Not sure how long you've been in the industry but indeed Skywest had a blend rate for 50-99 seat jets, and in fairness it was marginally higher than the ASA 50 seat rate but lower than our 70 seat rate. In fact, after the purchase of ASA we started transferring 70 seat jets to Skywest because of the lower labor costs. I remember our late MEC Chair approaching Jerry and stating that it was a smart business decision to move the 70 seaters to Skywest and that by using the same logic the 50 seaters should be moved to ASA. But of course, that didn't happen, Jerry was simply telling us lowly union pilots who was in control. All the while Skywest pilots were gladly accepting the airframes. This was around the time of yet another failed union drive at Skywest.

If you go back in history much of what you see in the handbook was given to you after ACA, CMR, and Continental Express now XJT had negotiated industry leading contracts, save the pay rates. And don't kid yourself thinking Skywest saved XJT out of the goodness of their hearts, far be it. They were simply looking at it as an opportunity to park crap CPA's and whipsaw the crap out of two unionized carriers. This accomplished two things: 1) Skywest Holdings benefits from the revenue gain, and 2) It gives management a tool to curtail any future union drives at Skywest, Inc. They've been successful doing both.

Yup, and management has you pacified with those great numbers. No need to "rock the boat" and unionizing to possibly improve the situation for others. Nah, it's just better to stay non-union and kiss management's behind to ensure receipt of the next CPA, and then tout how awesome you guys are and how crappy places like Mesa are.