SKW pay proposal

Doug Taylor said:
I've probably had two opportunities to upgrade in the last 9-and-something-or-rather years at Southernjets.

I valued seniority and "life control" a lot higher than adding a fourth stripe and more cash that I wouldn't be home to spend.

That's just my rationale. Others certainly have their own rationale.
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That makes sense, but you have "made it". You plan on spending your career where you are. For guys at a regional (and I know there aren't THAT many places to go right now) they HAVE to be able to make the jump and take the pay cut before they too established in their life and have kids/settle down. There are tons of captains at my company that have the time and recomendations to go to SWA or Airtran or CAL but it would take then 9 years to make up the pay loss, not to mention the having to move/commute/end up back on reserve.

So, with all respect, unless one is planning on making a career at a regional (which some people certainly are in a good position to do just that) the upgrade is rather important. Keep in mind, pay about doubles with the upgrade too (and I know that pay isn't everything as well but going from just above the poverty line to 50k-70k makes a difference.
 
Have to remember that a lot of regional guys have 'made it' as well. Lots of people don't have the basic requirements to move on (degree) and others are afraid of the initial 'cut' in pay to move to a larger, more career-oriented carrier.
 
jdflight said:
So happy our internal negotiations have been posted on jc for the public to view before i can even get it from my mailbox.:sarcasm:
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Oh hell, welcome to my world! :)

"Southernjet pilots are doing A/B/C..."

Arooo?! I didn't hear about that... :)
 
Doug Taylor said:
Have to remember that a lot of regional guys have 'made it' as well. Lots of people don't have the basic requirements to move on (degree) and others are afraid of the initial 'cut' in pay to move to a larger, more career-oriented carrier.
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Saw a CRJ (ASA) getting sprayed by the ARFF in Atlanta. There is a video on Youtube showing this, if only I could find the link

:(

A 60 year old RJ CA. He has to work too - I'm sure his situation was due to a fourlough, but could you imagine? Ah the times we live.

This has nothing to do with what you're saying Doug, just thought I'd put it out.
 
jdflight said:
So happy our internal negotiations have been posted on jc for the public to view before i can even get it from my mailbox.:sarcasm:
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Almost makes me glad to fly for a regional no one really cares much about. :)

As for upgrading, I think it really depends on the regional. Places like SKYW, XJT and Air Whisky that pay their FOs somewhat decent wages and have decent work rules you can hold on to that QoL for a while. Places like Mesa and PCL, you almost have to take the upgrade to graduate from food stamps. What's the use of having more days off if you can't eat while you're at home in front of the TV (assuming you can afford cable)?
 
All that was posted was Skywest's version of a TA. The negotiations with management are already over. All that's left is to vote on it, so posting the details hurts nothing and is instead a positive. Don't you think so? After being distributed to 2500 people, nothing was said about keeping it confidential. I'm a bit uneasy about going gung ho for YES or NO on the internal forums because we have to use our real names, so instead we can debate it here anonymously. At my previous employer, if you piss off management you don't upgrade. Now, I've heard this isn't the case with SKW but you never know. Anyways, the point is that this proposal is worth discussing and has a significant impact on other regional pilot groups.
 
GaTechKid said:
I heard something along the lines of this:

1% base increase to -200 rates
5% further increase for a -700/900 override
No increase for Bro pilots
No retro pay
Override is only paid for actual 700/900 flight time (a couple exceptions) and will only be paid IF you break daily AND monthly guarantee.
4 year "duration"
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Dude, nice crystal ball. Sorry for doubting you. Now why did I have to wait a few days and print out 10+pages to get the same information!

Incidentally, as much as this agreement is far from ideal, I'm planning to vote yes. For any of you guys thinking about a no-vote, think carefully.
 
Yep, while not perfect me thinks it is a step in the right direction. Let's hope we can get some QOL improvements next.
 
Doug Taylor said:
But that's what we're taught!

You upgrade, but what next?
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You start losing money, because your longevity raises don't keep up with inflation...


Reminds me of a pilot reply when JA asked him what he would do with a million dollars? He replied, he would work a SkyWest until it ran out...
 
Well think about this: there are 62 Bros, 100+ -200s, 30+/- 700s and about 20 -900s the majority of this raise only affects roughly 25% of the fleet.

It's not realy a raise unless it is a raise ...
 
Also, everybody seemsto be getting pumped up about a 1% raise.....what is that about $400 per YEAR for an FO??? That's nothing. That's $33/month. That doesn't even cover my cell phone bill. Your company makes $40 million per quarter!!!!!! This should be a slap in the face.
 
I think current rates would be fine if we got a guaranteed COLA raise every year. I also think Skywest would never offer this because it's not competitive.
 
cime_sp said:
Also, everybody seemsto be getting pumped up about a 1% raise.....what is that about $400 per YEAR for an FO??? That's nothing. That's $33/month. That doesn't even cover my cell phone bill. Your company makes $40 million per quarter!!!!!! This should be a slap in the face.
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I agree with you. However, this proposal does provide split rates. Perhaps guys who have been with SKW longer could let us know what they think the management response to a NO vote would be. My guess is no more pay talks for another couple years. My question is, if you think a successful union vote is close at hand then how can you vote no? If we get locked into our current compensation while it takes years to hammer out the first contract then let's get locked into the most amount of money management was willing to pay.
 
GaTechKid said:
I think current rates would be fine if we got a guaranteed COLA raise every year. I also think Skywest would never offer this because it's not competitive.
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I think that's what the +1%, +2%, +3% etc. is (EDIT: nevermind, now that I read it I see it is for the split rate). Here we get a +1.5% every year (amounted to $0.52 raise this year! yeh!!) and every two they take the top 6 50 seat jet operators and we get 2% above the average CA pay, with FO's 60% of that. The best thing is, even if they drag out contract negotiations for 5 years we still get those raises. Of course, god knows we aren't competitive!!! So I would think SkyWest wouldn't want to go for that. But it's out there.
 
GaTechKid said:
I agree with you. However, this proposal does provide split rates.
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But it doesn't even really do that. It just splits the 200 out of the three. The 70-seat and 90-seat (FAA certificated) jets are paid at the same rate.

It's only a matter of time before some number cruncher somewhere figures out that if they dump the first class on the -900 they can "magically" squeeze in some 20 more seats ... der da der!
 
pilot602 said:
It's only a matter of time before some number cruncher somewhere figures out that if they dump the first class on the -900 they can "magically" squeeze in some 20 more seats ... der da der!
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Not if mainline scope holds up! Hopefully it will.
 
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