copcar1988

Hey, I'm curios about the quality of life over at skywest. I understand they don't have a union (yet?), and so I'm guessing there is no contract. I could be wrong though. Even without any of that, I was wondering if any of you had info on the following:

Minimum days off?
How long to sit reserve on EMB or CRJ in there junior bases?
Deadhead pay?
Cancellation pay?
Is junior manning frequent?
Extension Pay?

There's probably other factors I'm not remembering right now, but I guess this is a good start. If there is another thread that has this info, could you please post that as well. I guess I'm not cool enough to use the search function yet. Hopefully in a few more posts I'll have the coolness factor down.

Thanks for the help.

Koolaidman

10 days off, either line holder or reserve
Reserve depends on where you are in class, most guys who are senior in class and going to junior bases are getting lines to my understanding.
DH pay is 100%
You do get paid for cancellation of flights.
Junior manning was frequent, but with all of the hiring I think it has slowed down quite a bit.
Extension pay??? Working on a pay rate increase, don't know what extension pay is.

I would definitely come here if you live out west. Can't find anyone who has anything bad to say. Also, working on a pay increase!

Hope this helps, good luck!

freezingflyboy

I think he means pay for a day off that gets rolled or if you get assigned to an additional turn after your pairing.

FL410

Talked to my buddy who is a CRJ FO and he loves it. He can upgrade but now his QOL is so great that he is going to wait another 6-9 months. He just had 8 days off then a 3 day trip and then 5 more days off. He had to switch some trips but that seems he is enjoying it.
I have an interview in the end of November and I am looking forward to it. I hope that they get a new pay schale for the 700/900. They are also talking aboutgiving the pilots a raise. Hope this helps.

Freightpuppy

Bad news.....they just sent the pilots a memo saying that "due to the union drive" they are suspending pay talks so I wouldn't hold my breath for that raise.

Ellen

Giving pilots a raise . . . That is not going to happen . . . Friend just told me due to ALPA interfering with pilots, Company is not allowed (by law) to discuss pay raise options. Apparently ALPA wants union drive to last more than a year. So, I guess SKYW pilots will have to wait to discuss pay.

It sucks that ALPA did this to you guys, sorry. I guess it's par for the course. ALPA told United Airline pilots NOT to sell their stock as it was falling (then ALPA secretly sold ALL of their stock so not to take a loss). Talking about hypocritical.

Freightpuppy

Nice!

That's exactly why Skywest does not need ALPO right now. I mean, usually I would say it's a necessary evil but not in the case of Skywest right now.

LAfrequentflyer

I've been trying to read a website called aviationsafety - there is a lot of interesting information (not sure how accurate...believe 1/2 of what you hear and even less of what you read....) on unions.

I don't believe in crossing a picket line - union member or not....However, am I missing something when I notice successful airlines seem to be ALPA free / have an independent union (Southwest for example)?

-LAFF

JetJock16

To begin with, there so no LAW restricting pay negotiations between Mgmnt and SAPA before the NMB grants an election. This is a ploy used by Mgmnt to try in direct the less educated. Mgmnt pulled the same BS in the last two union drives. They talked pay and came to a reasonable agreement with the pilots before the election was granted. Once the election was granted Mgmnt pulled back and said that they will not talk pay until the union was voted down. Both times the union was voted down and both times Mgmnt gave SKW pilots less then half of what was promised. The union push at SKW isn't all about pay; it's about the BS that is going on behind the seen. The S@#T you don't see because you don't work here and it's obvious your friend hasn't worked here all that long otherwise he would be singing a different tune. You say that unions are bad? What about SWA? They are THE MOST UNIONIZED airline in America and they have a great relationship with Mgmnt as well as THE BEST CONTRACT. I'll tell you why; SWA respects its employees and works hard to keep a good work environment. We are hoping for a SWA type relationship seeing that Mgmnt likes to refer to themselves as "The SWA of the Regional World."

Second, ALPA isn't the one negotiating the TAs; it's a group of pilots from the airline that is assisted by ALPA lawyers so that they understand the laws.

Third, the union drive isn't run by ALPA. The election cards go out and once a fair amount have been returned then ALPA will request that the NMB grant an election. The hole process should only take 3-5 months and is not governed my ALPA.

Finally, I am not an ALPA guy. I am on the fence myself but I understand we need real representation. I'm not sure Alpha’s quite what we’re looking for but it’s better than SAPA that has no power and finds itself a puppet for Mgmnt. I feel that unions are a necessary evil in the airline industry. If we didn't have them then you will see record profits by the airlines and “At Will” changes to quality of life and pay. These “At Will” changes will drive profits up at our expense and increase the bonuses for Mgmnt. That’s what’s happening here at SKW.

A Union is necessary to Organized the Labor Group, SAPA is incapable of this and that is why we are having our 3rd union push in 7 years.

bender

According to the wife's labor law professor they are. Something about maintaining "laboratory conditions" and not being allowed to influence the labor group one way or the other.