Check Complete

Next time you go through KCM, look at the sign and you will see the ALPA logo right on it. Although there are some very good people working within SAPA, there is a extremely limited amount they can accomplish. The DHS wouldn't even consider SAPA as a tenant do to them being completely funded by SkyWest management. The company has taken disciplinary action against outspoken SAPA reps in the past, I personally know of 2 people that the company removed them from their LCA positions.

No, SAPA is not like a real union.

EFBprobs

Everybody keeps touting this 1.9% number like it's a big deal. That 1.9% could get us 10%-15% over time. Not to mention other stuff. Did you know some pilots get rental cars on 30 hour overnights? Did you know some pilots get to park in short term parking on 2 hour call out? Commuter hotels? Per diem protection? Retention bonuses? OT on 85+ hours? 150% minimum open time? Block or better?

Sugar coat it all you want. Our QOL sucks compared to union gigs.

gojo

Many people see that 1.8% and only think of it as money lost. While ALPA isn’t perfect, and they’re even less perfect at the regional level, they still do a lot for the industry. NAI is the biggest concern right now and I believe without ALPA foreign air carriers would already be doing USA domestic flying. There is a lot going on at the National level that a good percentage of that 1.8% helps support. A good thing to do would be to make a pros and cons list. But I suspect it would be hard to quantify the monetary and quality of life gains versus ALPA and SAPA. But I’m pretty sure you’d be money ahead after the 1.8% union dues are taken out

Truthanator

Yeah! ALPA will get you everything you ever wanted at a regional airline! And more!

gojo

No one has said that in this thread!!!

TheFly

That’s the point. No one has said it, because it has yet to be demonstrated. ALPA has yet to show that it can not be partial to the interest of the the majors at the expense of their mainline partner.

DirkDiggler

It's true, ALPA will always look out for who is paying the most dues. Regional's make up a small portion of their total revenue. I spoke with Tim Canoll and Lee Moak (ALPA President's) and both have stated the only thing they can do to help solve the problem is focus on getting the regional ALPA members jobs at ALPA majors.... and not much mention of raising the pay. Regionals are in existence because labor is cheap.

With that being said, you don't need ALPA to form a union. You can go teamsters or start your own. I'm all for collective bargaining and having a legal contract to protect workers. Who cares if it's ALPA, or Big Ballz Pilots Union. Large corporations will not look out for the average worker's best interest, period. They will always put shareholder interests first. If they keep labor costs low, shareholders win.

gojo

I don’t even know how to respond to that. I mean, you act like you’ve had your head in the sand, or somewhere up until till now? This is how it’s been for a long time. And NO ONE is trying to sell it as being equal to mainline ALPA. The point is, SkyWest Pilots would probably gain much more than 1.8% or 1.9% whichever it is in monetary and quality of life improvements than you are able to achieve with your SAPA.

rickair7777

The transient time builders are not going to waste time and energy on a union, they'll be afraid it will slow their upgrade... that has to come from senior lifers, and mid-grade possible lifers. The senior lifers are too well taken care of, even today. Also many of them have ranches, farms, businesses, even full-time jobs... they can have a normal life plus make an extra $150K flying standups 3-4 nights/week. In the west. Low motivation to rock that boat. A few folks like MM are exceptions... but when he punched, I saw the writing.

Remember most of the alpa chest thumpers from the eastern regionals did not earn a union, they inherited it from old-skool prop trash. And anybody from XJT has an ulterior motive... they want an SLI. Bad.

AboveMins

Wow, you must be telepathic, Rick. Good thing you know what's going on in the mind of "anybody from XJT". In reality, we're not bootlickers, we'd never fit in over there. We wanted a SLI in the past to prevent this situation from unfolding the way it has. Today, I'd say 99% of us would rather sit in the unemployment line than ever come work for stInc.