Wow....just wow.

What a shining example of the "ME!" generation and their sense of entitlement in that post right there...

I'd refute the selfishness, ignorance, and narrow mindedness of it line-by-line...but I know it'd be a grand waste of time and effort because the poster already his his mind made up...

 

Thank you, I take care of me and my family first!!

 

You guys have been getting something hard since they removed your COLA!

 

Your 900 hundred rates look pretty hard too!

 

Ahh assumptions. Because I know a union at skyw is in my best interest you accuse me of being a lazy socialist. Lol Just like you I have a small business I started last spring, and Im very excited about where it is going! I know the value of hard work.

I’m tired of watching the middle class disappear.
Today on msn http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21256709/

A union is the only way our middle class can hold what they have there is no argument.

Let me see if I understand you correctly, you say that instead of unions we should work two jobs to get by? Or just quit? Sure that works, but it adds to the increasing disparity in classes.

 

Bla Bla
First off let me say I'm sorry, I wasn't referring to you personally I was talking about the average middle class american. However my post certainly looks like I was referring to you, I wasn't, sorry for my poor writing.

You know I don't really have an answer, this is a problem that has been occuring for hundreds of years. The people in power beat the little guy into submission and thats how it goes. Logic would say we have to unite, so we get a group of people together who think the same way. They don't have any experience putting something together like this so they hire someone to represent them. A union. Unfortunately the people who run the union have become very powerful themselves and human nature takes over. They become one of the groups in power that we were trying to combat in the first place. This is what I meant in my earlier post about this being a vicious circle.

At Skywest we are very fortunate. We have pay and work rules that other companys have without the need for a union. (btw these are driven by the market and our leadership not because of other unions) We aren't beat down by a dictator type of leader. We work for a company that still has the original leader in place. This will not always be the case but hopfully it will for several more years. The last time I listened to JA speak he said he has no plans for retirement, that will change sooner or later but for now we're safe. Usually when a original company leader steps down he hand picks his succesor, looking for somone who will continue the tradition and mindset he had. Hopefully that somone will be a good choice for SkyWest when that day comes. Time will tell.

Sorry again for my lack of skill and proof reading of my previous post. I wish you the best of luck with your new business, when I started mine I too had a full time job and thru hard work and good fortune I was able to make it successful. If I can do it anyone can....... believe me!

 

most of you bring up several reasons why you dont want a union at skywest. but let me ask you this... why does YOUR MANAGEMENT not want a union at skywest, and why are they doing everything they can to PREVENT a union at skywest?

with all the scenarios you mentioned about having a union, why is management so scared of a collective bargaining agreement. whats their motivation to keep a union off the property? based on some of your logic, you would think having a union would actually HELP management (i.e. lots of red tape because you cant just call crew support and fix your pay etc). However thats not the case. Management is AFRAID of you guys having a union because it will EMPOWER you. Now, why would management be afraid of you guys having a little power to defend yourselves? I just dont get it, unless of course management likes knowing they have the ability to do whatever they want to you. But still theres something fishy about the way your management is acting, and that should cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand up...

 

What's fishy? Why would they not want us to be able to work directly with crew support to fix pay issues etc.? I know exactly what your talking about though because I was at an employer previously who literally it seemed was out to screw us. There are very few companies out there who still treat their employees right. Guys I fly with at skywest as a rule are trying to do a good job, trying to get out on time, trying to watch spending (except on the last leg of a 4 day) Gotta get home you know. If you treat your employees right they will treat you right, thats how it is at skywest, I thought you used to work here, didn't you? Maybe I'm thinking of somone else. These are the very reason we don't have a union yet.

As far as why don't they want a union, well, thats simple it throws a big ol bunch of red tape into the works and slows everything down. Want to pick up some more work,,,, gotta ask the union etc. etc. Not having a union makes it easier for us to get new work, its not everything but just one more feather in our cap when potential new relationships are built. Just one more small reason to maybe lean our way.

 

i find it fishy only because your management is trying a little too hard to sway opinions about this vote. if things really were 100% great then theoretically there would be no need to get involved and the pilots would be able to unanimously defeat the alpa drive. something just doesnt add up about the way they are going about all of this. since the drive started, its fairly obvious that theyve given you guys things that most people think they otherwise would have withheld. why the sudden change in the way they were acting?

im also just not convinced about this being about red tape. sure you can move a little faster, but other union carriers dont really have a problem landing some extra flying in a short period of time (RAH, XJT, etc) and relationships arent damaged so long as neither side abuses the other.

I worked at skywest for a short period of time and I really had a great time with my fellow pilots there. I quickly earned a reputation for being pro-union, but I always respected others who were adamently opposed and went on to build strong friendships with them. I was unreasonably harsh on this board in the past and since then have lightened up, because I know where your coming from in your reasoning for not wanting a union. But hey what can I say, I still care because I do still have a lot of friends there and I want to see you guys do well.

 

First, why would you need to speak to your union to resolve a pay issue if unionized? Isn't it more likely that you would keep the ability to speak directly to the appropriate people, but with the option to file a grievance if their resolution doesn't meet the terms of your CBA? That's how it works at my unionized airline.

Second, the only reason a union would make it more difficult to pick up more flying is if management is trying to screw the pilots over (pay cut, 90 seat airplane for 50 seat pay, etc.). If management wants to maintain the conditions of you CBA while adding flying, the union wouldn't really have a reason to slow it down.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The relationship between SkyWest management and pilots does not have to deteriorate if ALPA is elected. If the pilots elect good people to the MEC and management puts forth a good faith effort, things can be like they are now except with a legally binding contract.