Quote:
Originally Posted by surfnfly
Plenty of friends tried to do plenty...big waste of time. What do you think will seriously improve at SkyW with ALPA? no one can really give me a straight answer....
First off I am a supporter of ALPA in big way and I believe the Pilots of Skywest will be better off having ALPA as the collective bargaining agent.
But, if you think just by voting in ALPA (or any other union) that something "magical" will happen...........think again.
Once ALPA (or any other Union is certified) All of you will be responsible for getting gains in your negotiating. Realistically, negotiating your first contract will take a few years. You will have elections for your leadership. You will have a membership drives. You will need 80% solid memebers minimum in my opinion before you can begin negotiating with MGT. There will be contract surveys and questionaires taken. ALPA will provide the Skywest pilots vast resources. Good communications, experts in Benefits work rules and financial analysis of SKYwest as to what their ability to pay is (i.e. what they can afford to pay you).
That being said, if you don't Certify a Union, you will simply beg and accept whatever scraps your MGT decides to throw you..........or in todays environment They might take some of your scraps away.
Your UNITY and resolve will be what gets you pay raises and benefit improvments. YOUR UNITY and Resolve coupled with ALPA's resources can get you there quicker.
So if you think ALPA is going to come in and wave a magic wand, guess again.
If the Pilots of Skywest want improvements and are willing to band together and fight for them.........ALPA can and will help, but ultimately the Destiny of the SKYWEST Pilots is in all your hands.
Good Luck in your upcoming certification process.