What did SAPA do about this?!

[Nevets]

Here is a list of things gathered from Skywest pilots.





SkyWest Policy Manual/Benefit Changes

·Travel benefits- buddy passes no longer free, charged for non-rev now, lost companion passes on UAL
·Reserve- bucket system led to seniority loss; replaced a seniority-based reserve system
·PBS- implemented without pilot input or approval, vacation & training pay loss, forced flying, no control of our line pay/line numbers, no bid failure resolution
·Medical Cost Escalation- cost going up with no pilot say
·Medical benefit losses- no pilot say
·Passport Reimbursement (lost)
·Forced CRJ700/900 training
·Line pay guarantee lost to equipment changed from schedule
·Loss of Leg CX Pay-company has arbitrarily picked what they pay (weather, mechanical)
·Two 401k Admin changes with increased cost participation
·Highly compensated employee limits- limits senior pilots’ contribution to retirement

 

[jea]

Here is a list of things gathered from Skywest pilots.





SkyWest Policy Manual/Benefit Changes

·Travel benefits- buddy passes no longer free, charged for non-rev now, lost companion passes on UAL
·Reserve- bucket system led to seniority loss; replaced a seniority-based reserve system
·PBS- implemented without pilot input or approval, vacation & training pay loss, forced flying, no control of our line pay/line numbers, no bid failure resolution
·Medical Cost Escalation- cost going up with no pilot say
·Medical benefit losses- no pilot say
·Passport Reimbursement (lost)
·Forced CRJ700/900 training
·Line pay guarantee lost to equipment changed from schedule
·Loss of Leg CX Pay-company has arbitrarily picked what they pay (weather, mechanical)
·Two 401k Admin changes with increased cost participation
·Highly compensated employee limits- limits senior pilots’ contribution to retirement

forced to be trained in the equipment you fly? what am i missing here???? ohhhh then we complain about the line pay guarantee for equip changes... youre right if we werent forced to fly the 700/900 then that wouldnt be an issue right? passport reimbursement? ouch!!!! what is that like $100. every 10 years? have you ever used yours for other than work? i think they should reimburse me for my atp, for that matter- that is required for the job...

others... valid but not worth the trade off for me. thanks though!

 

[Nevets]

forced to be trained in the equipment you fly? what am i missing here???? ohhhh then we complain about the line pay guarantee for equip changes... youre right if we werent forced to fly the 700/900 then that wouldnt be an issue right? passport reimbursement? ouch!!!! what is that like $100. every 10 years? have you ever used yours for other than work? i think they should reimburse me for my atp, for that matter- that is required for the job...

others... valid but not worth the trade off for me. thanks though!

The point is that all these were taken from the pilots unilaterally. Sure, $100 dollars every ten years isn't much, but what did the pilots gain from "giving" that away? NOTHING! Its $100 today and $110 tomorrow. Pretty soon it will be something else that costs the pilots and so on. AND when you add them ALL up, it is significant. All these things, the pilots got NOTHING in return. NOTHING!

As I understand it at least.

Your very welcome.

 

[jea]

Nevets- looks like this thread flopped... try another

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Nevets- looks like this thread flopped... try another

Why dont you go back to your cushy father financed lifestyle(nintendo/kiddie porn) and leave the important stuff to the real pilots!
STFU in otherwords.
PBR
P.S. you are just a voyeur!

 

[Skywest Pylot]

forced to be trained in the equipment you fly? what am i missing here????

Apparently you haven't been here long enough to understand the broken promises made by management on this issue. When the 700/900 first came on the property, Management/SAPA promised us that we would not be forced to fly them. I had no desire to fly either but yet I was forced to train on them. The issue here for me is but yet another broken promise.

 

[Nevets]

Nevets- looks like this thread flopped... try another

Why don't you respond to the merits of my earlier post? This is not about flopping threads. THIS thread is about pointing out that SAPA cannot represent Skywest pilots with Skywest pilots' best interest. What is it you don't get about that?

Let me ask again, what did Skywest pilots get in return for those things "given" to management? Because if Skywest pilots were represented by ALPA, either they would have received something in return or it would have remained as it was.

So can you please respond to the merits of my point?

 

[yellowfever]

forced to be trained in the equipment you fly? what am i missing here???? ohhhh then we complain about the line pay guarantee for equip changes... youre right if we werent forced to fly the 700/900 then that wouldnt be an issue right? passport reimbursement? ouch!!!! what is that like $100. every 10 years? have you ever used yours for other than work? i think they should reimburse me for my atp, for that matter- that is required for the job...

others... valid but not worth the trade off for me. thanks though!

I don't think this thread flopped...but I do think you are uneducated. How long have you worked at Skywest?

 

[DrewBlows]

If ALPA saves Skywest pilots >1.95% of health insurance cost it's worth it on that alone. Health care costs are rising FAST! Our contract has limits on how much pilots pay. This is hard to quantify since we obviously don't know what future health care costs will be, but it is very valuable.

 

[flyinghunter]

How does ALPA affect company issued programs such as healthcare and retirement?

 

[Nevets]

How does ALPA affect company issued programs such as healthcare and retirement?

I can only speak about XJT. Here is what our contract specifies.

The company will make available the same life, personal accident, medical, dental and vision insurance for each pilot and his eligible dependents as is made available to other company employees.

And insurance made available by the company will not contain an exclusion of benefits for acts of war or terrorism encountered by a pilot while in the scope of his employment.

Also, a pilot’s monetary contribution(s) for life, personal accident, medical, dental and vision insurance, including, but not limited to contribution(s) for monthly premiums and co-pays shall not exceed or be increased more than the monetary contributions required of other company employees for the same insurance.

As far as retirement as it relates to health benefits, the company will provide medical insurance for a pilot and his eligible dependents when the pilot has completed 10 years of active service with the company and has retired because of the FAA mandated retirement age. Medical insurance will not be provided once the pilot reaches the age of 65. In order to be eligible for medical insurance, a retired pilot must have been covered by the company’s medical insurance at the time of his retirement.

A retired pilot may apply 10 hours of accrued sick leave each month to cover the cost of his premium. When sick leave is exhausted, a retired pilot may continue to be covered by medical insurance if he pays the full monthly premium that would be payable by all other employees, i.e., the COBRA rate less the legal administrative costs.

The company will provide each pilot with long term disability insurance. Monthly premiums for long term disability insurance will be shared by the company and the pilot in the same percentage in effect on the date of signing of the contract.

A pilot may use accrued sick leave and accrued OJ leave to supplement worker’s compensation in the amount necessary to ensure that his minimum monthly guarantee is not reduced. A committee consisting of ALPA and company representatives will meet quarterly to review OJI claims and will establish a procedure to review appeals of rejected claims.

A committee consisting of ALPA and company members will meet quarterly to review and discuss issues related to insurance benefits. The company will share information with the members regarding benefits, costs, claims experience and possible plan design changes to the maximum extent and as early as possible to provide for effective consultation and input prior to implementing changes.

Pilots will be eligible to participate in the insurance plans on the first day of the month following 3 months of active service after the date the pilot begins training.

The overall level of insurance benefits will remain comparable for the duration of the contract. However, the company may substitute another vendor to administer or insure the benefits or administer or insure those plans itself. Prior to making changes in benefits, the company will notify the ALPA and provide ALPA an opportunity to discuss such changes.

As for retirement plans, the company will match the pilot’s contributions quarterly as follows:

Completed years of active service / company match
<5 years / 100% up to 4%
5<10 years / 100% up to 5%
10+ years / 100% up to 6%


Pilots will be vested in the company’s contributions to the plan based on his length of active service with the company as follows:

Completed years of active service / vesting
2 years / 20%
3 years / 40%
4 years / 60%
5 years / 100%

Defined Contribution Plan (B Plan)

A pilot will be enrolled in the company’s Defined Contribution Plan (B Plan) subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The company will make quarterly contributions to each pilot’s account in the Defined Contribution Plan (B Plan) based on the pilot’s length of active service with the company and eligible earnings as follows:

Completed years of active service / company contribution
<5 years / 2.5%
5<10 years / 4%
10<15 years / 5%
15<20 years / 5.5%
20+ years / 6%

 

[USCtrojan]

Whores

Nevets:

Great post. Between you and 120%, I'm wondering who's more informed here!! Don't worry about the Whores out there that have nothing to offer in this fight. Facts only get in their way. Good luck to you SkyWest pilots (Not to whores like jea and SkyWhore though). I hope you get the Representation you deserve. I look forward to standing beside you to improve our work rules together.

Trojan

 

[Skywest Pylot]

I also get the feeling that Jea has not been at Skywest very long. He kind of reminds me of the occasional private/student pilot who pokes his head in the flight deck to tell me how to fly the CRJ. He seems outspoken but yet uninformed.

 

[CFIT]

Do I have a future here?


That is what many of the professional pilots of Air Wisconsin are wondering.​

We, the pilots of Air Wisconsin, are deeply concerned about the direction of our company. While we were once the premier regional airline to fly for, that is no longer the case. The ALPA MEC has initiated a strategic campaign known as “Do I Have a Future Here” to put a spot light on our concerns.
Recent developments, such as the rigid enforcement of an Attendance Policy that disciplines pilots who call in sick when they are actually sick, unilateral policy changes that have cost our pilots substantial amounts of pay, an exceedingly high grievance case load, and repeatedly denied requests for scheduling accomodations that would greatly enhance our quality of life have provided the impetus for this strategic campaign.
We want what every professional pilot deserves: a good place to work. In recent years Air Wisconsin has gone from arguably the best regional airline to work for, to one of the worst. This is due to management decisions that embody a philosophy that does not us as pilots or as employees.
“Do I Have a Future Here” is a question that many Air Wisconsin pilots are asking. It is a question that management is forcing us to ask. A pilot is prohibited by the Federal Aviation Regulations from flying when sick. If an Air Wisconsin pilot has the misfortune to be sick more than a certain number of times in a year, the pilot will lose his job. For that pilot, there is no future here. A pilot who lives in Denver must now commute to the east coast to start his flying assignments. ALPA has repeatedly asked for scheduling accommodations to enable all of our pilots to have more time at home. No meaningful changes have occurred, and as a result, the pilot’s family life is strained. He simply doesn’t have enough time at home. For that pilot, there is no future here. Many of our pilots, especially our First Officers, struggle to make ends meet. Without any advance notice earlier this year, Air Wisconsin unilaterally changed its interpretation of our commuter policy. Many pilots lost several days of pay, and in some cases, an entire week of pay. For these pilots, there is no future here. When we went to arbitration over Air Wisconsin’s decision to retain the savings from the concessions we granted that were to be passed onto United Airlines to retain the United code sharing agreement, management’s response was that they did not believe that our pilots were due a single penny. Instead, the owners of Air Wisconsin are systematically draining the corporation of its cash, leaving little buffer for stormy times. The potential consequences are clear: for all of our pilots, there may be no future here.
Despite record gains for the owners of Air Wisconsin (at least 300 million in the last few years) nearly every request of ours is met with the same response: if it costs money, we won’t do it.
Neither the MEC nor this pilot group is willing to sit on the sidelines any longer. Regardless of management’s attitude toward our pilots, regardless of the arbitration decision, we will take greater control of our working lives.
This website is designed to inform anyone who is interested about the challenges we face, and how we are facing them. It is also designed to aid in communication within the Air Wisconsin pilot group. Please browse this website and check back frequently as items are added and news is updated.

 

[Nevets]

Do I have a future here?


That is what many of the professional pilots of Air Wisconsin are wondering.​

We, the pilots of Air Wisconsin, are deeply concerned about the direction of our company. While we were once the premier regional airline to fly for, that is no longer the case. The ALPA MEC has initiated a strategic campaign known as “Do I Have a Future Here” to put a spot light on our concerns.
Recent developments, such as the rigid enforcement of an Attendance Policy that disciplines pilots who call in sick when they are actually sick, unilateral policy changes that have cost our pilots substantial amounts of pay, an exceedingly high grievance case load, and repeatedly denied requests for scheduling accomodations that would greatly enhance our quality of life have provided the impetus for this strategic campaign.
We want what every professional pilot deserves: a good place to work. In recent years Air Wisconsin has gone from arguably the best regional airline to work for, to one of the worst. This is due to management decisions that embody a philosophy that does not us as pilots or as employees.
“Do I Have a Future Here” is a question that many Air Wisconsin pilots are asking. It is a question that management is forcing us to ask. A pilot is prohibited by the Federal Aviation Regulations from flying when sick. If an Air Wisconsin pilot has the misfortune to be sick more than a certain number of times in a year, the pilot will lose his job. For that pilot, there is no future here. A pilot who lives in Denver must now commute to the east coast to start his flying assignments. ALPA has repeatedly asked for scheduling accommodations to enable all of our pilots to have more time at home. No meaningful changes have occurred, and as a result, the pilot’s family life is strained. He simply doesn’t have enough time at home. For that pilot, there is no future here. Many of our pilots, especially our First Officers, struggle to make ends meet. Without any advance notice earlier this year, Air Wisconsin unilaterally changed its interpretation of our commuter policy. Many pilots lost several days of pay, and in some cases, an entire week of pay. For these pilots, there is no future here. When we went to arbitration over Air Wisconsin’s decision to retain the savings from the concessions we granted that were to be passed onto United Airlines to retain the United code sharing agreement, management’s response was that they did not believe that our pilots were due a single penny. Instead, the owners of Air Wisconsin are systematically draining the corporation of its cash, leaving little buffer for stormy times. The potential consequences are clear: for all of our pilots, there may be no future here.
Despite record gains for the owners of Air Wisconsin (at least 300 million in the last few years) nearly every request of ours is met with the same response: if it costs money, we won’t do it.
Neither the MEC nor this pilot group is willing to sit on the sidelines any longer. Regardless of management’s attitude toward our pilots, regardless of the arbitration decision, we will take greater control of our working lives.
This website is designed to inform anyone who is interested about the challenges we face, and how we are facing them. It is also designed to aid in communication within the Air Wisconsin pilot group. Please browse this website and check back frequently as items are added and news is updated.

Can you correlate your post with "what did SAPA do about this" please.

 

[Nevets]

Nevets:

Great post. Between you and 120%, I'm wondering who's more informed here!! Don't worry about the Whores out there that have nothing to offer in this fight. Facts only get in their way. Good luck to you SkyWest pilots (Not to whores like jea and SkyWhore though). I hope you get the Representation you deserve. I look forward to standing beside you to improve our work rules together.

Trojan

Just for the record, I'm NOT a Skywest pilot. I'm just someone who cares about the profession and who has dozens of friends at Skywest. I work for XJT.

 

[USCtrojan]

Just for the record, I'm NOT a Skywest pilot. I'm just someone who cares about the profession and who has dozens of friends at Skywest. I work for XJT.

I understand/understood that. Thank you for your relevant information. It has certainly helped with idiots like jea and skywhore who try to confuse and make up facts to support themselves.

And for the record I do not lump SkyWest pilots into the same category as skywhore, jea and their whoring ilk. Most of the guys I bump into are very supportive, professional and want some kind of representation--just not mgmt. Good luck SkyWest.

Trojan

 

[UncleRico]

Unfortunately, representation offered by ALPA really isn't representation at all. The RLA is outdated and companies have learned how to exploit their employees. The reason Skywest can not pay pilots properly, take away health benifits, and whatever else they please is because they can compete with the lowest of the low. Mesa pilots did agree to their contract but the ALPA National President at the time DW decided to sign it as well. The race to the bottom started with ALPA which is unfortunate. Unionized pilots at the regional level were sold out by those who were suppossedly representing them.

ALPA does offer great benefits which cost extra outside of dues. They greive everything and don't seem (nothing to back this with) to win many of them. They killed seniority at USAir and set a precedent that they can't even negotiate between two of their own pilot groups much less management.

Unions are definitely a must, but I think Skywest pilots would be much better off contacting airlines presently using in house unions.

If ALPA wants to get Skywest on the property they should start by taking care of those they already represent. I came from another ALPA 121 carrier and they did nothing for me while I was there. In fact they hurt me more than they helped me. They should also start educating private pilots on their way to becoming professional airline pilots.

 

[USCtrojan]

Unfortunately, representation offered by ALPA really isn't representation at all. The RLA is outdated and companies have learned how to exploit their employees. The reason Skywest can not pay pilots properly, take away health benifits, and whatever else they please is because they can compete with the lowest of the low. Mesa pilots did agree to their contract but the ALPA National President at the time DW decided to sign it as well. The race to the bottom started with ALPA which is unfortunate. Unionized pilots at the regional level were sold out by those who were suppossedly representing them.

ALPA does offer great benefits which cost extra outside of dues. They greive everything and don't seem (nothing to back this with) to win many of them. They killed seniority at USAir and set a precedent that they can't even negotiate between two of their own pilot groups much less management.

Unions are definitely a must, but I think Skywest pilots would be much better off contacting airlines presently using in house unions.

If ALPA wants to get Skywest on the property they should start by taking care of those they already represent. I came from another ALPA 121 carrier and they did nothing for me while I was there. In fact they hurt me more than they helped me. They should also start educating private pilots on their way to becoming professional airline pilots.

How many Union meetings did you attend out of curiosity? Did you serve on a commitee? ALPA has done some pretty stupid things in the past 10 years, I certainly agree with you there. It's a work in progress, and in the past have alienated some of their own (Regionals.) But it's working towards resolution. ASA is a start to the STOP "racing to the bottom" with their Scope Language (which does include language FOR the SkyWest pilots). And a beginning of "watching over their own." You can't stop that "race to the bottom" if pilots fly for less and less and assets are transferred to the biggest whores. At some point WE/YOU have to draw a line. How do we do that? You're not going to achieve anything collectively if we're a bunch of individuals looking for a quick upgrade. I'm sorry you had a bad experience at your other Regional, chances are they may not be in business much longer (pending on who it is).

Trojan

 

[UncleRico]

I didn't come to Skywest for a quick upgrade. In fact my friends let me know that I would be in the next upgrade class at my former carrier. Secondly, Skywest pilots are not whores. The company/lease companies own those airplanes not the pilots. What is ALPA doing about those planes being transferred over to Skywest: NOTHING! The fact of the matter is that you are right, at some point in time it needs to stop. That is why I am for educating new people getting started day one in aviation. The new hires did their research. The only carriers that are really expanding and offering many bases and a promising career is Skywest, Republic, XJet. But, if we can teach them and educate them on how to act as a professional, what it means to stand together, and how to improve their futures we can have educated pilots day one. There is too much propaganda from both sides right now for any new hire to really understand what it means to vote in ALPA.

 

[USCtrojan]

I didn't come to Skywest for a quick upgrade. In fact my friends let me know that I would be in the next upgrade class at my former carrier. Secondly, Skywest pilots are not whores. The company/lease companies own those airplanes not the pilots. What is ALPA doing about those planes being transferred over to Skywest: NOTHING! The fact of the matter is that you are right, at some point in time it needs to stop. That is why I am for educating new people getting started day one in aviation. The new hires did their research. The only carriers that are really expanding and offering many bases and a promising career is Skywest, Republic, XJet. But, if we can teach them and educate them on how to act as a professional, what it means to stand together, and how to improve their futures we can have educated pilots day one. There is too much propaganda from both sides right now for any new hire to really understand what it means to vote in ALPA.

What is ALPA doing about those transfers? Are you kidding me? ASA just achieved Scope Language because of that. That's a milestone. SkyWest helped the decline of Air Wisconsin and their Denver Base. They had a great contract. Too good, because of your 70 seat flying, for 50 seat pay. That's supporting the "race to the bottom" and in fact being a whore. Not accusing you, I didn't see you celebrating. Now your brothers and sisters are trying to do something about that. Which many in this industry applaud. And you say we need to "educate" more. I agree, more education, more action is required.

Additionally, SkyWest already tried the "In House" Union. It failed. Don't know the reasons for that. I imagine, as well, that the fees associated with having your own Union would be quite high. Don't know what the figure would be, but I'd say at least quadruple what ALPA charges and for less representation.

Trojan

 

[Nevets]

Unfortunately, representation offered by ALPA really isn't representation at all. The RLA is outdated and companies have learned how to exploit their employees. The reason Skywest can not pay pilots properly, take away health benifits, and whatever else they please is because they can compete with the lowest of the low. Mesa pilots did agree to their contract but the ALPA National President at the time DW decided to sign it as well. The race to the bottom started with ALPA which is unfortunate. Unionized pilots at the regional level were sold out by those who were suppossedly representing them.

ALPA does offer great benefits which cost extra outside of dues. They greive everything and don't seem (nothing to back this with) to win many of them. They killed seniority at USAir and set a precedent that they can't even negotiate between two of their own pilot groups much less management.

Unions are definitely a must, but I think Skywest pilots would be much better off contacting airlines presently using in house unions.

If ALPA wants to get Skywest on the property they should start by taking care of those they already represent. I came from another ALPA 121 carrier and they did nothing for me while I was there. In fact they hurt me more than they helped me. They should also start educating private pilots on their way to becoming professional airline pilots.

Skywest doesn't pay their pilots "properly" because NOTHING stops their management from paying them whatever they think is the minimum they can get away with. I don't blame them either, as management, its their job to cut costs where ever they can. Its the union job to balance that. Look at Horizon and XJT, their contracts are pretty good and they are able to compete. Don't sell yourselves short.

This is one of the reasons why ALPA wants to organize Skywest. Other regional ALPA pilots get together for strategizing sessions in order to mitigate whipsawing. If Skywest were in the mix, it would vastly improve that effort.

As for Mesa, you have to remember they were dealing with the alter ego Freedom. They gave up A LOT of negotiating capitol to include alter ego airlines in their scope clause. So much negotiating capital that they didn't have nearly enough to take care of other areas of their contract. But at least you don't see Mesa and Freedom being whipsawed and bringing the profession down even more. That is why DW signed it. You can disagree with the reasoning but its a valid point. Again, this is partly why ALPA feels its important to bring Skywest into the tent, to mitigate whipsawing.

Why shouldn't ALPA grieve everything that is legitimately a contract violation. You are not insinuating that they will actually greive something that is per the contract. That doesn't make sense.

As for USAirways, ALPA national had NOTHING to do with that. When two ALPA carriers merge their seniority lists, its respective negotiating committees negotiate among THEMSELVES. ALPA national only provides the merger policy. The two pilot groups decide what method to use to integrate their seniority list They come to an agreement or they send it to BINDING arbitration. When USAirways sent their case to arbitration, the arbitrator later came back with the decision but told the East pilots they were NOT going to like it so he would give them another chance to negotiate among themselves. The East pilots didn't want any part of that so the arbitrator rendered his binding decision. So how did ALPA kill seniority. Its not ALPA national unable to negotiate, its the two pilot groups unable to negotiate.

This is a huge misconception. Remember, ALPA is actually an ASSOCIATION. Each airline is affiliated to ALPA but they are for all intents and purposes for seniority integration, their OWN union (that just happens to be associated with ALPA). It was America West and USAirways pilots who couldn't negotiate with themselves. ALPA national had nothing to do with that fact.

If Skywest called airlines with in house unions, ask them if they purchase any of ALPA's services or if they have ever recieved help from ALPA's services free of charge. Ask them if they ever meet with ALPA carriers for strategizing? And ask them why?

I'm sorry if you were "hurt" by ALPA at your other 121 carrier. But remember, each airline is independent on how they run their union. Its only as good as its volunteers. Personally, I feel that people should get more involved especially if they were "wronged" so that that doesn't happen to a fellow pilot.

I do agree with you that they should hit the flight schools though.

Fly safe

 

[Nevets]

I didn't come to Skywest for a quick upgrade. In fact my friends let me know that I would be in the next upgrade class at my former carrier. Secondly, Skywest pilots are not whores. The company/lease companies own those airplanes not the pilots. What is ALPA doing about those planes being transferred over to Skywest: NOTHING! The fact of the matter is that you are right, at some point in time it needs to stop. That is why I am for educating new people getting started day one in aviation. The new hires did their research. The only carriers that are really expanding and offering many bases and a promising career is Skywest, Republic, XJet. But, if we can teach them and educate them on how to act as a professional, what it means to stand together, and how to improve their futures we can have educated pilots day one. There is too much propaganda from both sides right now for any new hire to really understand what it means to vote in ALPA.

Good points but just one thing, ASA piltos have included scope language in their TA to minimize the number of aircraft being transferred. And the ones that do get transferred bring ASA pilots with them. Now, what prevents Skywest management from transferring your Skywest planes over to another carrier? ASA pilots were thoughtful enough to reciprocate with you if they transfer them to ASA. But what if they transfer them somewhere else? What is SAPA doing about that?

 

[Ski Bum]

passport reimbursement? ouch!!!! what is that like $100. every 10 years? have you ever used yours for other than work?

If you haven't been at SKYW very long then you don't know that passports were not originally a reqiurement for the job, nor was the FCC license. They recently became requirements and we were not reimbursed. It doesn't matter if you use your passport outside of work or not, not everyone had one and they were forced to get one on their own dime. It sounds like a small complaint, but it is the small things that add up.

We used to not get paid for training, then we did, then we didn't, now we do again. We used have single occupancy hotel rooms, now we have double occupancy (new hire training only). We used to have to pay for our new hire uniforms, now we don't. We used to have to buy our Jepps and binders, now????? The point is that Skywest changes their requirements and what they do and do not pay for all the time. We need reimbursements and expenses in a legally binding contract.

Union contracts often include reimbursements for

Medicals (SKYW does not)
Dry Cleaning (SKYW does not)
Passports (SKYW does not)

Now consider that adds up to a few hundred extra dollars a year and consider the fact that my benefits this year cost a few hundred dollars more than last year. Every little bit counts. And it was those little bits in addition to the larger issues that the Contract Study Committee addressed unlike SAPA.

 

[SkyNation]

Union contracts often include reimbursements for

Medicals (SKYW does not)
Dry Cleaning (SKYW does not)
Passports (SKYW does not)

Now consider that adds up to a few hundred extra dollars a year and consider the fact that my benefits this year cost a few hundred dollars more than last year.

my medical-$60 bucks
Dry Cleaning-I wash my uniform at home
Passport-had one when I got here, but when it expires it costs $100 bucks for a new one

say I get a new passport every ten years.

tens years of medicals + passport renewal=$1300
tens years of ALPA dues=@$20,000

working at a place I enjoy, make more than my counterparts at other regionals and not having to deal with the inherent adversarial relationship of a Union=

PRICELESS
​

 

[Skywest Pylot]

tens years of medicals + passport renewal=$1300
tens years of ALPA dues=@$20,000

Having a legally enforceable contract=Priceless

 

[skyhogg]

Additionally, SkyWest already tried the "In House" Union. It failed. Don't know the reasons for that.
Trojan

It failed in large part due to the tireless campaign by SAPA and management to paint an "in house" as ineffective. The rhetoric was something along the lines that an in house union would take years to build up the funds to be effective and the fees would be too high.

Ironically, many of the same guys (read usual suspects) that bashed the idea of an in house during the UPA drive are now saying that they would be open to the idea...as long as it's not ALPA.

Keep them confused and divided...

 

[Ski Bum]

my medical-$60 bucks
Dry Cleaning-I wash my uniform at home
Passport-had one when I got here, but when it expires it costs $100 bucks for a new one

say I get a new passport every ten years.

tens years of medicals + passport renewal=$1300
tens years of ALPA dues=@$20,000

working at a place I enjoy, make more than my counterparts at other regionals and not having to deal with the inherent adversarial relationship of a Union=

PRICELESS​

Gotta give you credit on this one, it made me laugh.

In my experience with ALPA carriers with whom I have worked, for the money that I have paid ALPA, I have received more back in DIRECT fiscal reward (raises, reimbursements, grievances) than I have ever paid in dues. And that doesn't include QOL or added legal and medical protections.

To me, that isn't priceless, that is a sound business investment.

 

[Nevets]

my medical-$60 bucks
Dry Cleaning-I wash my uniform at home
Passport-had one when I got here, but when it expires it costs $100 bucks for a new one

say I get a new passport every ten years.

tens years of medicals + passport renewal=$1300
tens years of ALPA dues=@$20,000

working at a place I enjoy, make more than my counterparts at other regionals and not having to deal with the inherent adversarial relationship of a Union=

PRICELESS
​

SkyNation,

You are missing the point entirely. The point is that you have an enforceable contract so that they can't just change these things on a whim without having the okay from pilots.

But my original question, what did SAPA do about these things? Can you answer that?

 

[SkyNation]

Nevets

you're a smart guy, but since you're new here I'm assuming you haven't been able to read through all the crap on this forum. this is not a new debate, and I've been clear.

just because I don't want ALPA here doesn't mean that I'm automatically a fan of SAPA. I'm not. Whatever the structure is, as long as it delivers me a QOL, pay, and overall company health that I believe is equal to or better than what I see my friends and counterparts getting at other regionals, then I am happy and will go with what delivers those results.

signed,
Former ALPA member