I've always believed that ALPA is a complete joke at the regional level. This little bulletin just confirms it.

According to ALPA Skywest airlines is the lowest paying regional airline in the industry.

Mesa, Republic, GoJet, and even Great Lakes pay more than SkyWest according to ALPA.......what a joke.

http://www.alpa.org/~/media/ALPA/Fil...fact-sheet.pdf

 

LOL, not Skywest! It can't be true.

In fairness that does look like first year pay only. I'm sure that snapshot would look different for year 2+

 

I think that what they did was multiply first year pay by minimum monthly guarantee. I believe it should also take into account other objective, calculable compensation. That would include company contribution and matching funds.

 

Just checked my year 1 W-2 and I made $21,500. I'm sure my take home was less than that after buying my bag, uniform, headset and chart bag. So glad to see that first year pay has kept up with inflation like the rest of our wages.

Is the advert a little extreme? Maybe. But no less than XJT claiming to have the best flow through to the majors or any of the other flat out lies that recruiters will tell enthusiastic CFI's to get them in the door. There are lots of things to be critical with ALPA in regards to how they treat the regionals, but I don't see this as one of them. Why do you think SW is wanting to raise first year pay so bad? They want to be able to have some reason to show they are different and offset the fast upgrades and signing bonuses that others are offering.

 

One other aspect that needs to be disclosed when talking about SkyWest hourly rates is that for all other airlines, they pay marketing block, SkyWest pays what is called "historic credit". In about 98% of the flights on your schedule you will see you are paid less than what is blocked in what is called "historic credit". The only time you get paid more is if the flight goes long for whatever reason, is if it goes over the historical credit value.

So comparing our hourly rates to other airlines really can't be done apples to apples.

I've seen some 4 day trips that have the credit over an hour less than the block, and the company has total control over what will be assigned the credit value, there is no transparency.

The very first Seattle to Kechtican flight was credited 21 minutes less than the marketing block. How do you have historical credit on a flight that has never occured?

 

What a surprise that alpa targets Skywest one of the few regionals they don't represent. Alpa is a complete and utter joke, look how they have represented every regional that has hit hard timers...comair, envoy.... When the new TA passes (which it will) first year pay will be above average for the industry. Skywest still filling classes, three ERJ classes next
Month..,,wonder why that is?!

This based on first year pay, second year pay more than makes up for it, above average for sure. This also doesn't factor in work rules such as cancellation pay which some of the regionals on that list don't have. Their calculation is also off.

 

What often gets lost in these types of discussions is total compensation versus a pay check. What is better being a Teamster truck driver making $15 an hour with defined pension and zero cost health care versus being a 1099 driver making $20. Retirement, medical, per diem, and work rules all play a big part.

A lot of companies these days send out an annual total comp report to employees to highlight the fact that most get a lot more compensation than just wages.

In the case of a regional I think the only thing that would matter is who gets you 1000 of turbine PIC first. That delivers more lifetime earnings than anything else from what I can see.

 

Talk about everyone missing the point. This isn't propaganda to attack the non-union carrier. If this were truly an assault, it would also assault all Teamsters airlines as well. This is to distribute to Congress, media and the American people regarding low wages at regional airlines. Quit playing the victim with all your fake outrage. They are trying to help, not hurt.

 

You think Congress don't already know that Regional Pay is a joke? No matter what regional you pick? How about mainline either take back ALL the flying or pay the FFD carriers what they are really worth! Mainline Management love the C scale it's not going away, they have more lobbyist than the regionals.


Ask yourself why did Delta shut down Comair and purchased Pinnacle. It's to control cost of ALL their feed?

 

You act as if Congress is a perpetual and stable entity. How many new members are there every 2 years? There is a possibility of significant turnover. Then, you have the RAA whispering in their ears about how these new regulations are causing a shortage of pilots when, in reality, many of their problems are compensation based. This is anti-RAA lobbying to prevent the roll-back of the Colgan regulations.