rickair7777

I'm not planning on staying, but if I do that would be fine...the company and employees have a pretty good history, and if that changes we can always do the union thing.

I agree a strong national union would be good for the industry, but I have very little faith in alpa's ability to achieve that. I'm reluctant to take a big downside risk (dues, altering the character of the company) for what appears to be a doubtful return. I need to see a better track record at the regionals first (mesa would be a good starting point). Also I would like to see a VISIBLE national-level cooperative approach with APA and SWAPA. Hmmm....I wonder why those folks don't sign up for alpa (for the good of the industry).

rickair7777

VP: Speak not of which you know naught! Grievences at mesa are just a means for the company to stall for 2-3 years on an issue (hoping the pilot(s) quits in the meantime). Once the grievence is arbitrated, the company then "re-interprets" the arbitration so it doesn't have to comply...then you start the whole process all over again: Grieve the Grievence!

RedeyeAV8r

APA and SWA are part of CAPA......Coalition of Airline Pilots. In the past 6 years CAPA lost 2 very large Pilot groups to ALPA..(CAL and FedEx,). Both CAL and FedEx were formerly represented by independent unions and both realized they were better off with National Representation.

Does either APA or SWAPA (under CAPA) or any other Independent Pilot Union have any real pull on Capitol Hill?

ANSWER: NO

palgia841

Do you really think ALPA has a "real pull on Capitol Hill?"

Lets not kid ourselves.

JetJock16

History has proven that ALPA does have pull on Capitol Hill. Just look back on the history of commercial aviation at most all of the safety and policy changes, ALPA was either the initiator or a strong force.

http://www.alpa.org/?tabid=176

Koolaidman

I have heard that the ALPA drive is NOT going well and that they have only around 40% of the cards and that ALPA wanted to see 80%. I heard this from someone who is involved in bringing ALPA to SkyWest and is a Fresno based CA who runs a crashpad (this may help you figure out who it is without naming names).

I have also heard that the majority of people who are sending in their cards are newer guys? However, I am sure that those who came from TSA and Mesa in the last two years are the ones not sending in their cards. And there are a lot who have been hired from those carriers.

The comment about unity is correct. But what no one understands is how divided the SkyWest pilot group is. This was evident in the fact that a pay proposal was voted in that left out all of the Bro guys. Who would do that to their fellow employees? That alone tells me that ALPA will not work here.

Anyone who believes that the company will abide by their contract and not interpret it to benefit management is wrong. At TSA and Mesa, management does what they want and has no respect for the contract. At TSA, when they go against the contract, they threaten you by telling you that you either fly or you will be in the chief pilot's office. I can't wait for that at SkyWest.

What do you guys think we are going to get contract wise that is that much better than what we have? I bet we lose more than we gain, plus ALPA will turn SkyWest into a miserable place to work.

I am not against ALPA, but in my opinion they have no place at SkyWest.

BoilerUP

For every TSA and Mesa example of ALPA, there is an Air Wisconsin and an Expressjet example of ALPA to counter it.

JetJock16

I understand that, but Air Whiskey has one of the highest per seat per mile cost in the regional industry. There has to be a balance and going for blood will cause SKW to join the list of high cost carriers which will begin a down turn in growth at SKW. Currently we have balance at SKW; we just need to find a way to stop Mgmnt from changing policies overnight.

BoilerUP

I don't doubt that, but what is your source on that?

The only way to "keep management from changing policies overnight" is a legal CBA.

JetJock16

JA was in my transition class today. We bounced Q&A's off of him for an hour and a half. He was very forth right and spoke very candid about us, ASA, the market, his future, UAL, DAL, Midwest and Air Tran.

I'm anti-union, but with my families history in the airline industry I understand that a union is a "Necessary Evil." My card was sent in over 4 months ago.