Skywest Questions

tcco94 said:
From my understanding ALPA is taking a slow and cautious approach to even let us vote...
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For good reasons. I won’t disclose how much money was wasted on the last drive when most Skywest pilots were too cowardly to even campaign in the crew lounges, but let’s just say the number has two commas in it. Skywest pilots (yes, that means YOU) need to stand up and fight for representation. Don’t just be bystanders asking “when is the vote going to happen?”
 
ATN_Pilot said:
For good reasons. I won’t disclose how much money was wasted on the last drive when most Skywest pilots were too cowardly to even campaign in the crew lounges, but let’s just say the number has two commas in it. Skywest pilots (yes, that means YOU) need to stand up and fight for representation. Don’t just be bystanders asking “when is the vote going to happen?”
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The drive would utterly fail if it were held tomorrow. That is why there are so many pro-ALPA supporters like me who are not out campaigning fervently for it to happen. Most of us are focusing on getting the hell out of this place, and they are probably doing the right thing for themselves by putting their focus on getting on board with a real ALPA carrier rather than putting a monumental effort on something that has little chance of happening at what they perceive to be a paid internship for mainline. For the senior guys with whom I have spoken about unions, they believe that ALPA is just a tool for mainline to depress regional wages, and they are very passionate about hating unions and letting it be known to their FOs. For newer pilots like many of my friends who have less three years of seniority, it is a matter of apathy and a refusal to pay .02% of their paycheck to union dues:rolleyes: . I am ashamed of hearing these idiots speak, but that is the way that most SkyWest pilots operate. They like to be blissfully unaware. I am not trying to be negative here, but I don't forsee SkyWest ever being an ALPA carrier. At least not within the next three years.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
The drive would utterly fail if it were held tomorrow. That is why there are so many pro-ALPA supporters like me who are not out campaigning fervently for it to happen. Most of us are focusing on getting the hell out of this place, and they are probably doing the right thing for themselves by putting their focus on getting on board with a real ALPA carrier rather than putting a monumental effort on something that has little chance of happening at what they perceive to be a paid internship for mainline. For the senior guys with whom I have spoken about unions, they believe that ALPA is just a tool for mainline to depress regional wages, and they are very passionate about hating unions and letting it be known to their FOs. For newer pilots like many of my friends who have less three years of seniority, it is a matter of apathy and a refusal to pay .02% of their paycheck to union dues:rolleyes: . I am ashamed of hearing these idiots speak, but that is the way that most SkyWest pilots operate. They like to be blissfully unaware. I am not trying to be negative here, but I don't forsee SkyWest ever being an ALPA carrier. At least not within the next three years.
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Sigh... This post encapsulates all of the problems.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
I cannot speak for others, but I would still vote yes to an ALPA drive even if we had gotten Endeavor or better. The last two pay turds have irrevocably rubbed me the wrong way; the damage is already done. Whatever money is offered to us today, is done so because the execs at last came to realize how greedy they had been. They are not offering money out of good will, but because their ill decision-making led to attracting less newhires.
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You work far harder for your money than your organized counterparts.

The favorite red herring over there is “muh W-2 earnings,” but if you’re home less than your counterparts, well...
Cloud Surfer said:
Being a little harsh, maybe??
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I don’t think so, no.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
The drive would utterly fail if it were held tomorrow. That is why there are so many pro-ALPA supporters like me who are not out campaigning fervently for it to happen. Most of us are focusing on getting the hell out of this place, and they are probably doing the right thing for themselves by putting their focus on getting on board with a real ALPA carrier rather than putting a monumental effort on something that has little chance of happening at what they perceive to be a paid internship for mainline. For the senior guys with whom I have spoken about unions, they believe that ALPA is just a tool for mainline to depress regional wages, and they are very passionate about hating unions and letting it be known to their FOs. For newer pilots like many of my friends who have less three years of seniority, it is a matter of apathy and a refusal to pay .02% of their paycheck to union dues:rolleyes: . I am ashamed of hearing these idiots speak, but that is the way that most SkyWest pilots operate. They like to be blissfully unaware. I am not trying to be negative here, but I don't forsee SkyWest ever being an ALPA carrier. At least not within the next three years.
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"I should be out of here by November!" - Some pilot in August 2001. There's something to be said for trying to leave a place better than you found it, even if it is a stepping stone.

I won't complain about the raise, however the extra money doesn't do me much good when I'm never home to do anything with it because reserve QOL is so atrocious. At least maybe now the people that think 1% is a great raise while moaning about ALPA dues won't have that excuse anymore.
 
tcco94 said:
Well, I've never had the chance to vote on a Union sadly. I get the anger with SkyW for their history, just don't understand why pilots go after pilots for most things out of my control. I would never wish that on someone, then again I haven't gone through what those guys on the other hand have. So now I'm just armchairing it.
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I went to SkyWest for the SFO base. That was the only consideration. I was there less than a year when I was hired by a major. They got me current and proficient. I did the rest. One of the guys in my class was from Horizon and started giving me a hard time about SkyWest and how I shouldn’t have taken the job. I just laughed and told him that when I was hired I was flown by helicopter to Chips houseboat. I was then asked by the CEO what I wanted from my career at SkyWest and I told him I wanted to • over all the Horizon pilots. Because that’s how this works right??


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ATN_Pilot said:
For good reasons. I won’t disclose how much money was wasted on the last drive when most Skywest pilots were too cowardly to even campaign in the crew lounges, but let’s just say the number has two commas in it. Skywest pilots (yes, that means YOU) need to stand up and fight for representation. Don’t just be bystanders asking “when is the vote going to happen?”
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This is all easier said than done. You know our group just as well as I do. They can't even get people interested on the internet to submit their name to ALPA that they're interested....let alone start a drive in base at your domicile...
 
So since I’ve left y’all have passed 2 pay packages. Right before I left, I had a SAPA guy in my jump and asked him “why can’t you include QOL/work rule stuff in these?” He told me that these were just for pay and that the QOL stuff will come later.... Honest question, will that ever happen for you guys? Is SAPA gonna start “negotiating” more/better work rules for y’all or just do hourly rates?
 
Hah, there is 0% chance they are getting a union now that this TA passed. If I was at SKW I probably would have voted no just based on that fact.
 
JDean3204 said:
I just hope you guys don’t let up on the union drive, since that is the intent of management with this TA and telling you qol will be negotiated.
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Disagree. The intent is for them to get butts in the right seat, as evidenced by the larger percentage and dollar amount the FOs are getting out of this deal. I bet the same FOs that voted for it will complain when they upgrade and it doesn’t benefit them as much. Sadly there is a lot of “this benefits ME and that’s all I care about” attitude.
 
thevideographer said:
Hah, there is 0% chance they are getting a union now that this TA passed. If I was at SKW I probably would have voted no just based on that fact.
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Disagree on this too. Maybe some of the more shortsighted people that think all a union does is negotiate pay, but those aren’t “educated voters” anyway.
 
skatergeek said:
So since I’ve left y’all have passed 2 pay packages. Right before I left, I had a SAPA guy in my jump and asked him “why can’t you include QOL/work rule stuff in these?” He told me that these were just for pay and that the QOL stuff will come later.... Honest question, will that ever happen for you guys? Is SAPA gonna start “negotiating” more/better work rules for y’all or just do hourly rates?
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This was asked numerous times by a few people, including myself. What was being sold is "we've always negotiated QOL outside the pay package and will always continue to do so". Yet all the "QOL improvements" I've seen (reserve bid day off, proffering, long call convert now 5 days) have all been negotiated right before a pay pay package was presented. Although I don't think people payed attention to that and assumed the word by SAPA is that we will continue to improve QOL outside the pay.

Same said for commuter QOL. Reps told me they are commuters too and it doesn't necessarily need to be in the pay package, they will continue to "fight" for this. Yet when I asked is it fair that I'm a little skeptical that if this goes through they can use two arguments:
1. "we have good rules and people continue to come to Skywest" (now with huge bonuses and a $5 raise at any point)
2. You just got a "significant" pay increase so why are requesting more money in terms of paid parking out of domicile or hotels? You have more money to afford that.

Nothing was answered about being skeptical that the word of SAPA doesn't have any backing. I'm not saying I know what happens behind the closed doors or what will happen in the future that they don't fight to improve QOL, but it's completely fair to be skeptical about the company "word" that they will increase QOL outside of this. Especially with massive improvements to get new hires through the door for the foreseeable future. Apparently I'm being too skeptical though because it passed by 66% and QOL isn't very important to some.

I thought the offer was good to tell you the truth, but with absolutely nothing to QOL it made me nervous tying that down for new hire bonuses and increased pay. I have nothing against a sign on bonus either, I'm happy new hires here will make significantly more. The basic counter argument was the company has the discretion to give them out anyways and this way we put a limit on it. But the power we had was huge, if they just started doing it randomly more pilots would take a union seriously. SGU is smart and because of it they won. I am happy for the pay increase, happy for new hires, but I feel like we could have done better here.
 
Ahh how I don't miss threatening emails from Mike, Russ, and TT "If you pilots vote this down then [insert doom and gloom here]." I hope you guys are able to get the QOL improvements you deserve. A union fighting for a contract sure would help.
 
skatergeek said:
So since I’ve left y’all have passed 2 pay packages. Right before I left, I had a SAPA guy in my jump and asked him “why can’t you include QOL/work rule stuff in these?” He told me that these were just for pay and that the QOL stuff will come later.... Honest question, will that ever happen for you guys? Is SAPA gonna start “negotiating” more/better work rules for y’all or just do hourly rates?
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I got laughed out of the room some years back for suggesting QOL be a part of any deal we reached.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
The drive would utterly fail if it were held tomorrow. That is why there are so many pro-ALPA supporters like me who are not out campaigning fervently for it to happen. Most of us are focusing on getting the hell out of this place, and they are probably doing the right thing for themselves by putting their focus on getting on board with a real ALPA carrier rather than putting a monumental effort on something that has little chance of happening at what they perceive to be a paid internship for mainline. For the senior guys with whom I have spoken about unions, they believe that ALPA is just a tool for mainline to depress regional wages, and they are very passionate about hating unions and letting it be known to their FOs. For newer pilots like many of my friends who have less three years of seniority, it is a matter of apathy and a refusal to pay .02% of their paycheck to union dues:rolleyes: . I am ashamed of hearing these idiots speak, but that is the way that most SkyWest pilots operate. They like to be blissfully unaware. I am not trying to be negative here, but I don't forsee SkyWest ever being an ALPA carrier. At least not within the next three years.
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I'm not so sure I buy this. Almost everyone I talk to is receptive to the idea of a union. The senior peeps make up a very small percentage of the company today. If there were a drive today I think it would pass easily.
 
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