Originally Posted by
Koolaidman
I just get sick of reading that SkyWest is the downfall of the industry. I am happy at SkyWest and I don't need to be the highest paid in the industry to be happy. Yes, our pilots who voted for the pay raise not only sold out the Bro pilots, but the industry as well. It would have been nice to vote it down and try to negotiate a better offer, but that obivously didn't happen. It is funny to read how people on here think that because XJT gets a raise or if Mesa gets a better contract, that that has any effect of what happens at other regionals. This isn't pre-9/11 where it is a race to the top, it is fight and struggle to get what we get. Our pay could be better at SkyWest, but management played the pilots like pawns and the pilots who voted yes took the bait. Sad to say, but it I was impressed at how management picked the perfect number to get just enough votes. I think it was voted 54% yes and 46% no. Management knows this pilot group too well.
This is exactly the attitude that contributes to the "Race to the Bottom."
"Well, I don't want to lose my job, so I will take whatever I can get." "I'll just settle for the first thing that management puts on the table." And guess what, when things happen at other airlines that does effect what happens at other airlines. Comair's contract was leverage for XJET to demand better. Air Whiskys recent arbitration win should help other groups to do better. Better contracts at other regionals provide leverage for your pilot group to demand better, not just settle for the first thing that comes along, or to let management play the pilots like pawns. From what I understand SkyWest has a lot of flying and makes good money. Why would you not use that as leverage for more pay?