How many did ASA furlough?
How many did Skywest Furlough?

We have gotten 2 offers from Jerry so far, one in 08 (which we turned down) and we are getting another offer right now. So apparently jerry makes multiple offers. Let me just say that I do not represent the entire XJT pilot group, so if I sound like I am beating my chest, then do not think that the rest of our pilots are doing the same. XJT pilots want to uphold our contract, that is all, nothing more, nothing less. We dont want to steal your bases, or staple you to the bottom of our seniority list, or ruin your QOL. I say again, put down your swords, and understand what we are trying to accomplish here, it is simple. Honestly Skywest pilots have nothing to do with any of this at this point, so it is all just opinions. Jerry will be the ultimate decider of how both our companies move forward, so you disagreeing with all of this doesn't matter really. I think Rickair gets the whole idea here, and seems to be the most level headed, which is good to see.

 

Yes I would because then there would be a chance that skywest would grow especially due to your financial state.

 

You're got to be kidding me! You're comparing apples to oranges!

ASA furloughed because Delta cut our flying and transferred it to Pinnacle, Compass, Republic, and all the other DCI carriers we must compete with. At the time, Delta was our only mainline partner. SkyWest does mostly business with UAL so they weren't as affected.

Did any ASA flying go to SkyWest during our furlough? NO Did they ask for concessions to get the pilots back? NO. This was not whipsaw. End of story.

I really don't need a history lesson, I'm aware of what happened. As I said, he walked away once, and he will walk away again. If Jerry suddenly changed his mind about one list, he wouldn't have gone to the pains of setting up ASA to buy you, he would have just done it with INC. There's your biggest sign!

As for the swords, we don't have swords out, we have shields out. You are the one with the sword. Like I said, we don't need 2800 rabble rousers coming over here and thumbing their noses at the hand that feeds us. So if that's what you guys intend, just tell Jerry no thanks, and take your chances alone. That's all I've got.

 

During contract negotiations, several 700s and 900s Delta originally designated for ASA ended up at Skywest. In your mind, how do you justify that outside of whipsaw?

You're kidding, right? 'ASA will not grow without PBS.' 'ASA needs to be more cost competitive.' Then bam, we furlough unnecessarily? SH and other chief pilots claimed furloughs were only cost effective if for a year or more, so I'll grant the first 80. Given the way this summer went (before any new aircraft arrived) it's difficult to believe the second round was anything more than a doom and gloom negotiation tactic.

 

You guys keep talking like XJT needs this, the clock is ticking and we are about to implode. If the deal doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. It's like talking to the CAL guys with the scope that management wants to get rid of. Smisek wants the UAL merger BAD and acts like the wholething is gonna tank if scope isn't relieved.

JA knew what he was buying and what was written down in the contract. Unless a cubicle drone at Ford and Harrison found a way around it, then he has nothing to worry about.

His current "No SLI or no deal" stance shows he is worried. Like others have stated he wants the new UAL contract bad. My guess is he will buy XJT regardless of what will happen.

 

Is that kind of like when GoJet was used as punishment because TSA didn't play ball? As long as one company is allowed to hold multiple 121 certificates by the FAA these companies will gladly pit one pilot group against another. Republic, TSA, Skywest, and Pinnacle are all comprised of multiple certificates which is just nuts in my opinion.

 

Ding ding ding ding. We have a winner.

Skywest guys seem to a little too much faith in the word of Jerry. They also assume he will always be the one in charge. What happens if an Ornstein type CEO takes the reins?

Here is a opportunity to show some unity and get everyone on the same team and Skywest pilots can't think past tomorrow. In a side note I believe I saw Slapphappy in an earlier post speak of going to Skywest because they were not union. I suppose he won't be applying to any legacy carriers then.

 

And best for the profession. Now I'm ready to call the deal off, or in other words, I'm ready to fight to uphold my contract.

I've said multiple times that I only speak for myself. Although there are many of the same opinion as mine. I will gladly call his bluff, AGAIN. If it was solely up to me, I would not give up on one list.

We all tell the mainline pilots they should have upheld their scope clauses but when its up to us, you seem to vilify us for even thinking about it. Why?

If that was really the case, JA wouldn't be trying to buy us now. He puts great value in XJT now then later or in bk. In any case, I don't know why anyone in the profession would want that unless you only cared about yourself and didn't care about other people.

I hope this isn't tied up in litigation. I don't know why JA is even playing these antics to begin with if he doesn't want this tied up in arbitration. He should have just asked the MEC if they were willing to put aside certain contract provisions first before announcing his definitive merger agreement. Oh wait, he already tried that...didn't work. Something tells me he is more apt to go through with it even if we manage to one list this.

One list or stop trying to buy us. That's the way XJT pilots does things. Get used to it or take your chances alone.

I don't mind him trimming the fat and selling the company. Maybe a more honorable company would actually abide by our contract. Of course our management tells us we wont make money. They want this just as bad as JA. Like you said, our ceo is just here to sell us...duh.

He did take airplanes away from ASA and gave them to SKW. He did it during your negotiations. In fact, that is probably the reason why you have language in your contract to prohibit that in the future. I wonder how much it cost you in pay and work rules to get that little paragraph in your contract. That is the definition of whipsaw!

He does not posture? That is BS. I was in the room when he told us himself that "XJT would be bk in 6-9 months", "we need to see him as our lifeboat", "its up to you if you want to be cost competitive." Its been over two years and we are still here.

We have sheilds and swords out because it was JA that is wielding his sword at us first. We will fight for our contract against JA and anyone else who gets in our way. I hope ASA pilots don't get in the way of us trying to enforce our contract because I don't think we would ever get in the way of you wanting to enforce yours.

That doesn't seem to be what your CEO wants.

Well, if you were one list, one pilot group wouldn't be suffering while the other one hires. After all, the money all goes to the same coffers.

Biggest clue is that he is buying XJT and said he "may" back out if we one list it. He will lose $4M in the process as well.

Sounds good to me. Too bad JA doesn't see the value in happy employees.

This is the classic definition of whipsaw! You are so far in it, you can't even see it even though you explain it very simply yourself!

 

Jerry shouldn't you be working on this deal, instead of posting on the message boards. Face it, you need XJT for the continued success of your holding company, and all we ask is for one list. Show me the money jerry!

 

Your CEO seems to disagree with you.