Just answer this simple question:

If SkyW pilots make significantly more than others, say on average $10/hr. more, do you think the flying will stay at SkW for long? Or will it go to repub, etc? (I know this sounds like management speak, but it is a valid point)

The entire cost structure has to be more efficient (than competitors) for the growth to continue. Pilot wages are but a small portion of this. Management has a larger roll in finding and eliminating waste, etc. SkyW can't raise ticket prices to cover increased pilot costs like the JB or Spirit examples above. They can only cut from some other area. I advocate that SkyW takes a bit less profit and pays their pilots and F/A's better.

For what it's worth, I believe Mgmnt gives SAPA a lump sum budget, say $4M
and says this is all that is available for a raise. You figure out how to split it up. Those allocation numbers given are from SAPA, not Mgmnt.

 

Sounds great in theory, but I'm not so sure the Skywest, Inc. stockholders or the BoD would exactly be onboard for that.

 

i think republic will be on the way out. They made that decision when they bought frontier and midwest. I dont think their contracts flying for the legacy carriers will be renewed

 

Good thing Bedford has 5-10 years left on his CHQ/REP/SA contracts then...

 

exactly right. Are they making money? I dont want to get off the skywest thread here, but i heard that republic holding is losing cash? I dont see skywest losing any flying to republic, just losing ua flying if this scope goes through!

 

If you want to be unionized, you're choosing the worst union to represent your interests. ALPO's all about senior widebody captains; everyone else is just grist for the mill. They talk a good game but when the rubber meets the road, the outcome's always the same.

 

I hear what you are saying and for the most part I agree with your sentiments.

A few salient points are in order for review:

1) There is NO contract. The 1% being offered is like walking down the sidewalk and having somebody offer you $1 with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. We can ask for another $1 or $5 or $20 the very next second. Personally if somebody offered me $1 on the sidewalk, I would take it, be grateful, and NOT say "Keep your $1 because you are not giving me $2."

2) Skywest pilots are FREE at any time to form a union under ALPA, Teamsters, In-House, whatever. We are also FREE to remain union-free. All of these things are true whether we accept or reject the 1% at issue.

3) This is not about work rules, quality of life, inequalities in the third world, starving children in Africa, etc. - it is about a pay increase being offered by Skywest management.

4) I understand the argument about Skywest cash reserves being used for lots of purposes other than paying the pilots more money for their NOT unique, but quickly and cheaply replaceable piloting services. Regardless I would much rather make industry standard wages with a management team that is able leverage our corporate profits and ACQUIRE other airlines. I don't want an industry leading pay scale that only weakens our competitive advantage in the industry. Comair is spelled C-O-M-A-I-R.

In the 121 airline business world, you always want to be the one doing the acquiring, instead of being the one acquired.

I truly wish all pilots, industry wide made made 30% more money. But the reality is we work in a commodity business.

One final perspective, for those that want to vote NO and decline the 1%, perhaps think of things this way:

If you vote yes, take a 1% pay raise, start working today to form a Union, say ALPA, get ALPA voted on property, and start paying ALPA 1.95% of your salary every two weeks, you will only be taking a PAY CUT of .95% for the next 3 to 5 years while ALPA negotiates an industry standard contract with St. George.

Hey, who am I to tell a person to not cut off their nose to spite their face.

 

I'm with you. Take the free money such-as-it-is and then get a union. Management is assuming it's going to happen anyway

 

1) Get ready to pay more than 1.95% at your "future non-ALPO" carrier.

2) Think the ALPA chest thumpers are bad? Get ready for the SWAPA blowhards. The union love over there is so thick you need a steak knife to cut through it. "On the fourth day, God created SWAPA..."

3) Mesa (my former carrier) got a bigger raise (percentage wise) in their last contract, and that was a giant piece of garbage. But hey, you're a CA, so you'll reap the benefits while the F/O's continue to make nothing, and the upgrade time lengthens. You fit right in with the "pull the ladder up after me crowd."

 

I've been watching and listening to the usual suspects whine and complain like they always do about this. I'm not that excited about what is being offered but it is above the industry average. Skywest f/os are paid the 2nd highest in the industry. The bro f/os are being given a 5% raise for an a/c the has been losing money. The are the highest paid bro pilots in the world.

But lets be honest. The people complaining about this are the same people who spread the discontent about the company on a daily basis. The ones who don't understand the hsa accounts because they are either to lazy or lack the integrity to tell the truth about it.

we fly contract work for another party, keeping our costs down is how we stay competitive. This is my biggest problem with the alpo cheerleaders. The don't understand how this industry or free market economy works. you people who want alpa knew we were non-union when you applied. It shows wilful ignorance or lack of integrity.

Finally while I'm on the subject of alpa. Do you alpo chearleaders understand that if alpa is voted in we will guaranteed be merged with asa? Think about it, you can always leave.