Slap, I'm not "one of the usual suspects." I dig working at SkyWest, and I wasn't looking to make (Air Canada) Jazz wages, but these are our scheduled pay negotiations. This wasn't some benevolent act, the next time we get a raise will be if we vote down a union or the next scheduled pay negotiations, which are two or three years down the road.

My view is that 1% is hardly worth even offering. If management accompanied this with an email explaining their desire to stay competitive, that they'd like to pay more but it isn't a good time or whatever, basically anything besides just throw a few scraps our way and saying "be grateful" I'd be more empathetic to the cause. Perhaps that's Chip's role on the upcoming roadshow, but I personally find SAPA to be failing. Regoinal FOs are the most underpaid in the entire industry and over 1000 of us just got offered 1% raises while the Captains got between 1.5% and 4.5% by our own representatives. How do you think SAPA is serving your interests by doing this?! I've always given them the benefit of the doubt, but this is very frustrating to me, I feel as if we're getting all the draw backs of misaligned interests a union brings without any protection they provide.

 

I agree completely!
It is time to stop insulting our first officers!
Skywest F/O's are by now experienced crew member that work at least as much as any Captain or more on every flight. The Captain may be in charge for the flight but he is getting already way more than enough for the difference!

To offer the Captain more raise (1,5% - 4%) compared to the FO's offer (1%) while they are already making way more than the FO that is saving their @@@ from time to time while getting paid a poverty salary is tremendously insulting.

It should be the other way around. If the company offers 1,5% to Captains the FO's should be offered 5% or more to close a litle the tremendous difference in pay between the Crewmembers.

I am sure that this proposal was made by management together with SAPA and senior, CAPTAINS before it was released.

The lack of respect for the First Officers at Skywest is a never ending story.

Lets get the UNION in the house! Enough is enough guys!!

 

The name of the game is divide and conquer.

 

Let's not. Just ask those that have been part of one.
We wouldn't get that much more if had one and we would give up 2% of pay.

 

Not much more?

There are at least a couple of important issues you would get for the cheap 2% you talk about and I mean other than negotiations, etc.

1. Loss of license insurance
2. Lawyer paid by the Union to assist and represent the pilot in any issue between the pilot and the company or between the pilot and the FAA.


Try to get any of those for what you would pay (2%) for being a member by yourself out there in the open market.

And if you think that a lawyer is not good to have with cost covered by the union then ask all the pilots that been hanged out to dry without any represantation when they had an issue with their company or the FAA.

That is only a small part of what you get. How about the "health insurance", why dont you compare what we got at our fair company and the health insurance that pilots have in Union companies?

When would you say that it is time to get a Union in house, how much worse would you say it has to get?

At Skywest SAPA only represents the Captains if any...they have shown over and over again that they do not give a sh@@t about the First Officers..... and I am not interested in the Union just for help with "pay negotiations".

How much more increased net profit for every quarter, how much more companies to invest 30 million into (Mekong and Brazil) or pay 135 millions for (XJet), how many more loans to United? all that while we cannot afford to pay our First officers a fair salary? Give me a break please.....

Insulting

 

Bingo! Don't go ALPA though

 

WOW! Pretty much sums it up!

While I agree FO's are under paid, as are Captains, your arrogance is disturbing.

You don't gain the respect you want, or deserve, by insulting others.

 

I did not insult anyone!
Do not turn the words to mean what ever you want them to.

I said the First Officers are well underpaid for their work in the flight deck and they if any should be compensated more.

What I mean is that they should at least have the same offer in raise.

I never said the captain should not get a raise did I?


In what way did I insult anyone, My a@@ have been saved as much as I have saved others. If you do not admit the same then who is the arrogant?

So again, whom did I insult?

 

Now this guy gets it!!!! We are labor and that's it..... nothing more and nothing less. Mgmnt doesn't give a rats ass about us, to them we are a bunch of whiny little $#tchs.

 

You guys have to admit that Slaphappy is by far the best one liner there is. There's never been anyone that could stir the pot so perfectly. My hat's off to you Mr. Happy. Always a good read when you bring it to the table