ExpressJet has a larger pilot group and a stronger MEC that I'm hoping is less likely to just roll over like ASA's MEC often does. SKYW is taking a calculated risk that they are confident of winning - that is a far cry from a sure thing!

Personally, I am hoping you misheard - everyone at ASA would benefit greatly from being on one list with the Skywest pilot group and the ASA MEC should be fighting alongside the ExpressJet MEC to make it happen!

I had no idea that the hard working professional men and women at Southwest Airlines and American Airlines were so "lost in the woods" when it comes to Union issues!

Please somebody go set up an ALPA information table and BBQ grill outside of all SWA and AA pilot domiciles!! :D

Ummm, What makes any of you guys think there will be ANY legal battle. The XJT MEC will roll over for whatever SKW wants. Prater and ALPO National could give a turd.
I do think however that this would be a great time for all 3 of us to have the same union, regardless of who it is. But one list one contract is the direction I'm thinking.
If a union other then ALPA is to represent all three carriers, they need to get off the couch and start wooing everybody yesterday...

SKW is positioning itself as the largest Regional carrier. They will be flying for more carriers, Leaving less competition. Thus creating a great bargaining tool to get more $$ from the Majors. If the Pilots are not aligned, we will NEVER get our piece of the pie...

As much as the courts will allow.

If they are so certain, why didn't they do it two years ago? Also, two years ago the ASA MEC was unanimous for one list for all three airlines. Of course, the composition of the MEC might have changed since then.

Yeah, with SWA being the most heavily unionized airline and the most consistently profitable one, it makes you wonder why SKW management goes through all these corporate shell games to circumnavigate one of their employees' contracts?

I wouldnt be so sure of that. None of these three sentences are true.

You are giving our MEC way too much credit... All bark, no bite.

I would bet good money that SkyWest will not get a union any time soon. Especially ALPA. Why would the best regional in the country want to destroy themselves by voting in a union. I remember when I was flying out of DEN, and the ALPA reps were giving away free lunches (Hydies) to SkyWest pilots, just to schmooze them-then the same pilots voted down the union a few months later. I laughed and laughed. I enjoyed the free lunch though-:)

Yeah, just like SWA, the best airline in the world destroyed themselves by being the most heavily unionized carrier in the country.

You have a point there. Lower dues than ALPA with a better return on their investment. ;)

Who here wants to get paid?!?! Jesus... Standing together on one side will probably make that happen a lot quicker then F'ing two groups of pilots under one company.

I agree, most people who say skywest will be union think that only the 33% that voted for alpa will vote again and thus be an easy win for them. They ignore the fact that the majority of people that didn't vote didn't want alpa and voted no. Most of the people that voted for alpa have left. I bet if you take everyone who was on the OC from the drive 2 years ago that 70% have left skywest. If we do grow we will have to hire tons of people and those peopel will not want alpa. It will be closer and be within a few points but it still will be voted down and if it gets voted down again it will be decades.

there is no drive going on not even a glimmer of starting another one. There are a few whiners on the sapa forums but all they do is complain and there are less than 10 of them. I remeber they said "let's all put alpa icons next to our name so we can start a new drive" there are less the 5 people that have it up right now. It is almost sad.

My advice to asa and xjt is get your own house in order before you try and pull skywest into this mess. Jerry will eat you up and spit you out. Jerry isn't some gutless wonder like jim ream, you don't become the richest airline in the US by being stupid. Jerry is 10 steps ahead of you. The unions are trying to figure out if what jerry did was legal with Asa buying XJt to get around scope and all the while jerry has already planned out any legal fights to the end. You guys are like a homeowners associtation trying to stop the federal government from building a freeway in your backyards.