Captain Tony

I worked extensively on the last two SkyWest organizing attempts. I'm familiar with the political landscape, but it definitely sounds like it's changed over there. The company clearly isn't treating you guys they way they used to.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Nevets. You don't have to go ALPA. ALPA is not a "union", it's an Association of independent MECs. MECs who have bad habits of undercutting each other.

Regardless, it's time you guys organize. Quit complaining about your Student Council, and about what management chooses to give you. There are still many among your pilot group who have done this before and know what to do. Pick up the torch and take this forward. It's time.

"Bargain together or beg alone".

disillusioned

Plus you have guys getting awarded 90+ hours each month. They don't have the days off to even swap 3 days trips one way or another. Great for me to get 25 hour 4 day trips so I only have to work 16 days a month, but then I have zero flexibility to trade that around because everyone is so maxed out. DEN has 7% reserve coverage, SLC has 3%, MSP has less that 1% (Or basically 1 reserve line) And we are talking about allowing re-flow to add more flying when the company is not going to pay us when we time out??!!

We had one of those, but the current EB was able to convince everyone that we needed to work together with SGU. That the relationship was too toxic and we would be better served by having someone in there that would be able to change policy to the way we have always done it, so we wouldn't have so many conflicts. Seems to be working out great so far.

Flyer2000

Yup, it's working out great. SAPA EB has been touting the many policy changes they have accomplished. And when you look at them many are indeed simply a change to reflect what the company does.....instead of fighting for middle ground, we are capitulating to "the way we've always done it". Now this latest EFB/CR proposals being discussed are just more give aways under the guise of "great monetary gains" for pilots while they're getting hosed on reserve/reflows. No protections for understaffing. No protections for "scheduled vs actual" reflows outside your pairings (allegedly voluntary, but you can bet they will argue that it is based on scheduled departure times not actual).

As for starting a union drive and not just complaining.....I'm with you. I've spoken to many pilots who say they want a drive, but when it comes to actually volunteering there isn't the motivation apparently. 25% is roughly 800 pilots. I agree that would be an impressive force that even the likes of SGU and F&H legal wouldn't be prepared to handle. Don't think we have anywhere near that number willing to put in the time unfortunately. I've said I would, and a few others have as well but it apparently isn't enough......time to move on and help another company.

WesternSkies

So the talking point is company could compensate us 8 million dollars "if they agree" and stop playing "hard to get", well since half the company is FOs, fo's would have to have 58 one day reflows next year for the average $40/hr FO to recoup his/her 1/3400 of 8,000,000. Why any FO would vote for this is beyond me. Even if you diluted that by half due to wage disparity amoung the group, you are still looking at 28-day reflows just to get your share of the 8 million. I'm doubtful of even ten reflows in a year, making 8 million a ridiculously outlandish number. It will hardly cost the company anything. On top of that the one or two reflows I had this year I knew about before checking in would move them from abuse to policy.
Give me 1.5x for the trip and I'll hope for reflow every day.

Cruz5350

I'd still vote no on 1.5x... My time is a lot more valuable to me than $60/hr I'd get on a junk reflow.

Nevets

Is there a way that SAPA can get someone to do their costing for them? Or are they stuck just taking management's word for it?

WesternSkies

Here is a big point of frustration, we don't clearly even known whose numbers these are. Apparently this is SAPA...or company.

Paid2fly

Agreed. At least double time, and ANY reflow would have to be accepted by crew member, NOT mandatory!

velosnow

I keep making the point that we should make this voluntary and make it compensate well. Guys would be tripping over each other to make more $$ and those of us who want to stay on our trips could.

Alas, the EB in particular can't get their heads out of TG's arse.

Flyer2000

Gotta love the fuzzy math SAPA used in order to make the statement "CSS/CRS is worth 6 million to pilots". Let's see, every pilot gets reflowed 1X every month for the entire year at 2 hours per event. Not sure what data THIS bit of math was based on but that would be roughly 3000 pilots reflowed at some point in their month for 12 months straight. Do they (SAPA) even bother to look at any real data or do they just make it up as they go? Seriously? Reserves don't count so there is roughly 300 pilots that won't get a dime. Then how many reflows ACTUALLY occurred last year? Im going to wag it and guess no more than 30% of LINE pilots were given a reflow 1x last year?
How many flights were canceled due to insufficient staffing? How many pilots were reflowed due to insufficient staffing?

Wonder if we will ever have a group that actually understands that in order to make legitimate policies they need to have legitimate data.