It doesn't make it safer. If that's the case, then unizonization in the railroad industry should make it safer too. It's not.

http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/Office...ge=summary.asp

Skip SKYW . . go to work for Mesaba, Trans States, Eagle, Air Wisconsin, Pinnacle, Mesa, ComAir, Freedom, Air Midwest, Express Jet, or PSA. They'll welcome you with open arms. You might even get an ALPA pin for joining.

You also might want to use this website to check pay scale as well. Seems you think ALPA will make your paycheck bigger . . . . Not True.

 

Who do you think has lobbied for tigher flight & duty time limitations? Who lobbied against an exemption to authorize transcon turns? Who started programs like ASAP? Who has fought for standardization for 121 training?

Hint: it wasn't airline management.

 

On your advice I've done so. This is what I learned:

4th year 50 seat CMR CA = $69
4th year 50 seat XJT CA = $64.
4th year 50/70/90 Seat SKYW CA = $61

Currently at SkyWest:
CR9 = 3% of the fleet.
CR7 = 32% of the fleet.
CR2 = 65% of the fleet.

Using these ratios and the 4th year captain example, assume a Comair $7/hr premium for the -700, and a Mesa $5/hr additional premium for the -900. I cranked up Excel to compute a straight blended pay rate for those aircraft = $64. Using Comair's contract we get a blend of $72/hr. Projecting future deliveries up to May 2007 results in $73/hr. I stand by my contention.

And if you think that the current SkyWest payscale isn't a direct product of pattern bargaining by ALPA and others you're nuts. It's like the one kid at school whose parents won't take him to get vaccinated. After all, all the other kids are vaccinated, so he'll be safe, right?

JA pays the pilot group not one penny more than what he thinks will prevent you from organizing. He'd like to see 49% vote for ALPA: 48% means he's been paying you to much, 51% and he didn't pay enough, and he gets to deal with an MEC instead of SAPA.

 

Sure, and

10th year 50 seat CMR CA = $83 (And don't forget they are BANKRUPT)
10th year 50/70/90 Seat SKYW CA = $74
10th year 50 seat AWAC CA = $74.
10th year 50 seat GoJet CA = $74.
10th year 50 seat PNCL CA = $72.
10th year 50 seat PSA CA = $72.
10th year 50 seat RJET CA = $68.
10th year 50 seat MESA CA = $68.
10th year 50 seat XJT CA = $67.

Plus, you are forgetting other factors . . . .

PAY STRUCTURE: Also need to look at how the pay structure works too. For example, SKYW I believe is the greater between actual block or average block. MESA is not. Ease of breaking guarantee. Lump that in here too.

BENEFITS: Type of benefits and the cost. I don't know all the benefits programs for each but, I can guarantee you they are not all the same. This is income too. You may pay $100/mo for one airline and $250/mo for the next.

BONUSES: Profit / Perfomance bonuses. Don't forget that. Which airlines offer those to their employees. (That has to be factored too)

PER DIEM: This is income too. Who has highest and who has lowest?

BUDDY PASSES: How many are offered? It cost $ to haul people. Cost to an airline for a 700 mile trip is around $100. (Avg. Seat Cost per mile)



Your assumption is that everything is the same. You are looking at one aspect vs. the complete package.

It would be like me saying, I will give you a bonus on sales. Which do you want?

a) (Sales A) x 2% = Bonus

or

b) (Sales B) x 10% = Bonus

Now if I fill in the blanks, it is easier to make a logical decision.

Sales A = $1,000,000 (Bonus = $20,000)
Sales B = $100,000 (Bonus = $10,000)

10% sounds so much better, but in reality it is exactly 1/2 the dollar amount. This same idea can work in reverse for figuring out airline compensation.

 

I guess I'm kind of late getting in on this discussion.

I think the question is: Should the SkyWest pilots unionize?

ALPA, Teamsters, CWA, Etc. It doesn't matter until you've answered the first question.

Flightbag

 

If they are smart, they won't. But what do I care anyway.

 

Wow, you seem to have all the answers...what airline do you fly for? Oh, that's right, you don't...that must be doing wonders for your credibility!