Skybus and the Teamsters

[surreal1221]

Some people are weak Tony.

Very weak.

[Minuteman]

Originally Posted by tonyw

I still can't see what could possibly motivate someone to say, sure, I'll go to Costco on my day off and get water for you.

There's this word that you can use. It's a simple one, consists of two letters.

It's the word "NO."

Some people need to use it.

Now, if they wanted to pay for it at the rate they hired me for, from the time I got in my car until the time I got the water back, then that'd be different.

I'm not saying its correct, but I can understand the mindset: (a) you've got a fi####l of stock and believe in going above and beyond for the success of the company (b) you're reaaaaly thirsty.

That's a naive, optimistic view of the airline business in my opinion because, ultimately, its not your company. You're an invested employee.

[Gonzo]

I think the water thing is sad and funny at the same time but this line is the worst:

Skybus pilots say the airline is not offering second-year pay increases.

Tell me one job that doesn't offer some kind of pay increases.

[Velocipede]

Its a sign that the Company is teetering on failure, Gonzo. As you pointed out, even WalMart has some kind of longevity increase.

[Beers]

I can take a good guess as to who is paying for the membership that Costco requires to get through the doors.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

ITell me one job that doesn't offer some kind of pay increases.

Self Employment, but that is another thread.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Some people are weak Tony.

Very weak.

or just really thirsty. I wonder if Skybus even paid for the water. It wouldn't surprise me if they didn't

[E6BAV8R]

Originally Posted by tonyw

I still can't see what could possibly motivate someone to say, sure, I'll go to Costco on my day off and get water for you.

There's this word that you can use. It's a simple one, consists of two letters.

It's the word "NO."

Some people need to use it.

Now, if they wanted to pay for it at the rate they hired me for, from the time I got in my car until the time I got the water back, then that'd be different.

...but, but I get to sit right-seat in an Airbus and fly to BFE!!

[the_dmn8tr]

Originally Posted by E6BAV8R

...but, but I get to sit right-seat in an Airbus and fly to BFE!!

What does Brownfield, TX have to do with Skybus?

Oh wait, I hear they are going to start service as a gateway to Dallas!

[Velocipede]

Hey, if they go the Virgin route and use merit promotion, the number of water bottles you pick up determines when you check out.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by E6BAV8R

...but, but I get to sit right-seat in an Airbus and fly to BFE!!

And get to overnight in Podunk! And they got cool gadgets that will help you avoid those cumulogranites!

I love coloquial talk! LOL

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by Minuteman

That's a naive, optimistic view of the airline business in my opinion because, ultimately, its not your company. You're an invested employee.

Hey, don't get me wrong, I believe in working hard and doing your job and doing it well.

I've got company stock, too, so when the company does well, I do well.

But I am NOT doing things that are not in my job description on my own time so that they can skimp on staff.

I have come in on my own time to do some work before, but that is because I wanted to close a deal and knew that I'd be getting a nice commission when I did it.

Like I tell people, I'm a #####, not a ####.

[Fins Up]

Originally Posted by Ian J

There's a JetBlue pilot or two on JC, but they pretty much get beaten into lurk-dom.

Huh, what?? You just jolted me out of my slumber. I've been in recurrent and some other training but I'm here now to take all the abuse you care to dole(sp?)out for us Bluepilots. You may have to pm it to me. I have better things to do than surf the boards every day.

And yes, even JBers rag on Skybus. I guess everyone has their line in the sand.

As some of you are aware, there is an authorization card push going on now for JBPA. I'm betting there will be sufficient numbers to force a vote. I guarantee it won't be ALPA but there will be some sort of union here within the next year.

[Baradium]

Originally Posted by skydog

So it's no longer enough to be union. Now it has to be the "right" union in order to have legitimacy conferred upon you by your fellows. And it apparently the person who is leading the union drive is also of critical importance.

90% want to sign union cards after only a couple of months on the job. That tells me that they always intended to unionize as soon as they could.

Tells me that they planned on stepping on the backs of others to get there and figured they'd either use the experience for a "real" large aircraft airline (I heard this reasoning from some people thinking of going there) or try to get it higher later.

Regardless, seems to amount to the same thing to me.


The thing about gojet is I could see some people ending up there not knowing the history and be innocently caught up in the whole mess. With skybus there is no such excuse. Everyone there knew full well what they were getting into

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by Fins Up

And yes, even JBers rag on Skybus. I guess everyone has their line in the sand.

Oh, the hipocrasy.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by Fins Up

As some of you are aware, there is an authorization card push going on now for JBPA. I'm betting there will be sufficient numbers to force a vote. I guarantee it won't be ALPA but there will be some sort of union here within the next year.

Why won't it be ALPA?

What is wrong with having ONE union for all 121 scheduled passenger operators?

Oh wait. . nevermind - ALPA is evil.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

What is wrong with having ONE union for all 121 scheduled passenger operators?

Competition is good?? Not against ALPA, but only one of anything is NOT a good idea, IMO.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

Competition is good?? Not against ALPA, but only one of anything is NOT a good idea, IMO.

That's quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've seen posted on this board (ok, with the possible exception of the pro-uSAPa crap). Competition is NOT good when you want to defend yourself and your profession. To have any success whatsoever in protecting our profession we need ONE UNION, ONE VOICE, and ONE MISSION! Splitting up will only weaken us. I'm glad the JetBlue pilots are starting a union drive, and I've even contributed to it, but I wish they were going with ALPA. My only hope is that they eventually realize that merging their independent union with ALPA is the way to go.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

Competition is good?? Not against ALPA, but only one of anything is NOT a good idea, IMO.

Competition?

What?

Competition between pilot associations? Competing for what? And against who? Your fellow pilot? You got to be kidding me. . .

Competition.

Ah - nevermind. . .PCL_128 has this one.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

That's quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've seen posted on this board

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Competition?

What?

Competition between pilot associations? Competing for what? And against who? Your fellow pilot? You got to be kidding me. . .

Competition.

Ah - nevermind. . .PCL_128 has this one.

Easy there killers. Tracy isn't an airline pilot. Is it possible one might think competition is a good thing with unions because competition is a good thing with many other things? See where a non-airline pilot just might get from A to B on that one?

Educate, man. Don't ridicule. Be excellent to each other.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Educate, man. Don't ridicule. Be excellent to each other.

Thanks IanJ....thats a good one.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Then why don't we just make one airline, say Mesa and be done with it. That way rates will go up and everyone will be happy. Then we can all play Monopoly.

You need competition to be successful. If ALPA was the ONLY union, you think they would be fighting to make it better then it already is? Maybe ALPA should just sell out to ALAPA (or what ever that other union is?) I believe in representation, just that it doesnt have to be from one source. And as other have said here, ALPA does have national, but each airline is managed basically by themselves. That in my mind has them as seperate companies under one umbrella.

Yes, I'm NOT an airline pilot, but deal with Unions just about everyday. There is a place for them, but having multiple Unions (or any other business) makes them better.

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Why won't it be ALPA?

What is wrong with having ONE union for all 121 scheduled passenger operators?

You do realize that B6 is about 30% ex Airways guys who feel like ALPA (local AND national) pretty much killed their careers right?

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

If ALPA was the ONLY union, you think they would be fighting to make it better then it already is?

Who do you think ALPA is? ALPA is your fellow pilots. They will fight to make it better because it affects themselves!!! ALPA isn't some nebulous entity, it's a collection of your fellow pilots that are fighting to make things better. "Competition" between unions doesn't help that, it makes it worse because they are constantly diverting their attention because everyone isn't unified under a single umbrella.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

You do realize that B6 is about 30% ex Airways guys who feel like ALPA (local AND national) pretty much killed their careers right?

Yes, you're right, there are a lot of ignorant pilots at B6 who don't understand how ALPA and unions in general work.