Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
This letter was sent by the ASA MEC chairman today:
Sounds like Atkin is playing hardball, as predicted. If XJET ALPA attempts to challenge the scope provision, the deal is off.
Which is probably best for SkyWest and ASA anyhow.
And best for the profession. Now I'm ready to call the deal off, or in other words, I'm ready to fight to uphold my contract.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
What say you, Nevets, self appointed spokesman for the XJET pilot group? Will you "call his bluff" (he's not bluffing) or will you give up on the 3-way?
What's the line in Vegas? I put my money on giving up on the 3-way, but you never know. ALPA likes telling its regionals to fall on their swords for the "greater good".
I've said multiple times that I only speak for myself. Although there are many of the same opinion as mine. I will gladly call his bluff, AGAIN. If it was solely up to me, I would not give up on one list.
We all tell the mainline pilots they should have upheld their scope clauses but when its up to us, you seem to vilify us for even thinking about it. Why?
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
Because we will get it anyhow, but at a fire sale in 6-24 months without a seniority merger if you shoot this down.
If that was really the case, JA wouldn't be trying to buy us now. He puts great value in XJT now then later or in bk. In any case, I don't know why anyone in the profession would want that unless you only cared about yourself and didn't care about other people.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
We were fine before the announcement of this possible merger, and we will be fine if it doesn't happen.
It's you guys decision. You can get on board and help make ASA/XJET a powerhouse (then go after SkyWest at a later date) or you can fall on your swords for ALPA. But I for one am glad to hear that Jerry is not going to let you guys tie this up in litigation forever.
Either get on board or get left out. That's the way SkyWest does things. Get used to it or take your chances alone.
I hope this isn't tied up in litigation. I don't know why JA is even playing these antics to begin with if he doesn't want this tied up in arbitration. He should have just asked the MEC if they were willing to put aside certain contract provisions first before announcing his definitive merger agreement. Oh wait, he already tried that...didn't work. Something tells me he is more apt to go through with it even if we manage to one list this.
One list or stop trying to buy us. That's the way XJT pilots does things. Get used to it or take your chances alone.
Originally Posted by
Slaphappy
XJT is on life support, your ceo is basically there to trim the fat and sell the company. Your own managment has said you can't make money in your current state. The buyout is the only thing keeping you out of the unemployment line.
I don't mind him trimming the fat and selling the company. Maybe a more honorable company would actually abide by our contract. Of course our management tells us we wont make money. They want this just as bad as JA. Like you said, our ceo is just here to sell us...duh.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
Why do you keep saying this? When SKW bought ASA we all thought there would be whipsaw and that he would simply bleed ASA to death, taking our planes and flying. This did not happen. So why do you think there will suddenly be whipsaw now? Get over yourselves! As Rikair said, it's best to get on board now and go after the SkyWest pilots later.
He did take airplanes away from ASA and gave them to SKW. He did it during your negotiations. In fact, that is probably the reason why you have language in your contract to prohibit that in the future. I wonder how much it cost you in pay and work rules to get that little paragraph in your contract. That is the definition of whipsaw!
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
Sorry, Bills, but you're in over your head. I could easily turn what you said around and state that since he walked away once before because the deal wasn't on his terms, he will walk away again. You clearly know nothing about Jerry. Why do you act like you do? You don't work for him. We have worked for him for 5 years now! One thing you must get through your head about SkyWest, Inc: Jerry Atkin does not bluff, and does not play games. When you are dealing directly with him, his first offer is also his last, best, and final offer. He does not posture. He simply tells you the deal, and you can take it or leave it.
He does not posture? That is BS. I was in the room when he told us himself that "XJT would be bk in 6-9 months", "we need to see him as our lifeboat", "its up to you if you want to be cost competitive." Its been over two years and we are still here.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
So would I. It seems all you guys do is beat your chests. Too much drama, and not interested in 2800 pilots who want to burn down the company. That's bad for my career.
We have sheilds and swords out because it was JA that is wielding his sword at us first. We will fight for our contract against JA and anyone else who gets in our way. I hope ASA pilots don't get in the way of us trying to enforce our contract because I don't think we would ever get in the way of you wanting to enforce yours.
Originally Posted by
Slaphappy
Yes I would because then there would be a chance that skywest would grow especially due to your financial state.
That doesn't seem to be what your CEO wants.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
You're got to be kidding me! You're comparing apples to oranges!
ASA furloughed because Delta cut our flying and transferred it to Pinnacle, Compass, Republic, and all the other DCI carriers we must compete with. At the time, Delta was our only mainline partner. SkyWest does mostly business with UAL so they weren't as affected.
Did any ASA flying go to SkyWest during our furlough? NO Did they ask for concessions to get the pilots back? NO. This was not whipsaw. End of story.
Well, if you were one list, one pilot group wouldn't be suffering while the other one hires. After all, the money all goes to the same coffers.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
I really don't need a history lesson, I'm aware of what happened. As I said, he walked away once, and he will walk away again. If Jerry suddenly changed his mind about one list, he wouldn't have gone to the pains of setting up ASA to buy you, he would have just done it with INC. There's your biggest sign!
Biggest clue is that he is buying XJT and said he "may" back out if we one list it. He will lose $4M in the process as well.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
As for the swords, we don't have swords out, we have shields out. You are the one with the sword. Like I said, we don't need 2800 rabble rousers coming over here and thumbing their noses at the hand that feeds us. So if that's what you guys intend, just tell Jerry no thanks, and take your chances alone. That's all I've got.
Sounds good to me. Too bad JA doesn't see the value in happy employees.
Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
I'm glad you brought that up. That's a prime example of what happens when you "call Jerry's bluff" and tell him to pack sand. That a lesson ASA ALPA learned the hard way. That wasn't whipsaw, it was punishment for not playing ball.
This is the classic definition of whipsaw! You are so far in it, you can't even see it even though you explain it very simply yourself!