The highest cost to an airline is fuel followed by labor. Since SkyWest doesn't pay for fuel labor is their highest cost. Regardless of how you cut it all cost associated with an airline effect the bottom line and paying every pilot $2 more per hour equates to $5.7M+ in increased cost.

3180 pilots x 75 hr (MMG) = 238,500 x 12 months = 2,862,000 hours x $2 = $5,724,000

That’s only pilots; all labor groups want more money. I'm not saying we're now worth more, we are, but we must stay competitive. $2 more per hour isn’t worth stagnation and lost contracts.