I'm fed up with everyone saying screw SkyWest because we keep the industry below standards and that if we had union things would be better. Everyone has the answer. If just one airline can get an industry leading contract then the rest will follow.

Like you said, we have management to screw us. All of you ALPA guys should be upset with the Teamsters for representing those scumbags. Instead of always blaming SkyWest for not being unionized, blame the real people at fault; those who fly for gojet, skybus, etc.

Because when they were started, their purpose was to break a union.

I spent 5 years at Atlantic Coast Airlines. Our pre 2001 contract was one of the best, only AWAC's was close. Our post 2001 contract was the BEST contract for the segment of the industry. COMAIR and AWAC one upped us, but sadly, it was short lived for AWAC, COMAIR was able to hold on for a bit longer. Our concessionary 2003 extension was second only to COMAIR's existing CBA at that time.

I'm currently at XJT, and I'll take the Pepsi Challenge and compare my CBA to your handbook any time you want. The key word here is contract. I work under a legal binding document that is not subject to managements needs without first consulting the MEC.

I never said you had a great payscale. You had a so so payscale, but agreed to an 18 month freeze (again, how long did that last?) as well as agreed to fly 70/90 seats for 50 seat rates. NOT wanting more money for more seats is not having a "great pay scale".

As far as airlines following, it would be like the legacies. Everybody who was up for renegotiation would have gotten something on par with ACA/COMAIR/AWAC.

And thats too bad.

Unions need to use their lobbying powers to change Corporation Bankruptcy laws and Railroad Act. Let’s use our numbers to make changes in congress. VOTE UNION YES UNION YES!!!!

I do blame gojets, but there is rarely anybody on here defending them with the zeal that you have for defending SkyWest. Besides, how could they?

As far as Skybus, yep, blame them too. They agree to fly equipment for less than other operators. Kinda like you guys flying bigger equipment for less money.

I can appreciate your post. there are LOTS of things i would like to see here at pinnacle that you have at skywest. But the things you mentioned aren't them. I often, almost always, get about 98 credit hours and still average 16-17 days off a month. i only got 75 this month out of my own choice, 18 days off including a week and a half for thanksgiving. That is the thing, we "technically" have already surpassed you in pay. If we would have gone straight into another contract we would be making more than you guys right now. you have a new agreement, our contract has been amendable for almost 3 years, and yet we are only 2 dollars behind in pay. I know skywest pilots care about the industry, most of you guys want to move on like the rest of us, and most of you will move on to unionized airlines. i just don't buy into the whole unions aren't right for skywest right now.. that just makes me laugh. i mean when would a union be right? when skywest takes a down turn and cuts wages and has to lay people off?? (not saying they are heading in that direction, just a hypothetical). by then it would be to late to get any furlough gaurantees, or rehire protection. or to go on strike for them cutting your wages without talking to the group. And skywest wouldn't even have to go into bankruptcy protection to do it.

I stand corrected, i tried to find our previous posts but got tired of looking. OK so you were led to believe that you would get a pay raise if the alpa vote failed. Doesn't that in itself sound like one of those dirty union tactics you guys talked about? what will you do if they don't give you one, other than just me mad? that is the thing, there is nothing that will make management do anything for you.

we have been in negotiations for almost 3 years. Management will have to pay up big for us to sign a contract. Even the ASA mec got i believe 13 million to divide among the pilot group. We expect the same or more. If talks drag out at skywest there will be no such retro pay, or signing bonus. they don't have to give anything. so in the end, through determination and persistence, the pilot groups will succeed.

Koolaideman I wouldn't get to worked up about what everyone thinks, its a loosing battle. Word on the street is it won't be long and we're going to be needing a TON of pilots. I'm sure you've heard this as well. Talk is cheap, so we'll see. I'll say this, if anyone's thinking about coming to SkyWest now is the time. Get in before the BIG hiring starts.

Drink up koolaidman!


Who cares, Skywest is not the final stop the majors/FedEx/UPS etc are. I have a friend who left ASA for Skywest around the as soon as I finished IOE. I'll be upgrading before him. 0.o

Flyby Newhire IOE, or transition? If newhire probably not with what we have coming. If your buddy has the time, or close to it he'll be a captain soon, even if he just started. The biggest problem we're going to have is training. As far as staying at the regionals or moving on, that's a personal choice. I passed on an interview at Continetal to stay at SkyWest, why you ask. Personal choice. I don't want to commute (or move) to any of the Continatal bases. I feel that the future of domestic airline flying is changing. I don't want to fly longhaul (which is what I believe the future of the majors is). To each his own. I've got buddies who have done longhaul, some love it, some hate it. Nobody can fault others for their choices, everyone has different wants and needs. If you want to go on the the majors I have no doubt that you will, and I wish you the best of luck.

:rolleyes:

You are correct. Obviously, SAPA can never promise a pay raise, any more than ALPA, IPA, NATCA, SWAPA, APA, IBT, etc could.

In addition, the ALPA vote has frozen any negotiating. And now, as you know, we're still frozen until the appeal period is over.

Plus, no union or group could have proposed ANY_THING, until the voting process is completely over.

Honestly, however, that being said, I can't imagine ALPA even answering the phone for SkyWest, let alone following through with their attempt to sue SAPA into oblivion, or to sue the company for violating their voting rights, per NMB. I think they'll just call that a few million dollar exercise, and they'll stay in their cave awhile.

I think we're free from any more interferrence for a few years. But, of course, if we aren't organized in a few years, you'll see more attempts to get our (by then?) 3000 - 4000 pilots dues money. It's just too lucrative for them to pass up.