mach946

This is what I was trying to convey with regard to the aquisition of XJET. They have worked hard to create a company that is synonomous with a great QOL. To just roll over and be bought out without trying to keep what they have worked so hard to build on is just absurd.
When CAL wanted to mitigate the relationship with them, they did not just go under, they looked at underutilized markets and have been persuing that rather well, and have also sought to increase their marketability with CAL. I truly believe if the oil prices werent what they currently are they would be making record profits with the equipment they have.
I will reiterate it is not easy to aquire a company that has a great QOL.

TonyWilliams

Rights to be organized ? We have that "right" now. We've used that right; 3 times. JA is abiding by our collective wishes by protecting us from the very union that we just said no to, for the second time. The very union that USA said no to, and kicked out. And Colgan said no to. The very union that is sueing SkW in some bizarro deparate attempt to disable the pilot organization that we have (hope you enjoy your dues money being used for that).

Let me state categorically that JA will not cut any deal which will encumber SkW pilots, who have already turned down a union multiple times, to be forced into a union. Based on his comments in ORD, I'd say that the pilots of XJT will have the final word on a sale, and in my opinion, JA wins either way. Bought with his provisos, or bought at auction in pieces. Or not bought at all. But he won't hurt us.

Obviously, CAL wants to cut a better deal with XJT, or use SkW (sounds like we're moving in to CAL anyway, XJT or not). I'm not sure what the best answer for XJT is on that, but I'm sure that all the parties involved knows what's best for them. Unfortunately, the airline business is replete with examples of folks holding out until total failure.



Ok, I got the number from somebody else's post. What number would you like me to use ? I don't care how much it was; it wasn't a penny of my money. How about a gazillion dollars ? Let's see, full page ad in USA Today ($150,000-ish maybe?), advertising in airports (tens of thousands), legal bills still ongoing (staff attorneys don't work for free), full time ALPA officer shacked up in SLC for the whole drive (some five figure amount), lots of free drinks and meals ($$$$$$$ thanks, by the way :-), travel expenses and hotels for organizing committee ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$). Give me a number.




One thing that I've learned in my short time around the unionized airline business is that those "rights" get trampled on more times than we "at-will" employees at SkW. Makes for a good sound bite, though.





Ok, well we've discussed this. JA is against it, the pilots at SkW would be against it. Even if JA didn't care whether we got screwed over in the deal or not, he doesn't have to look far in the airline world to see what a mess that can be VERY quickly.





That's a good point. If XJT guys vote to be integrated into a non-union list, more power to them. Yes, they should be cool with that, if that's what they choose. But I can imagine them signing off on that, only to start union drive #4 at SkW a week later.... which is fine, but frankly, I'm personally tired of the drama with that.

And if that union drive fails, what do we have ? P*ssed off union guys in our ranks.

JoeyMeatballs

you guys may not need a union, but your "pilot" group is doing a great job with those 70+ seat payrates.................

TonyWilliams

Why don't we look at the successful airline buyouts / mergers ? Southwest is a quality outfit, in much the same way that I think SkW is a quality outfit.

They bought Morris Air, integrated the pilots into the Southwest pilot group, and those pilots became members of the pilot organization at the buyer (Southwest). Does anybody have anything bad to say about that one ?

dbchandler1

Skywest should work on the 70 seat rates but I guess at least they are still getting a profit sharing check every quarter.

TonyWilliams

Yes, we won't know until May 7, but I suspect we'll have made a profit. Of all the airlines in the US, how many did that this quarter ?

Southwest, and ????

johnso29

And they certainly need them to supplement those rates.

rickair7777

I think I agree with your point on compensation for larger RJ's, but since you identify yourself as mainline NWA I have to ask...where's your scope?

Believe me, all of us "entry-level" regional pilots who have been banging around this industry ro 5, 8, 10+ years would MUCH rather be flying 70 seaters on a mainline seniority list. Trust me on that.

POPA

RAH and UPS, at least.

johnso29

My scope is where the those before me sold it, at a regional.