There is no way that SkyWest pilots will strike. First off they are not union and they make good money. The only thing we are trying to get is a raise for our 700 and 705 pilots. Other than that, with our bonuses and credit guarantees we get paid among the top in the regional world and we have no union dues. SW just wants ASA to get paid equally and ALPA is screwing the pilots. You can't blame SW for making ALPA negotiate for EVERYTHING!!!! It’s not about the pilots, SW cares, it’s about the blood sucking union. If ASA pilots would just oust the union they would end up with the same package we have and no union dues. It's nice to work for a good airline for once, or at least as good as they come.
I have several friends who work for ASA and I want the best for them. Just Oust the union and SW will show its gratitude, continue and don’t blame SW or SW pilots. IT’S ALPA!!!!
Also, ASA should be thankful that they were bought by a company as strong as SkyWest. Think about what life would be like if you had joined the Mesa/Freedom/Go family. We now have over 2200 pilots and we are bringing in about 70-80 pilots a month with a loss of only 25-30 pilots per month to retirement or the majors. SkyWest has never furloughed and yes we can be fired. But, if you are going be fired then you probably deserve to be, period. If you have a major screw up then you should be held accountable, period.

 

I've gotta a friend whose a Captain with ASA that told me he got an e-mail saying that Chautauqua, ASA, Comair, and (surprisingly) Mesa met and decided not to whipsaw each other in this whole Delta thing. Can anyone confirm?

On another note, I'm getting ready to start training on the 145 with Chautauqua and I picked them specifically because everything I had heard thus far on these boards and from friends in the industry was that they were a decent company and well respected. Was I misinformed here?

 

First of all, how do you loose a pilot to arbitration?

Second, when you get fired, you deserve to be in the eyes of the one who fires you. What if the reason you were fired was because you wore a tie someone didn't like or someone heard it from someone who heard it from someone that you said something about a cheif pilot? What if someone just has an ax to grind with you. Then was it deserved? Because at Skywest you could be let go for something like that.

 

There are very specific rules about what rival companies can discuss and collaborate on. Competition (or the lack of it) is one of the things they are NOT allowed to collaborate on.

No, Sh!t Taco is an awesome company to work for. Sorry thats the XJT in me talking.

 

No, but Unions can collaborate on wage issues.

 

Confirmed. It happened in Cincinnati on 7/13.

 

JetJock?
Do you really think you should speak for the ASA pilots? "the union is screwing the pilots" maybe you should oh... I don't know, ask a senior ASA pilot what they think before you speak for them? Until you have worked at ASA you have no idea what you are talking about. Even if we were to "kick out the union" like you suggest we don't work for SW. We still work for the revolving door of boneheads that Delta has stacked our G.O. with. If Jerry says we are going to merge the seniority list and make one company, well I'll be happy to listen. But, to impose your work rules and pay structure on this company would likely have a very different outcome. Our pilots are powerless to change things like ramp operations, gate performance, maintenance, etc. To take a pay cut for a chance to get it back in performance based bonus, with all these things outside our control is a bad decision.
You mention in a rather cavalier manor "all we want is better pay for the 700 and 705 guys" well, how's that going? Is that pay raise right around the corner, or is it still the broken promise of your management? I won't tell you how you should vote for the union at your company, please don't tell me how to vote at mine.
Secondly, "ASA pilots should be happy the got bought by SW" Stop rockin' the Hukka. What we would like to be is independent like we were when I was hired here. Long before we were bought by Delta we were an industry leader in profitability and performance (with the exception of our ATL station). Being bought by SW and having routes and Aircraft taken away by them somehow just doesn't leave us with a "thankfull" feeling.

Finally, you say "SW just wants ASA to get paid equally" That is bull. You have drank the company kool aid. NO, you took beer bong hits of kool aid. SW inc. doesn't want us to get paid equally. By your own admission you are already the highest paid. What they want is us to get paid in the same manor that you get paid. i.e. they want to put the bonus they get from Delta on the backs of the employees or they get to pay us less. You want to put the companies bonus from delta on the backs of the pilots, fine, empower us to influence the direction and leadership of the company, otherwise... No Deal.
I'm sure your a fine young buck, seeing things from the rose colored glasses of working in DEN or SLC. But the work force pool in ATl and many of our stations is night and day different then your experience. I was based in Dallas and saw the SW pilots come in there, I am now in SLC and our flights are serviced by SW so I believe I have a better understanding of our two companies than you do. Log ten years at SW flying in ATL and then write us all and tell me if you still feel the same way.

P.S. about the getting fired thing-
quick antidote- pilot goes for interview, has a slight color blindness. Tells company on interview and puts it in writing. His medical has no limitation posted on it. Get's hired spends 2 years on emb 120 then makes capt, flies another year, then upgrades to captain on jet. Has trouble seeing some of the colors on the rj, but can work around it. The company fires him for lying to them because they said he lied on the question "do you have any limitations on your medical" to which he responded "NO".
Did he "deserve" to get fired as you suggest? Not so cut and dry all the time is it? What happened to him, you might (should) ask? ALPA got his job back and he is now a 700 Captain doing quite well.