Shroom,

Respectfully, as a line-holding RJ FO, I'm getting a 1% raise which will be about $30 after taxes a month, $360 a year. Some of the senior SLC captains flying the 900 may be getting a 4.5% increase (1.5% + 3% BHO increase) which will be about $5000 a year before taxes ($3000 after) but somebody in my position can certainly afford to say no. Do what you like, but I'm voting no.

 

I don't think ALPA is the asnwer.. I think a reality check and some real faith in doing the right thing is needed.. All ALPA will do is frezze everytihing for 4-5 years and maybe get industry avarage at the end, what is what we have now....

 

Where is slap happy on this one?! Sure would be nice if XJT/ASA and skywest could come together and ditch ALPA, and make one list. The whipsaw has begun if you didn't know it already.

 

Another slap? Count another "no" right here.

 

I'm definitely not advocating ALPA and I wasn't one of the guys on the SAPA site demanding 10% raises across the board, plus FOs matching CAs at 55% all the way up and 5 hour minimum days. That being said, 1%/1.5% is far below what I thought they'd offer us.

Truth be told, I'm still very glad to be employed by SkyWest, I don't wish ill on Anita, and I don't think there are black helicopters orbiting SLC, but this really makes me think twice about Chip's perspective on all of this. Does he think most of us will be grateful for the scraps we're getting? Take away our best healthcare option, our stock options, gut our employee purchase program and watch our quarterly bonuses decrease year-over-year and I'm offered a 1% raise. Not adequate in my book, I don't feel like I'm part of a pilot group that is helping to raise the QOL of an airline pilot, industry wide. I've always been on the fence about a union at SKW and this move on Chip's part will make the decision that much harder next union drive. All just my take on it though, FWIW.

 

Wait . . . I don't get it? Who are you talking about? I am talking about ALPO - the Airline Pilots Organization.

My apologies if you, or anybody who supports ALPA, took my ALPA comments personally. I do not mean them to be so. Collective bargaining is one thing. Regional airline collective bargaining by and through ALPA is another. Just ask a L.A.M.A. member. Comair recently got neutered. The jury is still out on the fate of ASA and XJET.

My personal opinion again, but when Skywest management tells us how great we are, thanking us for all our hard work, etc. etc. without putting their "money where their mouths are", I agree something is not connecting. But here is what it is - SKYWEST MEANS NOTHING TO UNITED, DELTA OR AIRTRAIN. Skywest is not paid by United, Delta, or AirTran enough to put any real money behind their words. We get paid what we get paid, and our work rules are our work rules, because they are essentially industry standard. Period.

We are one of many possible carriers for their customers. All United, Delta, or AirTran care about is getting the job done to a reasonable service standard for the LOWEST COST. PERIOD. They honestly don't care who does the work as long as it gets done.

Just because my mother tells me all the time how handsome I am, that does not mean I actually look like Brad Pitt.

 

My point is if you take the emotion out of this, approach it as a business decision, you will see that taking the money does not diminish your position in the future.

Making a moral point does nothing but leave money on the table.

Take the money, continue to fight (in house union? joined w ASA?) for better rules.

 

What happened the last time SkyW pilots turned down anything? Absolutly nothing. The pilot position was not improved by walking away.

Management simply banked the money. And came back after a while a offered essentially the same pathetic deal.

 

You make good points, thanks for your inputs Mr. Shroom and JD I'm really not emotional about it at all; more than anything I'm just intrigued that Chip & Klen would so blatantly speak from both sides of their mouthes.

 

It's the way it's been here long before Chipaway ever arrived...