Originally Posted by
Deez340
It's becoming a burden being right this often.
In all seriousness for the XJT guys I wish I were wrong on this one. In addition, sadly, I believe (read as know) that SkyWest's experience with the ASA acquisition further soured their attitude toward ALPA and as such they just want the contract with CAL, the equipment to execute it, and will dispose of anything else they can. Saabarooski's comment about XJT guys interviewing for their own jobs at first year pay may prove prophetic. Good luck to all. Be proactive.
There are a number of things in the ALPA world that have transpired recently at SkyWest, none of them positive in the minds of those who manage this company (and probably to an overwhelming majority of line pilots as well).
Currently, ALPA is still actively sueing SkyWest for whatever wrongs they think occurred that culminated in their defeat here. Briefs will be presented in court the first week of August 2008.
As to the ASA acquisition, we all know why SKW bought them, and it had nothing to do with it being ALPA or not ALPA. But, as Jerry told us at a pilot meeting in Dec 2007 (directly after ALPA's failed organizing drive here), he thought the whole 5 year contract negotiation process was crazy, and said so.
Granted, he did not involve himself in the contract negotiations until the end, nor does he have any experience in dealing with a labor union. But he wasn't impressed with the process. I can't think of anything in the ASA contract that hurts SkyWest, Inc. (some would argue the limitations on transferring airplanes out, but I don't find this significant to the company).
So, buying XJT will also have absolutely nothing to do with whether it is ALPA or not. Obviously, Chip and Jerry aren't going to play games with the ALPA provisions in the XJT contract that seriously limit the company. But they've never once stripped a purchased airline of its crews to then rehire them at first year pay and seniority.
The XJT pilots will do that to themselves, or not. They will have to vote to accept the changes to the contract, or go down with the ship trying to keep them.
Long before ASA was bought, SkyWest bought Sun Aire. They were fully integrated into SkyWest on par. ASA would have been also, in my opinion, had it not been union, or if we had become union. The same would be true of XJT.
Mesa is a whole 'nother issue. We'll pick that apart piece by piece.