SkyWest Going ALPA?
10-06-2006, 04:23 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: ERJ-145 FO
Posts: 139
SkyWest Going ALPA?
I don't get it. I keep hearing how wonderful SkyWest is and how everyone there is happy. If that's the case, why form a union? If people are happy there, why elect to hand over 2% of one's money to an unnecessary bureaucarcy?
================================================== =====
This week, the campaign to secure ALPA representation for SkyWest pilots officially kicked off with the distribution of Authorization for Representation Election cards. This is the latest step forward in the first initiative in ALPA's Strategic Organizing Campaign authorized by the Executive Board in June.
Several months ago, a group of SkyWest pilots formed the SkyWest Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee to work with ALPA on this effort. The Organizing Committee is urging all SkyWest pilots to join them in this campaign to secure union representation and, ultimately, a collective bargaining agreement. To do so will be a "critically important opportunity to improve our careers and our airline," the Organizing Committee wrote in a letter to all SkyWest pilots.
ALPA has made securing representation for SkyWest pilots a top priority for the Association and the profession, and the Association has committed significant financial and staff resources to this initiative.
"The time has come," says ALPA's president, Capt. Duane Woerth, "for the SkyWest pilots to unite for a better future--a future with guaranteed rights and benefits through an enforceable contract; a future with increased economic security and the ability to speak with one voice; a future with union representation; a future with ALPA." (read the letter from Capt. Woerth)
The Organizing Committee identified specific goals regarding what pilots want from their careers at SkyWest and how best to achieve those goals. It concluded that, "ALPA is the only association that serves only airline pilots, and we are convinced that ALPA offers us the superb combination of unmatched resources, the clout of a large international union, and the local autonomy that will allow us to create a powerful and representative union of our pilot group at our airline."
================================================== =====
This week, the campaign to secure ALPA representation for SkyWest pilots officially kicked off with the distribution of Authorization for Representation Election cards. This is the latest step forward in the first initiative in ALPA's Strategic Organizing Campaign authorized by the Executive Board in June.
Several months ago, a group of SkyWest pilots formed the SkyWest Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee to work with ALPA on this effort. The Organizing Committee is urging all SkyWest pilots to join them in this campaign to secure union representation and, ultimately, a collective bargaining agreement. To do so will be a "critically important opportunity to improve our careers and our airline," the Organizing Committee wrote in a letter to all SkyWest pilots.
ALPA has made securing representation for SkyWest pilots a top priority for the Association and the profession, and the Association has committed significant financial and staff resources to this initiative.
"The time has come," says ALPA's president, Capt. Duane Woerth, "for the SkyWest pilots to unite for a better future--a future with guaranteed rights and benefits through an enforceable contract; a future with increased economic security and the ability to speak with one voice; a future with union representation; a future with ALPA." (read the letter from Capt. Woerth)
The Organizing Committee identified specific goals regarding what pilots want from their careers at SkyWest and how best to achieve those goals. It concluded that, "ALPA is the only association that serves only airline pilots, and we are convinced that ALPA offers us the superb combination of unmatched resources, the clout of a large international union, and the local autonomy that will allow us to create a powerful and representative union of our pilot group at our airline."
10-06-2006, 08:33 AM
#3
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,505
Originally Posted by stanrhintx
I don't get it. I keep hearing how wonderful SkyWest is and how everyone there is happy. If that's the case, why form a union? If people are happy there, why elect to hand over 2% of one's money to an unnecessary bureaucarcy?
ALPA ain't some mythical group of evildoers in Herndon - ALPA is everybody in your Local, and everybody in your pilot group. ALPA is only as strong and useful as your fellow pilots are unified.
10-06-2006, 09:09 AM
#5
Banned
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Right Seat, EMB-145/140/135
Posts: 84
ALPA+(regional airline)=1/(moral of pilot group)
Dump ALPA for:
S.C.R.A.P.L.E.S. (Scum commuter regional airline pilots of the lower eastern shore)
or:
PAPA: Piedmont Airline Pilots Association "Who's your PAPA now, BTCH!"
Dump ALPA for:
S.C.R.A.P.L.E.S. (Scum commuter regional airline pilots of the lower eastern shore)
or:
PAPA: Piedmont Airline Pilots Association "Who's your PAPA now, BTCH!"
10-06-2006, 11:46 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: ERJ Right Seat
Posts: 472
Originally Posted by BoilerUP
Its only an unnecessary bureaucracy until you need ALPA Aeromedical or Legal Services. Or loss-of-licence insurance. Or someone to represent you and protect your job if you make a mistake. Or to negotiate higher pay for the 70+ seat jets you've been flying for well longer than the original agreement...
ALPA ain't some mythical group of evildoers in Herndon - ALPA is everybody in your Local, and everybody in your pilot group. ALPA is only as strong and useful as your fellow pilots are unified.
ALPA ain't some mythical group of evildoers in Herndon - ALPA is everybody in your Local, and everybody in your pilot group. ALPA is only as strong and useful as your fellow pilots are unified.
Couldn't have said it better myself...
It's about time too. I think it will pass this time, regardless of what incentives the company may be offering.
10-06-2006, 12:18 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Capt
Posts: 611
The time for a union is BEFORE you need it.
Back when SW had 800 pilots and our regional careers seemed about 3 to 4 years..no one cared that management swithch their mind any time it was convienent for them. No one cared that pay was frozen. No one cared that we were working 90 hard hours a month and gone from home for 16-18 days.
Now, it's all different. 2400pilots and more every day. Record profits. And it's on the backs of the pilots and other work groups.
Yes, SW is one of the better regionals. Yes, we are "happy".
**removed comment due to legal reasons -Admin**
ALPA is far from perfect, I know, but we need a voice and we need a place at the table.
Back when SW had 800 pilots and our regional careers seemed about 3 to 4 years..no one cared that management swithch their mind any time it was convienent for them. No one cared that pay was frozen. No one cared that we were working 90 hard hours a month and gone from home for 16-18 days.
Now, it's all different. 2400pilots and more every day. Record profits. And it's on the backs of the pilots and other work groups.
Yes, SW is one of the better regionals. Yes, we are "happy".
**removed comment due to legal reasons -Admin**
ALPA is far from perfect, I know, but we need a voice and we need a place at the table.
10-06-2006, 12:40 PM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,232
I'm going to hold off on forming too strong of an alpa opinion in regards to SKW until I have a little more time at the company.
However...I am very hesitant about alpa and regionals in general, based on my experiences at my previous alpa carrier. I don't think alpa can do anything at SKW othef than f*ck up the current arrangement, which isn't half bad at all.
Insurance and all that you can purchase from the private sector, without having to pay 2% of your income in addition to the premiums.
ALPA might get my interest if they took a firm NATIONAL stance on compensation and workrules, and defined a minimum acceptable standard to be enforced at all carriers (alpa or not). Set the standard, provide a grace period so the sub-standard guys can renogotiate or find new jobs, and then BLACKLIST anybody who's left...but you have to really, really mean it.
The drive appears unlikely to succeed anyway.
However...I am very hesitant about alpa and regionals in general, based on my experiences at my previous alpa carrier. I don't think alpa can do anything at SKW othef than f*ck up the current arrangement, which isn't half bad at all.
Insurance and all that you can purchase from the private sector, without having to pay 2% of your income in addition to the premiums.
ALPA might get my interest if they took a firm NATIONAL stance on compensation and workrules, and defined a minimum acceptable standard to be enforced at all carriers (alpa or not). Set the standard, provide a grace period so the sub-standard guys can renogotiate or find new jobs, and then BLACKLIST anybody who's left...but you have to really, really mean it.
The drive appears unlikely to succeed anyway.
10-06-2006, 02:40 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: ERJ Right Seat
Posts: 472
What????
Originally Posted by hatetobreakit2u
alpa is only gonna make it worse
shoulda gone teamsters
shoulda gone teamsters
The more and more that you post, the more is becoming evident that you detached from the realities of the industry and the history associated with them....teamsters as oppose to alpa? Wow! I could write a book about this one, but I promised I would be nice and "professional".
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