Originally Posted by
flyingkangaroo
Hey people just wanted to put my 2 cents into this. I'm not going to battle anyones comments because i think the arguments being made on the skywest union or anti union issue are thought of only in the short term. For the skywest pilots out there deciding if they will elect ALPA, I encourage you to look at the big picture, not just 2 or 3 years from now but 20 years from now. I encourage you to look to your friends at places like pinnacle, mesa and TSA and say we support you. If Skywest's pilots vote in ALPA, skywest inc will have the largest regional pilot group in the nation. If you stand up now and say enough is enough you will set the bar for the industry. It's time to take back our profession! Better contracts at the regional level will reverberate into the majors. Skywest pilots must look at their vote as one that effects the regionals and the majors, not just Skywest. Skywest pilots need to know that this vote will potentially change the industry. If you stand up now your future at the major level (Should you choose to go there) and at skywest will be better for you and family.
Keep in mind that ASA and SKW are different certificates under the SKW Inc umbrella. Because we are different certificates we can't strike or negotiate a new contract together unless we have one pilot group, even if we vote in ALPA Mgmnt won't merge the pilot groups. ASA can sue for merger but they will likely fail based upon the single fact that SKW and ASA have completely different certificates, meaning they're completely different airlines. This isn't the same situation as is at US Airways, that's a complete merger. There are too many reasons why SKW Inc won’t merge the pilot groups; most of them have to do with an "escape goat." I mean no offense ASA it's just my business opinion. SKW is SKW Inc’s baby, we all know this.
Also, SKW going ALPA won't change the industry but it will help in the long run. I don't know if ALPA is right for SKW but one thing's for sure in my mind,
SAPA’s (err…. Mgmnt) NOT. I've been here for a while and I used to be Anti-ALPA but time has shown that Mgmnt will do what Mgmnt has to do regardless of their labor group’s loyalty and usually at the expense of their labor groups.
Some say, why not an in-house union? Simple, 2800 pilots at 1.95% dues does equate to enough money. Yes it's probably around $6M+/yr but when you really look at everything; Paralegal, Aero Medical, administrative, Insurance, etc. It's just not enough. If we can get ASA to climb on board then that's a different story, but we would have to be one first.