amcnd

No we don't pay dues, yes the company pays salaries, but they are separate and most of them are pro alpa guys.. (or were). We have HIMS,Pro standards, and other programs just like a ALPA carrier... ive been at both and so far SAPA has been better.

Duesenflieger

Pretty much. Not saying that it justifies introduction of ALPA at OO, but SAPA is definitely in bed with management. Just a charade to avert the attention of those who might care....

Is offline

That's exactly what Chip said last time. So unless there is some money behind this pay package I don't think it will fly.

Nevjets

A pilot union is a lot more than a contract. If you are not part of a pilot union, you are not helping with issues that affect the entire industry. But whenever I've ever mentioned that to skywest pilots, they get annoyed for some strange reason. The ones who make it to another carrier, usually get it once they are there paying dues.

DirkDiggler

I guess my point was, if the stuff really hits the fan for an average line pilot for one reason or another and the company is looking to terminate you, would SAPA send a lawyer paid for on your behalf, or would they throw you under the bus and side with management? ALPA doesn't really do much for us except offer some comfort in knowing that they have and will send lawyers, have sued the company when necessary and got jobs back when people were wrongfully terminated. Pro stands and all that other stuff is nice, but the real power is the lawyers and the fight they will put up on your behalf. Is the SAPA 'contract' or 'handbook' enforceable through court proceedings or can they change it at will? I really can't compare ALPA and SAPA because I was never a member of SAPA, but I know there is some benefit to collective bargaining.

WesternSkies

I think that is tricky phraseology. SkyW is far from perfect and I'm sure good guys have been rolled, but part of the reason why the kool-aid is so strong is because this company seriously does treat us pretty fairly.

RemoveB4Flight

Unions don't produce for regional airlines. Please tell me what ALPA has gotten you that we don't have.

I'm not defending them in any way. I just don't think either one really has any interest in regional pilots.
In my opinion it's just swapping garbage.

Squallrider

And here's nevjets with union talk and the threads purpose dies.

amcnd

Exactly. We've beat the horse dead about this. If you so have to have alpa then don't come to SkyWest. But please no more alpa talk. Its been hashed out for over 2 decades here and Flight info... and it will never change...

rickair7777

This. BTDT. I even voted yes at SKW, but unions, while clearly necessary industry wide and vital at the majors, are somewhere between weak and useless at the regional level.

1. The company cannot pass cost increases on to the customer. Only way that would ever happen is if a national union consolidated ALL regional negotiations under one roof. ALPA has had decades to work on that, but not even a hint of effort. Why you may ask? Keep reading...


2. Conflict of interest. Since ALPA represents majors, particularly UA & DL, they have a vested interested in keeping feed costs low because that frees up more money for mainline pilots.

3. Dysfunction. Regional union leadership tends to be dysfunctional. It also tends to be run by very senior lifers who cheerfully throw the junior pilots to the wolves at every opportunity. This is less of an issue at the majors because even their new hires have been around the block, and care about the long-term. ADD millenial CFI's who plan on being at a major in three years are not good union participants...too busy playing candy crush and hitting on FA's.

If somebody got a serious national-level effort together to focus on REGIONALS, I bet the SKW group would get on board. When I voted yes I was willing to give up 2% in the hopes that something like this might come about.