Really? I’m struggling to find an appropriate analogy for this statement. Skywest has done good without a union. The pilot group, not so much. Even pilot groups with Teamsters are doing remarkably better than the Skywest group. To say that having SAPA is comparable is ridiculous

 

Now you're just lying. Nowhere did I say that sapa is comparable, go back and read, I said they can't even file a lawsuit against the company.

What I said was that the contract is actually a contract, which some people don't seem to understand. I also said enforcement is not the same as an agency shop.

 

I look to the "contract" as a simple agreement, which the company has many times interpreted in a variety of ways. See our wonderful reserve proffering and extended delay actions going on. The company has and will continue to disregard the "contract" when they see fit. To which nothing can be done. There is a reason there is no language or vehicle to amend any supposed "contract" violations.

Having SAPA representing our needs is rather misleading. SAPA can only get what the company wants to give. The company will give what they need to the current realm of necessity, nothing more.

As far as having a union on the property, I'd vote in one this second if I could. Am I convinced it would be the answer to our needs, of course not. But management does everything they can to stop it, which tells me it is something we should have. Simple!

No one can argue the declining conditions here, staffing is a joke, and only getting worse. I'm sure as soon as flights are getting cancelled due to lack of crews, the company will implement junior manning again under the proffering procedures and then it will be tons of fun around here!

 

It’s not really surprising people on the outside have no idea of the history of how things actually work.
It’s also not surprising that the APC members with the biggest SkyWest complex want/believe things to be the worst for OO pilots.

 

The last union drive failed by 7 votes in 2007. Today over half of the seniority list has been here less than 2 years and another alpa drive is underway. With the new voting rules it will pass with flying colors if they try and push another 51% pay package through.

We are already on pace to pass last months attrition and hiring is slowing drastically. I just hope they can recover before it gets much worse.

 

How do you explain forced pay cuts? It’s happened before to our below wing staff, their “contract” falls under the RLA as well, yet OO has forced paycuts on them numerous times over the history of OO groundhandling.

 

I don't troll because I think Skywest pilots have it bad, rather I troll because I think Skywest pilots have it good-good at the expense of those who have unions.

Of course Skywest pay is going to go up to within striking distance of the new industry standard. Juuuuuust enough to keep ya'll happy and
juuuuuuuuust in time to keep a union off property.

It just cracks me up when some Skywest newb spouts off about a TA or Contract or why the "association" doesn't do this or that. Come on people!!!?? For years you folks have been enjoying many benefits of other airlines' unions without paying for a union. Please explain that to the new guys so they stop pretending otherwise.

As for me personally-I think unions at the regional level are very much the joke some of you say they are, but they are our only option for representation and the only professional organization available to contribute to the profession.

As for my trolling on this-guilty and not proud. I mostly check out the Skywest thread because I am in a position to give advice to potential new-hires. I have advised more than one pilot to go to Skywest if I thought it best for their career. Sometimes the troll takes over. Sorry.

 

I'm pretty sure they don't even have a consolidated contract. They are paid based on their location, ie SFO pays more than FSD. I'm not aware of any unified effort on their part to do any sort of national organization. Don't think they want that, their seniority is also local, ie someone from another base that closes can't come to your base and bump you or force you down. Apples to oranges.

Forced pay cuts to the pilots (or FA's) would trigger a lawsuit, which the company would lose unless the paycuts were awarded as part of BK proceedings.

 

Lawsuit? So, who pays for the pilots' lawyers?

 

Well SAPA could, uhm....

They could stomp their feet...

Flail on the ground in a tantrum....

Write a very stern letter saying that they are disappointed but understand....

And management would do like they always have,
laugh their butts off at how they have the pilots trained like good little boys and girls!

Like always, SAPA has brought a straw and spit wads to a gun fight!