SkyWest pilots to decide whether to join a union

Pilots for St. George-based SkyWest Airlines have until early next month to decide whether they want to join the nation's largest commercial pilots union.

On Tuesday, the National Mediation Board began mailing voting information to some 2,500 SkyWest pilots. They have until Nov. 6 to cast their telephonic ballot on whether to join the Air Line Pilots Association.

The election will be decided by a simple majority, making it crucial for every eligible pilot to cast his or her vote, ALPA spokesman Pete Janhunen said.

"Our recommendation to the pilots is just the day you get it, call in and vote," Janhunen said Tuesday afternoon.

"All we want to do is just put it out there and try to convince them with our past success that being a union pilot is a good thing for you and your career and your family."

ALPA represents 61,000 pilots from many different airlines, including regional carriers such as SkyWest and major carriers Continental, Delta and United. The union recently reached a deal with Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which is also owned by SkyWest Inc. and headquartered in Atlanta.

The tentative ASA agreement should result in a slight pay increase for every pilot at the regional carrier, putting their hourly rates above their colleagues at SkyWest, Janhunen said. SkyWest pilots should see the ASA negotiations as a sign of what ALPA representation can do for them, he added.

"Our philosophy is all airline pilots benefit by being in one union," Janhunen said.

SkyWest spokeswoman Marissa Snow said the airline believes the company and its employees are best served by working together and is most interested in serving the "long-term interests" of its workers.

"SkyWest has an exceptional relationship with our employees, and our 35-year history shows that our company works closely with our pilots and all work groups," Snow said in an e-mailed statement, which noted that ALPA has "attempted to recruit our people for years."

Janhunen said ALPA began working with SkyWest pilots only after an organizing committee from the airline reached out to the union.

Snow's statement continued, "We value our ability to work together with our pilots, and believe both our employees and the company are best served with a direct line of communication."

Founded in 1972, SkyWest Airlines has hubs in eight major airports, including Salt Lake City, and averages almost 1,800 daily departures. In 2006, SkyWest carried 19.5 million passengers, according to the airline's Web site. The regional carrier flies for Delta, United and Midwest airlines.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com