Sorry, I thought you were a Skywest pilot now. If not, then my comment doesn't apply to you.


Bad analogy. First, I didn't chose to be part of a company that was bought by Skywest as you chose to work for Skywest AND continue to be employed there. Obviously Skywest saw value in buying xjt when they did and continue keep it as part of their business model. As soon as that changes, then it will change but your employment at Skywest airlines does not subsidize my employment at xjt. You have not taken a pay cut for the sake of keeping xjt viable. Second, you trade your skill for compensation just as I do. Except for that I give part of that compensation back to you whenever you use any safety systems (multiple times a day each day you fly) and other benefits you receive from union pilots. Simply, Skywest pilots have not voluntarily given anything for any greater cause to the professional pilot, NONE!


Well, at least you do admit riding coat tails of pilot unions (not just ALPA). But see my post above. Until you voluntarily give from your pay check, as all union pilots do, no one is riding your coat tail.

 

True, you have a choice and everyday you go to work you reaffirm your decision to work for a company that was boughten by skyw.

 

You may want to look up the definition of the phrase "riding on coat tails" that you throw around so much. I'm pretty sure Expressjet staying afloat off of Skywest's profits falls under that definition. You likely wouldn't have a job if it weren't for coat tail riding.

Is giving up your pay to ALPA really voluntary? Can I apply at XJT today and refuse to pay dues to ALPA while working for you guys? I wouldn't call that voluntary.

Again you and everyone else are all gung-ho about unions but none of you can tell me one benefit giving 2% of my pay to the union would give me. Sorry but I'm not going to vote in a union that will negotiate pay cuts for me and pander to United and Delta just to make some XJT pilots feel warm and fuzzy inside.

 

ALPA at the regional level is a complete joke and total failure.

 

Yes. If you choose not to be a member of the union you do not pay dues. You instead pay a lesser Agency Fee, per the Taft-Hartley act of 1947.

 

One benefit that 2 percent will give you is certificate protection. Heaven forbid any of you is unlucky enough to have a "those who have and those who will" event, but if you do and it was as n honest error, ALPA will help protect you.

I have had the dubious honor of getting that assistance. Rather than a violation of 121.555 (Approved Routing), a suspension, and fired, I ended up with only a warning letter.

 

Question about lodging during SkyWest training. I understand that if you want your own room, you have to pay half the rate...any idea on what the rate is? I called the hotel, but the person I talked to just quoted me their standard price...does SkyWest get any kind of a deal?

 

I paid $740 for single-occupancy ground school lodging. It was 26 nights. And the Candlewood is a pretty nice place...my single room was huge, clean, and modern.

 

Nevets,

If you put half as much effort into being a little bit more profitable and productive instead of bashing the hand that feeds you everyday, SkyWest probably wouldn't have to get rid of you as soon as they can. Fear not, once they do get rid of you, you can go back to being the amazing 50-seat airline you once were.

Thank Expressjet for KCM? Thank SkyWest for still having a job.

 

Point being that I chose to work for a union company. As opposed to Skywest pilots who chose to work at a non-union airline and continue to work for a non-union airline. I chose to work for a company that was bought by Skywest, yet it's still a union airline nonetheless and I'm still voluntarily paying dues for your benefit.


I'll try to explain it to you again. The fact that Skywest bought xjt made no bearing on you or any other Skywest airlines employee as far as their compensation is concerned. So no one at xjt is rind any Skywest employee coat tail. Yet, the pilots at xjt pay their union dues that you benefit from.

As for ALPA, I voluntarily chose to work for an airline that was ALPA so that I wouldn't ride coat tails. And you and every Skywest pilots chose to work at a non-union airline and ride coat tails.

As for benefits, one has already been mentioned in the post above. Look up DD for an actual example. And I previously mentioned a few more a couple of posts ago such as ASAP, foqa, cass, kcm, an almost every safety system which was pushed through by pilot unions. You take advantage of that and ride those coat tails.

Lastly, specifically your compensation and work rules are a hindrance to us at xjt and many other pilot groups who have better contract language such as your 38% pilot contribution to your health care benefits and subpar plans, your abysmal sick and vacation accrual, your lack of b fund, OJI bank, viable LTD plan, lower 401k matching, not to mention numerous work rules and lousy PBS. And on top of that, you coat tail ride off of our negotiations by agreeing to me too clause on our matching funds, health care benefits, and scope! So don't tell me that we are bringing you down because it's EXACTLY the opposite!

Anyway, keep using ALPA as an excuse for you to stay non-union. You can easily go independent if ALPA was truly your concern but you are just being disingenuous.