to get a better contract to show Skywest - We want to look good to Skywest so they will see value in ALPA"

A question was asked about how Mesa, CHQ, and EGL achieved single lists. JR said "I don't know, you will have to ask Danny or Nick". Is everyone comfortable with the fact that the Chairman of the CNC didn't know how other carriers achieved a single list?