SkyWest Pilots and Flight Attendants Organizing

Think what you want, but in the last 17 years as a pilot flying to put food on the table and frosty cans of beer in the foam beer coozie, I've had two "fireable" situations where I've been to the big brown desk at two different airlines.

Ayn Rand didn't show up to represent me.

Something to consider.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Think what you want, but in the last 17 years as a pilot flying to put food on the table and frosty cans of beer in the foam beer coozie, I've had two "fireable" situations where I've been to the big brown desk at two different airlines.

Ayn Rand didn't show up to represent me.

Something to consider.
Click to expand...

Two words: Personal, liberty.

Two more words: Suck, it.

One more word: Kisses!
 
I think I heard someone say on here once...

The company signs your paycheck, but the union fills in the amount. That can be good or bad.

EDIT: whats the concensus amoungst the pilots?... ALPA, Teamsters, or an independent union? Skywest Pilot's Association?
 
so basically, you guys are saying that a union will keep you from getting fired? Can someone someone share an example of what types of things a union can keep you from getting fired for? Accidents? Violations? If you do something that warrants getting fired, how can the union protect your job? I would go out on a limb and say it is usually in the companies best interest not to fire pilots for no reason.
 
Representation.

Basically if you're about to get executed for a crime you did not commit, you hire an attorney.

A union is that attorney.

If you break procedures, damage people and property, even the Floating Spaghetti Monster cannot save you.
 
SIUav8er said:
so basically, you guys are saying that a union will keep you from getting fired? Can someone someone share an example of what types of things a union can keep you from getting fired for? Accidents? Violations? If you do something that warrants getting fired, how can the union protect your job? I would go out on a limb and say it is usually in the companies best interest not to fire pilots for no reason.
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Amflight will terminate somebody every once in a while for BS reasons.

That can't happen at a union shop.

I know guys that have straight up crashed airplanes there and they kept their jobs, but if you're late too often, or eat a taxiway light, and they don't like you, then you may find yourself on the street.
 
SIUav8er said:
so basically, you guys are saying that a union will keep you from getting fired? Can someone someone share an example of what types of things a union can keep you from getting fired for? Accidents? Violations? If you do something that warrants getting fired, how can the union protect your job? I would go out on a limb and say it is usually in the companies best interest not to fire pilots for no reason.
Click to expand...

As someone who has worked for a non-union shop that is now union I can tell you that a union can indeed keep you from getting fired.

Colgan used to be able to fire anyone for any reason they felt warranted termination. Bust a checkride...fired (it has happened). One guy showed up with out of date Jepp charts to a PC about 3 years back and he was fired. One nice thing with a union and a CBA is that the company must follow and give due process for all disciplinary issues. No more just calling a pilot up to do a carpet dance without any representation or detailed reasoning for why they need to do a carpet dance in the first place.

In addition there is the other side..pilots to speak up because they are scared of getting fired. At Colgan I pilot would have to think twice about refusing a plane for a safety reason or for calling in fatigued. Now, at least they know the union has set up methods for refusing planes for safety or calling in fatigue.

Colgan is 100% safer for having a union on property. I still feel our training department has a LONG way to go and there are still some pilots with old "move the rig" mentality but overall we are much better off with ALPA on property.
 
SIUav8er said:
so basically, you guys are saying that a union will keep you from getting fired? Can someone someone share an example of what types of things a union can keep you from getting fired for? Accidents? Violations? If you do something that warrants getting fired, how can the union protect your job? I would go out on a limb and say it is usually in the companies best interest not to fire pilots for no reason.
Click to expand...

I wish the last line in your sentence was always true but unfortunately it is not.

I recently saw an investigation done. I cannot discuss it because it is still going on as far as I know but mostly over. Anyway, it would blow your mind. Without ALPA lawyers I don't know how the pilots would have defended themselves.
 
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