One of the concerns we often hear is that there is a lack of information available from the company and other sources. In an effort to improve the flow of information, we have created "Ask SkyWestALPA." If you would like to submit a question, we will do our best to answer you with accurate and unbiased information.

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Question:	What is the OC's official position on PBS? Is it considered a concession? Jake
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Question:	I may have sent this question to the wrong place (helpus@skywestalpa.org) - so here it is again: I have a question about contract negotiations. I was talking with a fellow pilot today and he was under the impression that if the ALPA vote was successful all pay scales would be frozen until a new contract is hammered out with ALPA. This would include year to year advances. In other words a new-hire $19.05 F/O would continue to get $19.05 / hour until a contract was negotiated regardless of how many years he spent as an F/O. Captain’s pay would be similarly frozen at the rate that is paid on the day ALPA is voted in. Is this a correct statement?
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Question:	To restate my previous questions regarding SPECIFIC SkyWest goals, I have included the following: "Goals of the SkyWest Pilots ALPA Organizing Committee "1 Skywest pilots will promote safety in our practices, policies and in our contract and will join efforts with management to have Skywest Airlines achieve the finest safety record in the airline industry. "2 Our relationship with management will provide clear statements and understandings of the contractual rights and responsibilities of both parties. We will promote a positive atmosphere and a constructive labor relations environment that respects different points of view and recognizes the importance of a healthy and growing company. We will seek to resolve any disputes or differences in a fair and timely manner. "3 Compensation, work rules, benefits and job security will recognize the substantial contribution that pilots make to the company’s success and will make employment at Skywest a realistic and rewarding choice for our careers. "4 Pilot leadership will seek input and involvement from members; our practices will be open, inclusive and democratic; and, we will recruit and train future leaders to carry forward these values. We will represent our members professionally and effectively. "5 Our pilot group will participate actively in our Association and seek opportunities to work constructively for the good of our profession and for a stronger Association." The above quote from SkyWestALPA.org//documents/SkyWest.Organizing.Committee.Goals.pdf strikes me as having been cut and pasted from pre-written ALPA material and may not explain to us what we wish to accomplish. So, again, what are our SPECIFIC goals as a pilot group? I admit, I am a hard sell on this subject yet I have experience with ALPA at a previous carrier. I have an open mind, but this is a very important decision and the answers I'm getting out of this aren't convincing. The "It's up to the pilots" answer does nothing for me. You must have something in mind if you are going to go through the trouble of unionizing this group. Let's get talking. I don't have the time to try to pull this information from the organizing committee.
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Question:	I'm frustrated with trying to find out exactly what ALPA will do for SkyWest pilots. I hear a lot of rhetoric, but no specifics. So, what, SPECIFICALLY, does the OC intend to accomplish once ALPA is on property? I understand that "quality of life" comes up often in discussions. What specifically needs to be improved? Pilot fatigue? If anything, I have too many 22-hour layovers. What is the chief complaint in our pairings? I also understand that there are complaints regarding concessions that the pilots made regarding pay. I know this is an understatement. That was in the past and this is now. I need to make a decision on how I vote. SO, what is the solution SPECIFICALLY saught by the OC? By that, I mean what are the numbers? If we want more dollars, how many more? Again, I am frustrated in the limited amount of specific goals. Every time I ask for them, I get union rhetoric. I went to an organizing meeting and no one from SkyWest showed up. So it was me and three ALPA members. When asked what SkyWest's goals were, they said that was up to SkyWest. When I asked that they forward me specific information from SkyWest, I received a two-pound package of ALPA promotional materials. The only SkyWest information was an outdated update on the SAPA funding lawsuit. Communication is broken before ALPA has got on the property. So, what is the plan?
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Question:	It's August 15th... Most people in the smaller domiciles on the West Coast have more or less forgotten about any sort of Union rive that is apparently 'still' going on. I see a lot of dinners and meetings but hear very little of progress. Is that because there is little progress to speak of? Rumors are now turning to, "The ALPA drive is dieing, if not dead already". How about an update on cards turned in to date and current beliefs on the numbers of pilots in favor of this drawn out event. I know you want to do it right, but it would seem that all doing it right is at odds with running with the momentum. Skywest corporate has pissed off quite a few pilots over several different events in the last year, but it would seem that that momentary glimpse of clarity on the behavior of our superiors is routinely lost after not so much as a week? Can you share a timeline that is of some interest?
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Question:	By bringing ALPA into Skywest, my concern is the merging of ASA's and Skywest's senority lists. It seems more likely if ALPA is on the property. What considerations and protections if any do we have to protect our Skywest Pilots and our current quality of life?
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Question:	A previous question asked what the status of pilots who have less than 12 months with the company (probationary pilots) would be if a successful election takes place. The answer was not very clear. Let me re-phrase the question: On the day a majority of the pilots ratify a union, what would be the membership status / eligibility of probationary pilots? Are they Apprentice Members until their 12-month anniversary? If so, what are their privileges and responsibilities? Thank you.
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Question:	It's August 15th... Most people in the smaller domiciles on the West Coast have more or less forgotten about any sort of Union rive that is apparently 'still' going on. I see a lot of dinners and meetings but hear very little of progress. Is that because there is little progress to speak of? Rumors are now turning to, "The ALPA drive is dieing, if not dead already". How about an update on cards turned in to date and current beliefs on the numbers of pilots in favor of this drawn out event. I know you want to do it right, but it would seem that all doing it right is at odds with running with the momentum. Skywest corporate has pissed off quite a few pilots over several different events in the last year, but it would seem that that momentary glimpse of clarity on the behavior of our superiors is routinely lost after not so much as a week? Can you share a timeline that is of some interest?
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Question:	Is there a legally enforceable contract between ALPA and its members?
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Question:	What are the dues? Do they apply to every method we gain credit? ie: holiday pay, vacation/user payouts, etc. Will dues come out of bonus checks and will dues come out of profits from participation in the Employee stock purchase plans. Is it pretax or final pay? Do 401k contributions affect dues- how about pretax/aftertax benefit contributions? These are all questions i've been asked and have only educated guesses to. I'm looking for as detailed an answer to the dues question as possible. Thank you. Scott.
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