ALPA Attack on SkyWest Airlines Fails
 

ALPA Attack on SkyWest Airlines Fails

June 28, 2007: 04:52 PM EST


ST. GEORGE, Utah, June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a ruling Wednesday, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California refused ALPA's request to ban SkyWest Airlines from funding SkyWest Airlines Pilot Association (SAPA). Further, the court denied ALPA all access to company e-mail, mail boxes and training classes. SkyWest Airlines, a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. , unremittingly supports an open communication policy between leadership and employees, and has done so for 35 years.

In its legal filings, ALPA stated that its campaign to win pilot support at SkyWest was failing due in part to the existence of SAPA, and attempted to gain access to extensive SkyWest resources to further its cause. ALPA sought to eliminate its rival by urging the court to eliminate SAPA, SkyWest pilots' current representative body, which has been representing SkyWest pilots since 1995. ALPA's request for a preliminary injunction was rejected by the court on Wednesday, with the exception of allowing supporters to post on general bulletin boards -- which was not previously denied by SkyWest -- and the ability to wear lanyards that bear the ALPA logo as part of the flight uniform.

SkyWest's culture is founded upon open and honest communication between employees and management, and the airline strongly believes that the long-term interests of all SkyWest employees are best served by maintaining the company's current open-door relationship.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...28062007-1.htm

It's pretty amazing that SkyWest can keep this up in the present industry. Amazing in a good way. Still, I wonder how long it will last.

good
 

Hopefully ALPA will get the hint that if we wanted them to represent us, they would have been voted in long ago.

Exactly. ALPA, what are you thinking? Using dirty tactics against management when the MAJORITY of Pilots at SKW are not pro-union? That's no way to gain support, fella's. How can you do that and tell the Pilot Group that you have their best interests in mind??

I am certainly Pro-ALPA where it is needed...but not at SKW, not now.

Hey guys,

Not to burst your bubble, but flying 700's and 900's for 50 seater rates is hardly an accomplishment. There are a number of reasons why the skywest pilot group needs representation, the one above is probably the most obvious...But hey if you're happy flying "DC 9" size aircraft for substandard pay, well by all means.

Seriously, Dude...

Don't go out there picking on SKW. Name one Regional that pays their Pilots what they ought to, to fly those 70+ seat Jets. And then name every Regional that under pays their Pilots for those same Jets. And THEN, tell me which of those Carriers are Unionized. EVERY Regional flies those Jets for substandard pay, union or not. It's a sad fact, but it is fact nonetheless. Until we ALL walk off the Job as ONE, nothing is going to change.

You're right, Mesa does it...it must be right, is that what you tell yourself to make yourself feel better?

Another ignorant comment from an ignorant pilot. I'm not calling you stupid, just saying you don't know what you're talking about. We no longer get paid 50 seat rate and our rates (which includes our pay rigging) is among the tops in the industry. Remember that we're operating thin margins industry wide and can only be paid so much. A $1 or 2 here or there’s a drop in a bucket, with our policies and bonuses we make much more than you realize. I guarantee that we do!

BTW my card is in and we need legal representation before SKW takes a turn for the south. I don’t want to break the bank and I understand that we can’t get paid much more than we currently are, but I want more improvements to QOL (even though we second only to AWAC) and legal representation so that when things go south and Mgmnt tries to cut our wages by 30% then we can actually do something about it.

I'm not pro-alpa but I'm for change. Don't forget about the 0% pay raise for us EMB guys. Thanks to all the RJ pilots that voted for that one! Skywest is a great place and I enjoy working here, however, it has it's places for improvement. I'm still not sure if ALPA could or would change anything for the better.

Take a look at Mesaba, MAG, GoJets, TSA, SkyBus, Virgin, Allegiant, USA 3000, Sun Country, US Airways, Colgan (Q400's), PSA and many others.

So EVERYONE, save me the BS speech.

ExperimentalAB, how long have you worked at SKW?

I agree, I voted no for that BS pay package on principle alone. I was a Bro pilot then the package was introduces and today I'd still vote no. BUT, keep in mind that our EMB pilots are the highest paid 30 seat pilots in the nation.

I'd take SKW's stock purchase plan anyday and it comes out to be worth pretty penny. Does your airline offer something that compares to that?

We may have the best 30 seat rates, but I don't care. There's not another industry out there where you would give part of a labor group a pay raise and not the other. Were all the same, pilots. Giving a worker a pay raise is a way of saying thank you, good job. It should have nothing to do with the size of your plane or the size of your office. :confused:

It does have everything to do with profit margins and with climbing Mx cost on the EMB-120 (no longer in production so parts must be fabricated) the margins are decreasing.

Not that I'm aware but our 50 seater captains make the same as the guys flying the 900's and our quality of our life is certainly much better. On time bonuses, profit sharing, etc. The issue is pay, and these guys seem to be ok with flying a 90 seater for peanuts, just like another regional I know of that flies 70-75 Ejets for 50 seat pay.

You out of IOE yet?

OK, and how do you know this? Give examples? BTW our pay rigging/guarantees are certainly better than yours.

I don't work at SkyWest, but I was under the impression they do have on-time incentives and profit sharing. (Help me out here, SkyWest guys.)

Also, if 70 and 90 seater pilots were paid what they're "owed", then wouldn't that segment of regional flying just cease to exist? Seems the cost of labor would force mainline carriers to just take this flying back for themselves. I realize that's precisely what a lot of people think should happen, but there's got to be a few side effects. One big advantage of regional service is greater frequency on the big routes, and that would pretty much be killed, probably spurning some potential customers. And I think some routes might not even be profitable with the higher cost of labor. In my mind, that would lead to less flying, more pilots looking for work, and depressed wages anyway.

Besides, no one is being forced to fly the big plane for the small plane rate. Everybody has their own reasons, but if someone is willing to work for a given rate, why not let them? For that matter, I'm against the premise of a minimum wage on the same grounds. And I agree with J.O. when he says that as long as there's a stack of resumes on his desk, pilots are overpaid.

It's nothing personal. It's just business. (Yeah, I ripped that off from The Apprentice. Whatever.)

Yes, we do have on-time incentives and profit sharing.

And, the most important thing of all, which so many here seem to not understand...

IF WE SKYWEST PILOTS THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING JACKED AROUND, DON'T YOU THINK WE WOULD HAVE VOTED ALPA IN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

IF 85% OF US DON'T WANT TO BE ALPA REPRESENTED, WHAT DO YOU CARE???

OK, I'll step off my soapbox now.

And another thing, you have to ask yourself: What's in it for ALPA?

They want the millions in dues that the 2500+ pilots would turn in every year. Sounds like a good deal for them.

I was wondering when the RAH comment would slide out. I'd go into a big long speech about how when our contract was signed, E170's were a pipe dream, the industry was in the sh!tter and we had a pilot group of 600 working on their first contract...but that would fall on deaf ears...again...

Sanchez, I hope I fly with you, this post is 100% dead on, I owe you a beer

So is that what management is telling you guys? How much do they get paid?, come on bro are you serious?

I'll be in EWR all next week...you're on....I drink anything but "lone star"(had enough of that in college). :D

Ya like those great pay rates at Mesa right?

Why are you posting a press release put out by SKYWEST, INC. and not the press release put out by ALPA? How fair and balanced is that, Ellen?

--------------

Release #07.036
June 29, 2007

SkyWest Pilots Score another Legal Victory
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Upholding Pilots’ Right to Organize

San Francisco, CA — On June 27, 2007, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction upholding SkyWest Airlines pilots’ federal rights to discuss and learn more about the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and the benefits of union representation, and finding that the company had unlawfully interfered with those rights. The SkyWest Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee is working with ALPA to gain union representation for SkyWest pilots.

“This injunction is a great victory for SkyWest pilots,” said ALPA President Captain John Prater. “It will empower them to take ownership of their lives through access to information that can further their professional futures. ALPA stands ready to help the Organizing Committee in whatever capacity needed to foster additional wins for workers rights.”

The preliminary injunction allows SkyWest pilots to continue to wear ALPA lanyards, talk about ALPA openly, and distribute ALPA-related materials on non-work time in non-work areas such as the crew lounge and bulletin boards—all rights which the company has sought throughout this process to deny.

The Court concluded that the Organizing Committee had made a strong showing that SkyWest management has unlawfully interfered with the federal right of SkyWest pilots to organize. In its opinion, the Court also addressed SkyWest’s funding of its in-house pilot organization. Although the Court declined to order SkyWest to cease funding immediately, it did indicate that management’s 100 percent funding of the organization almost certainly violates the Railway Labor Act.

The preliminary injunction vindicates the right of pilots to organize and sends a strong message to SkyWest that it may not discriminate against or attempt to silence pilots who support ALPA. More than 2,600 pilots fly for the St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines, Inc., serving 19.5 million passengers in 140 cities in the U.S. and Canada.

Formed in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing more than 60,000 pilots and crewmembers at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

dYou should wake up and take a lesson in business 101. After all XJT's running razor thin margins (Mesa comes mind) in LAX for the DAL flying. The bottom line, the majors are starting to realize they can pit one regional against the other in order to lower cost. Look at DAL; they awarded MAG flying because they'll do it cheaper than everyone else and they use SKW, RAH, XJT, Pinnacle, MAG, ASA and Comair. Do you think they’re doing this just because? No it’s for two primary reasons. 1) So that no, one regional had them by the balls. & 2) So they can pit one against the other to lower cost when RFP’s come up. I now you’re not as delusional as you come off sometimes.

Mgmnt, I don't believe a word they say!

No offense, I'm just asking a simple question; do you have a problem with short term memory? It would explain a lot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BoilerUP (Post 187728)

Why are you posting a press release put out by SKYWEST, INC. and not the press release put out by ALPA? How fair and balanced is that, Ellen?

--------------

Release #07.036
June 29, 2007

SkyWest Pilots Score another Legal Victory
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Upholding Pilots’ Right to Organize

San Francisco, CA — On June 27, 2007, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction upholding SkyWest Airlines pilots’ federal rights to discuss and learn more about the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and the benefits of union representation, and finding that the company had unlawfully interfered with those rights. The SkyWest Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee is working with ALPA to gain union representation for SkyWest pilots.

“This injunction is a great victory for SkyWest pilots,” said ALPA President Captain John Prater. “It will empower them to take ownership of their lives through access to information that can further their professional futures. ALPA stands ready to help the Organizing Committee in whatever capacity needed to foster additional wins for workers rights.”

The preliminary injunction allows SkyWest pilots to continue to wear ALPA lanyards, talk about ALPA openly, and distribute ALPA-related materials on non-work time in non-work areas such as the crew lounge and bulletin boards—all rights which the company has sought throughout this process to deny.

The Court concluded that the Organizing Committee had made a strong showing that SkyWest management has unlawfully interfered with the federal right of SkyWest pilots to organize. In its opinion, the Court also addressed SkyWest’s funding of its in-house pilot organization. Although the Court declined to order SkyWest to cease funding immediately, it did indicate that management’s 100 percent funding of the organization almost certainly violates the Railway Labor Act.

The preliminary injunction vindicates the right of pilots to organize and sends a strong message to SkyWest that it may not discriminate against or attempt to silence pilots who support ALPA. More than 2,600 pilots fly for the St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines, Inc., serving 19.5 million passengers in 140 cities in the U.S. and Canada.

Formed in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing more than 60,000 pilots and crewmembers at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.

---

Vote's coming!

I agree there.............

When is it supposed to happen?

It would be a better program if SkyWest had not issued that stupid press release. Stock was trading near $28, now it is at $23.

I underestimated the stupidity of a managment team who could not restrain themselves from primate style chest beating. A stock purchase plan is worthless if the stock is driven down below its' discount price by the rants of a managment team who's focus is destroying organized labor, instead of running the business.

It'll go back up.

Here we go again........

I've read this entire string. Not once did I hear the ethical or moral portion of the arguement. For those new to this forum or debate, here it is.

"unionized pilot groups through their collective bargaining agreements increase pilot contracts (pay/benefits/QOL) for ALL pilot groups"

Pilot groups that reap the benefits from that, i.e. Skywest pilots from the gains of the Comair strike, are getting improvements that other pilot groups paid for.

JA only makes incremental bumps in your pay to keep up with the things unionized pilot groups gain because you hang the threat of a union over his head. THE THREAT OF A UNION IS NOT FREE. Someone is paying for that and it is not you.

When the Comair pilots went on strike to make things better for ALL of us, I reached into my pocket and paid extra dues that went directly to the Comair pilots so they would have at least some income to weather the strike. What did you do for the pilot group that sacrificed so much so that your contract would "stay competitive"?


I'm out of time, but I will make another arguement later, one that is very personal. It will expose my bone head manuever and open myself up for a lot of cheap shots, but it will also show the value of the union.

Gotta run- but you Skywest pilots that like not reaching into your pocket to pay dues, or fear that a union will only reduce new aircraft, or slow your promotion to the Legacy carriers, I ask that you think about this not in the context of this week or next year but your entire 40 year career.

You ought to get your facts straight before you add to internet miss-information. The facts are no regional represented by ALPA is totally self funded for their operating budget. Because of the low pay rates ALPA has to subsidize regional MEC's from the general treasury. At some regionals ALPA matches dollar for dollar each dues dollar collected. Pilots at the majors end up sending approximately 80% of their dues dollar to national to pay for the operation of the headquarters and the operation of regional MEC's. Make no mistake it is expensive to have the best aviation legal resources, safety organization, aero medical department and other support resources that regional pilots never think about. But it's worth it.

So why does ALPA want to represent regional pilots? Three reasons. First, philosophically they believe every pilot should have a legal contract specifying the terms and conditions for pilot employment, just like all senior managers enjoy. Second, it is easier to improve the working conditions of their members if other groups help lift the bar when it's their turn. SKW pilots never push the envelope, they just get what ever is need to be on par with the rest of the industry. Third, when it is time to attempt to influence Washington the more voices you represent the stronger you are.

You have to decide for yourself if it is worth it, but make no mistake about it, the reason airline pilots have been traditionally highly compensated is because of the ALPA battles your grandfathers fought. If the regionals are to ever reflect the value of the skills pilots bring to the profession, it will be because pilots collectively and in an organized way stand up and say enough.

Why should it? SkyWest has failed to win any new awards in the RFP bidding. They have been beat by Pinnacle, Express Jet, Mesa, and even Comair. SkyWest has increased costs by transferring ASA's assets, both in the initial expense of the transfer and also in the ongoing operation of the aircraft.

ASA was the most profitable airline in the industry on the basis of their 12.9% margin. Even after SkyWest has taken and transferred ASA's new growth, undermined their productive employees on the property, lost 1,700 employees in one day, stripped management and pretty much ingnored what they have not taken, or fired. Further, the stagnation at ASA will increase unit costs as longevity increases. Why trash your own asset? It makes no sense unless you are driven by emotion and beating organized labor is worth the destruction of your own company in the process.

At some point a thinking person's respect for Jerry Atkin and the SkyWest management team is diminished by their lack of business objectivity. I'm beginning to wonder if Jerry Atkin is all that smart, or if he has lost his edge. He has made a teetotal mess of ASA and eventually the NMB is going to have to release those guys. When released, they could take out not only ASA, but SkyWest and really harm Delta. Why would Atkin purposely push these guys back in a corner and threaten them? They are likely to come out fighting.

So no, I am not bullish on SKYW and wish I did not own so much of the stock. The trend away from RJ flying will accelerate and while SkyWest will be a long term player, there will be blood on the floor as the dozens of no brand carriers fight with eachother for the ever diminishing RFP returns.

Now is not the time. We all appreciate everything that those, such as the Comair Pilots gave up, but I cannot see how this directly relates (or quite frankly, indirectly) to the SkyWest group.

You are wrong that Jerry increases our Pay incrementally only to stay ahead of those represented by ALPA. Partially, I am sure, but now wholly. Ya'll have been BURNED so much by Mgmt that you can no longer believe that there is some good out there. And some of that good is in our Mgmt team. Sure, we could fight for a few nickels here and there, but it's not all about ME, ME, ME. I want to see the company succeed and do well, and I have no problem making small concessions to make that happen...Maybe I'm just a team player ::gasp::

The SKW Pilot group joining ALPA is NOT going to benefit those at Mesa or TSA, get over it. It is NOT going to benefit the Pilots at SKW either. Get over it. In an Industry smothered by bad-blood between employee and employer, there are a few carriers out there that have managed to stay above it. Arguments here from those outside SKW are beginning to smack of Jealousy.

And finally, I am SICK, SICK, SICK of hearing from this board's members why SKW Pilots should vote in ALPA on moral grounds. Can you not see how selfish that is? Why would you wish that upon another Pilot group? If nothing else, what is left of the family atmosphere at SKW would DISAPPEAR completely, and be replaced by tension and distrust, nearly overnight. Understand that what you are asking of these pilots is to give up much of what they love about going to work. And for what? To please a few of you? And ALPA, of course...hell, we know they're chomping at the bit for a bit of each Paycheck, with absolutely nothing to offer...imagine that!

Leave SkyWest ALONE. If you were to really care about the SKW Pilots, let them vote ALPA in when they feel it is appropriate.

He's right. Professionals belong to a profession. The only way to improve the profession is to work together with your peers to make it happen.

SkyWest management has shown their true colors in their treatment of ASA. Believe me, SkyWest management seems to be undergoing "continuing revelation." Experimental, it is only a matter of time until your pilot group sees the same side of your management team the ASA pilots have recieved. These are the same guys - you are not being rational if you think that after they finish beating up one group of employees that they will not treat you the same. Then, when you see that SkyWest's moral compass has failed, you will realize ALPA has the best checklist for "Management AHRS failure."

Of course, if flying a jet that brings in 52% more revenue for 4% more pay strikes you as a good deal, then you might take a little more time than the rest of us to smell what we're steppin in.

It's not meant to be fair and balanced. It's "NEWS" and if you look at the date of PR published, you will see that ALPA was a day behind in getting the information out. SKYW's release was out on the 28th. Not a big deal, relax.

But on a side note. It makes me think in terms of execution. SKYW gets information out quickly, ALPA (a little slow in this case). Looking at past endeavors of ALPA's lack of timely execution, I probably would feel a little hesitant if I was always going to be late to the dance. (I would be nervous if they were representing me in any way) If I were ALPA, I would probably increase my PR staff and get them to execute more quickly. Information is key. But that is just me.

Side note: Who cares about laynards anyway.

Who wants to be first to be wrong?

SkyWest did not really win that case. Requests for injunctive relief are very tough cases to win because you are asking for the Court to apply a verdict before the case is even fully heard. Courts are very reluctant to grant injunctive relief.

In balance, I think ALPA got a win.