Trying to clean up the dirty air surrounding SkyWest
12-25-2006, 04:07 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: SKYW CRJ FO
Posts: 467
Trying to clean up the dirty air surrounding SkyWest
SkyWest's recent payscale has been a pretty heavily debated topic over the last few weeks. I just want to throw my thoughts out there and try to set a minor part of the story straight.
Yes, we are getting some goofy "block hour override" every time we fly in a 700/900. We received a 1% overall pay raise, on the jet only, beginning in 2007, and beginning in 2007 we get this 5% "block hour override" (BHO) deal. I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but I THINK that 5% becomes 6% in 2008, 7% in 2009 and 8% in 2010. So we are getting a 1% increase on the BHO every year, which probably isn't that much.
There is no doubt in my mind that management got the best of this recent pay proposal. Would having a union, recently ALPA, have changed the way this vote would have gone? That is up for debate. However, everyone on this forum lately keeps wanting SkyWest to "raise the bar", and they have been blasting us for not doing so. Not every airline can have three day trips worth 17 hours and have 15 days off a month. For me personally, I am happy with an above average pay scale and our current work rules. The company has goals, from financial goals to providing a quality product to its passengers. All the people from gate agents to rampers to pilots, have all been a pleasure to work with. That to me means as much as having the best pay in the industry.
It seems to me that people on here forget that while we as regional pilots are trying to make our lives better, there are cfi's who truly don't know any better. We forget that there are plenty of people who have no problems working for a crappy company with no goals, no future and treats their employees like dirt. GoJet, Trans States and Mesa are the ones that come to mind when discussing things like treatment of employees, work rules, pay, etc. And to my knowledge, none of those carriers are having issues with getting people in for interviews.
So, what that tells me is that it isn't people at SkyWest lowering the bar because Jerry is making money hand over fist and WE accepted the company's offer, rather, it is you and I who aren't going back to our flight schools and telling the guy who is instructing to stay away from bad companies and suffer for another month so you can go to an XJT, Comair, SkyWest, etc. AS LONG AS THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO WILL FLY FOR LESS, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WHETHER UNIONIZED OR NOT, WE CAN NOT PREVENT THE "LOWERING OF THE BAR". Companies like GoJet, TSA, Mesa, they are not having problems getting people to interview. Why? Because people will fly even if they are HATED throughout the entire regional industry! (GoJet) That is what is lowering the bar, not companies like SkyWest. And management knows that, which is the major problem!
Yes, we are getting some goofy "block hour override" every time we fly in a 700/900. We received a 1% overall pay raise, on the jet only, beginning in 2007, and beginning in 2007 we get this 5% "block hour override" (BHO) deal. I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but I THINK that 5% becomes 6% in 2008, 7% in 2009 and 8% in 2010. So we are getting a 1% increase on the BHO every year, which probably isn't that much.
There is no doubt in my mind that management got the best of this recent pay proposal. Would having a union, recently ALPA, have changed the way this vote would have gone? That is up for debate. However, everyone on this forum lately keeps wanting SkyWest to "raise the bar", and they have been blasting us for not doing so. Not every airline can have three day trips worth 17 hours and have 15 days off a month. For me personally, I am happy with an above average pay scale and our current work rules. The company has goals, from financial goals to providing a quality product to its passengers. All the people from gate agents to rampers to pilots, have all been a pleasure to work with. That to me means as much as having the best pay in the industry.
It seems to me that people on here forget that while we as regional pilots are trying to make our lives better, there are cfi's who truly don't know any better. We forget that there are plenty of people who have no problems working for a crappy company with no goals, no future and treats their employees like dirt. GoJet, Trans States and Mesa are the ones that come to mind when discussing things like treatment of employees, work rules, pay, etc. And to my knowledge, none of those carriers are having issues with getting people in for interviews.
So, what that tells me is that it isn't people at SkyWest lowering the bar because Jerry is making money hand over fist and WE accepted the company's offer, rather, it is you and I who aren't going back to our flight schools and telling the guy who is instructing to stay away from bad companies and suffer for another month so you can go to an XJT, Comair, SkyWest, etc. AS LONG AS THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO WILL FLY FOR LESS, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WHETHER UNIONIZED OR NOT, WE CAN NOT PREVENT THE "LOWERING OF THE BAR". Companies like GoJet, TSA, Mesa, they are not having problems getting people to interview. Why? Because people will fly even if they are HATED throughout the entire regional industry! (GoJet) That is what is lowering the bar, not companies like SkyWest. And management knows that, which is the major problem!
12-25-2006, 04:38 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: SkyWest Capt.
Posts: 2,963
I completely agree! This forum can be ridicules most of the time. People post great questions on threads and within 4 or 5 post it becomes a real ***** fest. I know that I to am guilty, but I am trying to change my ways so that I can help educate the new about pertinent information regarding SKW and the industry as a hole. Its ridicules! I understand that it's easy to take pop shots at the big boy on the block, but we aren't the reason. We at SKW didn't take the first job that came along. Most of us knew that TSA, Mesa, and GoJet's are BS places to go and that XJT, SKW, AWAC and others like them are were you want to spend your regional career. AND to get there it takes just a little bit longer.
I wonder how long it will take this thread to go to H-E-double-L!
I challenge everybody to have a healthy debate about what is really hurting the industry and not bash SKW or XJT or any other "GOOD" regional. Don’t make this about who has better pay, QOL or more flying. Keep your egos in check and less talk sensible! We all know that it isn’t the successful regionals that do a good, although not great, job taking care of their employees; it’s GoJets, MAG, TSA and etc.!
I wonder how long it will take this thread to go to H-E-double-L!
I challenge everybody to have a healthy debate about what is really hurting the industry and not bash SKW or XJT or any other "GOOD" regional. Don’t make this about who has better pay, QOL or more flying. Keep your egos in check and less talk sensible! We all know that it isn’t the successful regionals that do a good, although not great, job taking care of their employees; it’s GoJets, MAG, TSA and etc.!
12-25-2006, 05:18 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: rj 700/900
Posts: 506
SkyWest's recent payscale has been a pretty heavily debated topic over the last few weeks. I just want to throw my thoughts out there and try to set a minor part of the story straight.
Yes, we are getting some goofy "block hour override" every time we fly in a 700/900. We received a 1% overall pay raise, on the jet only, beginning in 2007, and beginning in 2007 we get this 5% "block hour override" (BHO) deal. I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but I THINK that 5% becomes 6% in 2008, 7% in 2009 and 8% in 2010. So we are getting a 1% increase on the BHO every year, which probably isn't that much.
There is no doubt in my mind that management got the best of this recent pay proposal. Would having a union, recently ALPA, have changed the way this vote would have gone? That is up for debate. However, everyone on this forum lately keeps wanting SkyWest to "raise the bar", and they have been blasting us for not doing so. Not every airline can have three day trips worth 17 hours and have 15 days off a month. For me personally, I am happy with an above average pay scale and our current work rules. The company has goals, from financial goals to providing a quality product to its passengers. All the people from gate agents to rampers to pilots, have all been a pleasure to work with. That to me means as much as having the best pay in the industry.
It seems to me that people on here forget that while we as regional pilots are trying to make our lives better, there are cfi's who truly don't know any better. We forget that there are plenty of people who have no problems working for a crappy company with no goals, no future and treats their employees like dirt. GoJet, Trans States and Mesa are the ones that come to mind when discussing things like treatment of employees, work rules, pay, etc. And to my knowledge, none of those carriers are having issues with getting people in for interviews.
So, what that tells me is that it isn't people at SkyWest lowering the bar because Jerry is making money hand over fist and WE accepted the company's offer, rather, it is you and I who aren't going back to our flight schools and telling the guy who is instructing to stay away from bad companies and suffer for another month so you can go to an XJT, Comair, SkyWest, etc. AS LONG AS THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO WILL FLY FOR LESS, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WHETHER UNIONIZED OR NOT, WE CAN NOT PREVENT THE "LOWERING OF THE BAR". Companies like GoJet, TSA, Mesa, they are not having problems getting people to interview. Why? Because people will fly even if they are HATED throughout the entire regional industry! (GoJet) That is what is lowering the bar, not companies like SkyWest. And management knows that, which is the major problem!
Yes, we are getting some goofy "block hour override" every time we fly in a 700/900. We received a 1% overall pay raise, on the jet only, beginning in 2007, and beginning in 2007 we get this 5% "block hour override" (BHO) deal. I haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but I THINK that 5% becomes 6% in 2008, 7% in 2009 and 8% in 2010. So we are getting a 1% increase on the BHO every year, which probably isn't that much.
There is no doubt in my mind that management got the best of this recent pay proposal. Would having a union, recently ALPA, have changed the way this vote would have gone? That is up for debate. However, everyone on this forum lately keeps wanting SkyWest to "raise the bar", and they have been blasting us for not doing so. Not every airline can have three day trips worth 17 hours and have 15 days off a month. For me personally, I am happy with an above average pay scale and our current work rules. The company has goals, from financial goals to providing a quality product to its passengers. All the people from gate agents to rampers to pilots, have all been a pleasure to work with. That to me means as much as having the best pay in the industry.
It seems to me that people on here forget that while we as regional pilots are trying to make our lives better, there are cfi's who truly don't know any better. We forget that there are plenty of people who have no problems working for a crappy company with no goals, no future and treats their employees like dirt. GoJet, Trans States and Mesa are the ones that come to mind when discussing things like treatment of employees, work rules, pay, etc. And to my knowledge, none of those carriers are having issues with getting people in for interviews.
So, what that tells me is that it isn't people at SkyWest lowering the bar because Jerry is making money hand over fist and WE accepted the company's offer, rather, it is you and I who aren't going back to our flight schools and telling the guy who is instructing to stay away from bad companies and suffer for another month so you can go to an XJT, Comair, SkyWest, etc. AS LONG AS THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO WILL FLY FOR LESS, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WHETHER UNIONIZED OR NOT, WE CAN NOT PREVENT THE "LOWERING OF THE BAR". Companies like GoJet, TSA, Mesa, they are not having problems getting people to interview. Why? Because people will fly even if they are HATED throughout the entire regional industry! (GoJet) That is what is lowering the bar, not companies like SkyWest. And management knows that, which is the major problem!
12-25-2006, 07:01 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: 717 FO
Posts: 394
That wasn't his point at all. SKW is a place that is a pleasure to work at, so you don't have to work "25 days a month to get your 1000 hrs pic to make 50k a year."
12-25-2006, 07:47 PM
#5
La Familia Delta
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B-717 FO / C-17 AC
Posts: 2,467
yea but when you voted for that pay proposal did you realize its pretty much locked in till 2012? that means when everyone else renegotiates in the next couple years, we'll have to play catch-up. thats my prediction, lets see what happens.
oh and by the way SKW dropping mins to 850 as opposed to just raising first year pay by a couple bucks... classic.
oh and by the way SKW dropping mins to 850 as opposed to just raising first year pay by a couple bucks... classic.
12-25-2006, 08:03 PM
#6
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 46
yea but when you voted for that pay proposal did you realize its pretty much locked in till 2012? that means when everyone else renegotiates in the next couple years, we'll have to play catch-up. thats my prediction, lets see what happens.
oh and by the way SKW dropping mins to 850 as opposed to just raising first year pay by a couple bucks... classic.
oh and by the way SKW dropping mins to 850 as opposed to just raising first year pay by a couple bucks... classic.
From the Skywest website as of about 1.5 minutes ago...
To be considered for a Pilot position, you must meet the following requirements:
1,000 - hours total time
100 - hours multi engine
100 - hours instrument (Max 20 hours simulator)
Must be at least 21 years of age
All applicants will need a current first class medical (which will verified at your interview)
Must be a United States citizen or show proof of right to work in the US
12-25-2006, 08:55 PM
#8
Banned
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 1,192
yea but when you voted for that pay proposal did you realize its pretty much locked in till 2012? that means when everyone else renegotiates in the next couple years, we'll have to play catch-up. thats my prediction, lets see what happens.
oh and by the way SKW dropping mins to 850 as opposed to just raising first year pay by a couple bucks... classic.
oh and by the way SKW dropping mins to 850 as opposed to just raising first year pay by a couple bucks... classic.
12-26-2006, 08:06 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: 737 Left
Posts: 828
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