Good point!

Of COURSE it was purposely worded. A professional document is useless if it can't convey the writer's POV - it's the art of subtle persuasion...that's grammar-school level info, folks. We're not writing un-biased scientific papers for publication here!

ALPA uses the same tactics (and they should).

Ya'll are just chompin' at the bit for anything to jump on SkyWest mgmt!!

Hey people just wanted to put my 2 cents into this. I'm not going to battle anyones comments because i think the arguments being made on the skywest union or anti union issue are thought of only in the short term. For the skywest pilots out there deciding if they will elect ALPA, I encourage you to look at the big picture, not just 2 or 3 years from now but 20 years from now. I encourage you to look to your friends at places like pinnacle, mesa and TSA and say we support you. If Skywest's pilots vote in ALPA, skywest inc will have the largest regional pilot group in the nation. If you stand up now and say enough is enough you will set the bar for the industry. It's time to take back our profession! Better contracts at the regional level will reverberate into the majors. Skywest pilots must look at their vote as one that effects the regionals and the majors, not just Skywest. Skywest pilots need to know that this vote will potentially change the industry. If you stand up now your future at the major level (Should you choose to go there) and at skywest will be better for you and family.

Keep in mind that ASA and SKW are different certificates under the SKW Inc umbrella. Because we are different certificates we can't strike or negotiate a new contract together unless we have one pilot group, even if we vote in ALPA Mgmnt won't merge the pilot groups. ASA can sue for merger but they will likely fail based upon the single fact that SKW and ASA have completely different certificates, meaning they're completely different airlines. This isn't the same situation as is at US Airways, that's a complete merger. There are too many reasons why SKW Inc won’t merge the pilot groups; most of them have to do with an "escape goat." I mean no offense ASA it's just my business opinion. SKW is SKW Inc’s baby, we all know this.

Also, SKW going ALPA won't change the industry but it will help in the long run. I don't know if ALPA is right for SKW but one thing's for sure in my mind, SAPA’s (err…. Mgmnt) NOT. I've been here for a while and I used to be Anti-ALPA but time has shown that Mgmnt will do what Mgmnt has to do regardless of their labor group’s loyalty and usually at the expense of their labor groups.

Some say, why not an in-house union? Simple, 2800 pilots at 1.95% dues does equate to enough money. Yes it's probably around $6M+/yr but when you really look at everything; Paralegal, Aero Medical, administrative, Insurance, etc. It's just not enough. If we can get ASA to climb on board then that's a different story, but we would have to be one first.

I understand what you mean by the different certificates. I do believe however that both certificates (if alpa) would have a very similar if not close to an identical contract. My point is more that skywest inc. is much more likely to give both groups a better contract if Skywest airlines votes alpa. If they do this it is likely that the rest of the regional industry will follow. Horizon has a great contract but employs less then 1000 pilots and rarely offers new pilot positions. Therefore the rest of the industry doesn't have to compete against them. Skywest Inc employs between 4000-5000 pilots and both Skywest and ASA are hiring as many pilots as possible. If both Skywest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines have a really good contract the rest of regional industry will simply have to offer better contracts to attract pilots. Eventually If so many pilots are being employed at good wages at the regionals the majors will have no choice but to offer better contracts to attract pilots and compensate them in relation to their regional counterparts.

I have to disagree with the idea that it isn't really a big deal, it seems to me like it is, every alpa carrier is trying to take back what was lost, it starts from the bottom up.

SkyWest is already attracting multitudes of Pilots from other carriers with the work rules and compensation...if our Crewmember "Policies" were just renamed a "Contract", we'd arguably be leading the regional's. As we are now, along with RAH, XJet, and AWAC.

I largely agree with your outcome.

We'll never know what group or issues causes this failure. A bit difficult to do exit polling on a phone vote over a month period.

It specifically states what the LAW requires to commence the vote, and that happens to be 35%.

That's probably the single biggest failure of the ALPA drive... convincing people how terrible SKW management is and how BAD it is here.

The change to the industry might be different than you imagine. Let's see, perpetual contract negociations, strikes (and strike funds), union flip flops on issues (age 65 rule comes to mind), dozens of union leaders making $300k or more (not counting fluff girl costs)......

Has anyone from SkyWest noticed the new bullet on our website titled "About Unions"? Now they gear up with the anti-union propaganda.

Great post Tony on how ALPA has tried to convince us all the management at SkyWest is bad. That reason alone is why I am voting no. ALPA is convinced every airline management group is out to get the pilots, etc., etc. Whenever I read their stuff or listen to ALPA guy I start to become convinced management is bad too!