Originally Posted by
JetJock16
Easy Boiler! Our total pay/QOL package (even before the BS new pay policy) was & still is well above 90+% of the industry. You can argue a $1 here or there on our hourly rates but at the end of the year our W2's place us right up there with the #1. So, it's not our pay that caused some ALPA groups to take concessions, it was $hity Mgmnt and bankruptcies on their (not meaning pilots) part. Don't put this on us, ignorance like that really Pi$$ me off!
Its not ignorance..it is a simple fact and likely one cause among MANY for concessions at two regionals in particular; Comair and AWAC.
While there might be parity in the payrates and/or W2s *now*, Comair and ASA's crew costs simply were not competitive for the 700 when Skywest was flying them for 200 payrates. Nor was AWAC competitive for UAX flying when Skywest pilots were flying 700s for less than AWAC pilots were flying 200s for.
You are right, those common payrates were dictated to Skywest pilots due by management...but there seemingly was no massive outcry from Skywest pilots counter to it, and you cannot deny the effect it had on other airlines' bargaining power.
Please don't mistake what I'm saying....I am
not blaming the ills of the regional industry on Skywest or Skywest pilots, nor am I blaming concessions at ALPA carriers on them/ I am not so ignorant as to believe that a buck on an hourly rate would be the only reason a carrier might gain or lose flying. I also know full well that Skywest pilots beyond their first year make equal or possibly even more than what I do, given slightly better workrules and profit sharing.
That said, it would be
highly naive for one to think that flying 70 seats for 50 seat wages did not put major crew cost pressures on the competition, and that those crew cost pressures (along with others) did not contribute to concessionary bargaining at other regional carriers to remain financially competitive.