Originally Posted by
Nevets
Air Wisconsin and Horizon don't have higher pay? Our dues are 1.9% and they are 100% tax deductible so the effective dues rate is lower for those that itemize. It's also well worth it in insurance, if that's all you see it as, but it's a lot more. The fact that you see it as a negative says a lot of the coat tail mentality many Skywest pilots have. Your welcome for all the recent things you guys take advantage of like ASAP, FOQA, KCM, CASS, FFDO, etc.
Horizon has a higher pay scale but they're such a small wholly owned company that comparing Skywest/Expressjet to Horizon is kind of silly. They only fly for Alaska and only in a small market and only on one airframe. AWAC has about the same payscale as Skywest but again pays union dues so I probably have about the same if not more take home pay. I doubt most FOs make enough money to itemize and take advantage of the deductions. I've never been able to itemize on my taxes so when people say "it's a tax write off!" to me it just goes in one ear and out the other. I can't write it off anyway so I see it as a disadvantage.
You guys, Endeavor and Eagle all seem to hate ALPA. How can all of you sit there and say "ALPA is screwing us" yet get mad at Skywest pilots for not voting in ALPA. You're basically saying "we hate ALPA but we hate you more for not hating ALPA with us!" I see it as a huge conflict of intestest to have ALPA represent me while their salaries are paid by UA and DL pilots dues. I'd probably vote yes on some kind of regional airline union but I'd never vote yes on ALPA.