oh well its over now, and like was said before, time will tell what happens.

there is no collective anything anymore. people are too selfish, they forgot how powerful labor unions could be if they all just stuck together. instead its every person for themselves. so just wait and see for the next set of bad news. but as for now, no news is good news.

 

Ever heard of the term, "quid pro quo?"

Anyways, SAPA has no leverage and therefore there is no "good faith bargaining" going on. You will get whatever Skywest management thinks the minimum required is for the best interest of the shareholders.

 

Those who are interested (more than you probably think) will seek the information. It's not being hidden from anybody.

I was not referring to your quote, but rather to:

This is your interpolation of the quote, not a fact or admission.

 

I agree completely and although SAPA has no "bite," Mgmnt has proven that they will negotiate with them and treat them with respect. Mgmnt sees SAPA as a huge internal resource that allows them to keep their finger on the pulse of their pilot group. They know that if they keep us happy we’ll continue to perform as one of the nation’s best carriers and without SAPA they will lose insight. So in order to keep the wool pulled over our eyes (that SAPA does have a “bite”) they must continue to negotiate with SAPA and keep us among the top in the industry in pay & QOL (yes I now the industry was estabished on the sweat of others). We’ll see in 10 years when and if we have new Mgmnt the result of having no representation but as long as we have Dixie (current and Ex-SKW pilots know what I'm talking about LOL!) in the house I think this philosophy will hold.

I hope I’m not around when it does turn south.

Yes SAPA has no true legal leverage but the threat of the many things gives them more leverage then you would think. BTW, everything we have here at SKW is the result of "good faith bargaining" and has been so for over 35 years. Mgmnt has continued to respect us and now that the ALPA drive has failed I must join in the faith and pray it never bite us.


I hope that one day they can find a way to look past the bad blood but I fear the worst. I’m sure that the large majority of ASA pilots will be able to move on but the older pilots will continue to find us being non-union hard to stomach. It’s sad that, just like them, we’re trying to make the best living we can so that we can enjoy our life, family and friends.

Even though I voted YES for ALPA I must now look toward the new SAPA elections so that we can oust those who are true company men (complete pushovers with NO flight) and replace them with new blood willing to fight. At least fight as much as they can…………..? I must support my pilot group and deal with what I’ve been dealt.

I will also continue to support ASA pilots as best as I can. I’m just sorry that some will never get past the fact that our pilot group isn’t represented but things do work very well over here and I hope that continues.

 

I know it wasn't hidden from anyone. After all, I found it and post it here.

That was not my "interpolation." It was me lamenting the fact that many people here don't admit what Skywest management says publicly. That is that, "Any new collective bargaining agreements entered into by other regional carriers may also result in higher industry wages and increased pressure on us to increase the wages and benefits of our employees. Future agreements with unionized and non-unionized employees may be on terms that are not as attractive as our current agreements or comparable to agreements entered into by our competitors."

My "interpolation" is that Skywest management admits that other pilot's collective bargaining agreements may require them to "increase the wages and benefits" and thus "may not be on terms that are not as attractive as [thier] current agreements...entered into by [thier] competitors."

 

I don't think you understand a couple of things. The threats you speak of are NOT collectively controlled by a unified group and therefore not able to be used as true leverage upon management. Its just the pressures of maintaining adequate, good, qualified employees (which all unionized pilot groups have going for them as well).

Also, "good faith bargaining" doesn't mean that management asks you nicely what you want and that they actually listen. "Good faith bargaining" only happens when their is true leverage which ultimately means that their is the ability to "self help." As "at-will employees" you have no such rights under current labor laws.

Anyways, please don't take this as an attack on you or on the Skywest pilot group. I just wish that more of them understood these things.

 

The only reason ya'll complain, I believe, is because you are so anti-management brainwashed that you simply cannot believe there is a even a shred of good in our mgmt team. We've all got it good...in slightly different ways, so quit trying to tell me how lousy my boss is - its getting very old, very quick.

 

Nicely said.

 

I'm happy to report that there are folks who have now stepped up to compete against the incumbents in the upcoming SAPA executive board elections (no, I'm not one of them).

Vote your choices, often

 

Not so, at least not with me. I work at ExpressJet. We drink the kool aid with the best of any Skywest pilot. I beleive we have an excellent management team that treats us like professionals, for the most part. We just NOT dellusional in thinking that managements' first concerns are with the shareholders and sometimes that is in direct contrast to the best interests of pilots. And that is okay. That is their job. I'm glad they do it to keep the company afloat. But we also are able to look out in the best interest of pilots first with real leverage and real good faith bargaining. And sometimes we agree that pilots may have to sacrafice a bit now for a better long term situation. Trust me, we know this, especially those of us doing the Branded, Delta, and charter side of our business.