Originally Posted by
AxialFlow
Originally Posted by
Nevets
Lets assume for argument sake that I agree with that premise completely. Very simply, two wrongs don't make it right.
I don't think it's a question of right and wrong. Look at those carriers that are unionized; there's no solidarity. Mesa bids different rates on -200 flying than Air Whiskey. Even at the unionized carriers, you have 737 Captains at SWA making more than wide body Captains at UAL. Point being: there's no set standard. And without that, who's to say what is right and wrong? I know some people will say "But if Jerry could pay you $10 less an hour, he would!" But c'mon...what CEO wouldn't that apply to? Having not worked at Skywest, from the outside looking in, it looks like Jerry has 'cracked the code' on what we all knew before: compensate your employees as best you can and they'll take care of the company. But he's probably just taking a page out of Kelleher's book.
Well, SWA is one of the most heavily unionized airlines out there. Although, when you consider that swa doesnt have a retirement contribution like DAL, UAL, and AA, there is no real disparity among those 737 pilots. The standard has been set by each union pilot group every time they negotiate a new contract and its working because all those airlines are profitable. Its the same overlook that happens with our B fund contribution. But you seem to get things mixed up like the Skywest pilots do. Whatever Mesa/TSA/Gojet/RAH or any other regional bids is done by management, not by the pilots. The Skywest pilots want to blame places like pinnacle for downward pressure on compensation yet give no credit for upward pressure and their increasing compensation when times were good for comair, awac, EGL, and XJT. The fact is that Jerry has cracked his pilots' code on what's the least he can compensate them without the pilots deciding to not be a drag on us (they get whatever 401k matching, health benefits, and scope we get, which will be nothing because of that anchor) and actually work with their fellow pilots in getting a fair contract.
So to my original point to you, even if we do agree that pinnacle is a drag for everyone, that doesn't make it ok for everyone or anyone else to also be a drag as well. That's what I meant that two wrongs don't make a right.