duvie

It seems the only thing this union vote did was bring all the uneducated new hires out of the woodwork to voice their opinions and make SkyWest pilots look like arrogant, invincible, jerks.

I appreciate the enthusiam about our job, but don't end up like slaphappy.

I just want to come on here and read some gossip and get some material for the rumors I'll spread next trip. Can the admins step in here somewhere and just rename these threads to "SkyWest bickering & flamefest" ?!

ladder1423

duplicate, sorry

ladder1423

Well I would watch what you say about the uneducated new hires. First of all Skywest has probably the strictest hiring policy of any regional. In my class ther were 18 new hires, 6 from Mesa, 2 from Comair, 2 from ASA, and 2 from Horizon and 1 from PSA. That is experience from several different airlines who realized Skywest was the place to be. On top of that we had a 25year retired AirForce Colonel who was a batallion commander in a C-130 unit. So saying that the new hires are uneducated islike saying France is the country you want backing you in the next World War. Bringing in experience from all walks of life is what makes Skywest the great place it is and the so called "new hires" know this because they have actually lived on the "other side" and realize that the grass is not always greener. We know when we can actually be happy and enjoy our job and appreciate what we have. We are not all 21 year old punks who just got out of high school and don't know what it is like in the real world. In fact most of us know what it is like in the real world more than the 25 year old captain we will gladly be taking orders from in the cockpit. That is the problem with trying to have a civilized argument with an ALPA supporter, their only argument is we are uneducated. Well coming from someone who served 7 years in the military in war, and 10 years as a firefighter for a major city and as a union steward, I would say I am a bit educated in how the real world works. I don't know it all, but I do know enough that when things are not broke don't try and fix it, and most of all, only worry about yourself, and not what the rest of the world is doing. In other words, I could care less what Express Jet, AWAC, Comair, ASA, PSA, Mesa, Horizon or anyone else is doing with their contract. I care about me and doing my job to the best of my ability and making me and myself happy. ALPA didn't realize this and made 2/3 of an airline ticked off enough to not even vote in a major election. If one of my other brothers at a different airline has a better contract, I will congratulate him and be happy for him or her.

Reggie Dunlop

A battalion eh? That's alot of C-130s.

Freightpuppy

Not to burst the bubble here but I flew with an ex-Navy high up at the commuter (can't remember the title but it sounded impressive) who was not only a jerk but completely unsafe so that statement don't impress me much. If he's coming to a commuter, all that means is that he couldn't get a job at a better airline.

SaltyDog

I took the "uneducated" not to have anything to do with flying experience, rather, more along the line of lack of 121 union experience. No age slap, etc.
1. I was a very experienced military aviator who probably scared Freightpuppy <g> at the regional (commuter) in my day. Skill set in military does not equate to experience in the 121 world. Just means you are trainable. I was/still am, embarrassed by my fellow military aviators who think they are superior to GA folks. Fortunately, most are humble enough to learn. I was 35 and flying with extremely experienced 25 year old Capts coming out of the military. Our experiences were different. I can fly/fight off a carrier, but I wasn't doing that landing in ABC in a unicom field with barely VFR wx with 20 GA planes breaking all the rules. I relied on the 25 year old Capts experience to learn those ropes.
2. Frankly, I was anti union mostly out of pure ignorance. Most military folks are probably at best neutral on unions coming out of the service. Why? had no union experience in the military. The young and very old Capts educated me along with my personal experience with management and the realities of the commuter business world.
3. The rest of the Skywest new hires you mention likely spent less than a year at the other regionals. I know several of them and that is empirically the case. Along with that, they had very limited exposure to the true benefit of a union in the ranks. Same at all regionals. Why? Unfortunately, most first union exposure is at best neutral. Most unions don't do well in the first year with folks because these folks spent much time in training, OE, then consolidation, sit reserve, and are just trying to get grounded in the new life while on probation at XYZ. These folks obviously then jumped to Skywest for a host of reasons. (choice of domicile/financial footing/and were 'taking care of themselves" attitude which is necessary to get the job)

4. However, with your firefighting and military experience, you clearly understand the need for the more experienced individuals to take leadership roles and mentor the new folks for the betterment of the profession by looking out into the future. In the professional pilot 121 world, that mechanism is best accomplished by a union. Why? Because we all need to speak with one voice. Otherwise management will play you off of me to OUR detriment.
Management/airline industry proves this fact. Study the management style going back to the beginning of Pan Am, etc. The industry deals with Frank Lorenzo and Carl Ichan types. Additionally, the Railway Labor Act is rigged against the employee. In different times, every airline goes into trials between management and employees.
You say "if not broke, don't fix it" Well as pilots we are paid to be looking at the sky ahead and always be prepared to answer "what if" You should do that with your career as well. You folks don't like ALPA? So what, it really is a question of what union fits your group. It is a WE thing like firefighting and the military.
Apathy is a strong signal to take advantage of a group. Many of the Skywest pilots understand this. Both pro and anti ALPA. The Skywest pilots had a difficult choice. it was an either/or proposition. It would have been ideal to have a a choice of a. no union b. independent union. c. ALPA
I would like to have seen the results of that vote.
We are connected by profession even though I fly cargo and you pax. Look ahead friend. Best in your career. Best to all of us.....

HercDriver130

First of all the AF doesnt have battalions.....

And second.... Freightpuppies comment just shows her own arrogance. You have no idea what may be the reason he chose SKW. Not to mention if FP considers SKW a commuter....well WAKE UP!!!

Well Said Salty.

ladder1423

I didn't make myself clear, I clearly do not like ALPA because it is a bad union and a bad organization in MY opinion, I do not use my opinion to try and change others because I could care less in this situation what other people want to do. I never said the other guys in my new hire class were pro or anti union. I was commenting on the uneducated remark. I was very involved in a union, one probably just as large if not larger than ALPA. I know about unions, I had experience in 121 flying and most of the guys in my class did as well. We can all form our own opinions and educated ones at that without having guys from other airlines try and tell us why WE need ALPA. I need ALPA as much as I need France was my point. If someone else wants ALPA, more power to them, I don't want ALPA, if you try and force it on me I won't want it that much more. Let people make their own decisions without trying some scare tactic like we will "all be black listed" "Cass agreement will be taken away" "don't try and get hired at this airline" blah blah blah. Comments like that show ignorance in itself. About the Air Force Colonel, where did I say he was a superior pilot?? I don't think I ever said that. I damn well know he was educated though, regardless of his type of personality.

mccube5

this is a great point, the argument that most people at skywest came from ALPA carriers and know the negatives of it doesnt work. you have no clue whats going on in that first year, youre just trying to get your feet wet and learn the ropes.

ghilis101

haha i love it.