FAQs

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) is the world’s largest pilots’ union, representing more than 80,000 pilots at 43 pilot groups in the United States and Canada. ALPA is pilot-run and staff-supported, combining local pilot control with national resources.

You do. If SkyWest pilots vote to join ALPA, our elected representatives will be SkyWest line pilots. ALPA will appoint interim pilot reps so work can begin immediately, followed by elections where SkyWest pilots choose their permanent leaders. Those interim and elected reps make up the SkyWest Master Executive Council (MEC) and are supported by ALPA’s professional staff (negotiators, attorneys, safety/accident investigators, analysts, retirement & benefits specialists, communications, etc.).

SkyWest pilots do. We would elect our own Local Executive Council (LEC) representatives and MEC officers; they set goals based upon pilot group feedback, lead negotiations, and administer the contract. ALPA provides the tools and leverage; decisions are made by SkyWest pilots for SkyWest pilots. Any tentative agreement only takes effect if a majority of voting SkyWest pilots approve it.

1. Conversations & outreach. The Organizing Committee (OC) is talking with every pilot and gathering contact information so everyone is included.
2. Cards (when ready). If there is a strong interest, ALPA runs a certification card campaign. Pilots sign cards authorizing the National Mediation Board (NMB) to hold a secret-ballot vote. While the NMB requires “50% + 1” cards to trigger an election, our unity goal is a strong majority.
3. Election. The NMB verifies cards and conducts a secret-ballot election. A majority of votes cast decides the outcome. If ALPA wins, the NMB certifies ALPA as our representative under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
4. Build & bargain. SkyWest pilots form an MEC, seat committees, and begin negotiating—backed by ALPA staff.

Past efforts lacked structure/timing. This one is pilot-led, organized, and transparent.

No. Interest registrations and authorization cards are confidential. Contact information is held by the OC/ALPA for this campaign only. If/when cards are collected, the NMB and ALPA do not disclose who signed to SkyWest.

• A binding contract. Clear, job security, enforceable pay, scheduling, benefits, and work rules—no unilateral changes—and changes based upon pilot input followed by pilot-led negotiations supported by ALPA’s professional negotiators, lawyers and other subject-matter staff.
• Scope protections. To guard jobs and flying.
• Merger/acquisition protections. Seniority integration and process protections through contract language, ALPA policy, and the federal statutory framework.
• Legal & safety support. Immediate access to counsel and safety experts for incidents/accidents and employment disputes.
• Grievance/arbitration. Enforce our contract and seek remedies when it’s violated.
• Leverage & data. Industry bargaining intel, analytics, and experienced negotiators to keep us competitive and coordinating with our peers.

A collectively bargained agreement, or contract, under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) creates binding and enforceable rights that a non-binding corporate policy simply cannot. An RLA contract is administered by a union that has legal standing to exclusively represent the interests of the pilots.

The company must deal with the union to negotiate terms on behalf of the pilots and the union has the power to enforce these legally binding terms if they are not followed. The company can change a policy at any point, for example, while changes to a contract must be negotiated and agreed upon by both management and the union.

A contract also provides the ability to file a grievance for any violations and any contract must provide for binding arbitration to resolve disputes and provide recovery for breaches. Once a union is certified as our representative, these rights and processes are not optional. They are mandatory under the law, and the company must honor and follow them.

SkyWest currently has policies on a number of items that can all be addressed in binding contractual language, including:

• Vacation Slots
• Reflows/Mid-Pairing Schedule Changes
• Minimum Day Guarantee and Duty/Trip Rigs
• Junior Manning
• Commuting
• Reserve Rules (Scheduling, Pay, and Breaking Guarantee)
• Designated Mountainous Airports
• Deadheading
• Crew Meals

While the specifics may vary depending on what our pilot group is able to negotiate in a contract, a contract sets clear and enforceable guidelines, limits, triggers, practices, minimums and maximums, and remedies on these topics that management cannot ignore or change at a whim.

We would have a say that management must deal with on all of these items and other work rules through the collective bargaining process—and the company would not be able to arbitrarily change anything without further negotiation.

Most importantly, we would also be able to negotiate issues important to the SkyWest pilots such as job security protections, scheduling rules that provide for more quality of life, and other issues that are important to our pilot group and our families.

A card tells the NMB you want a vote on representation. When a strong majority of SkyWest pilots have signed, ALPA submits the cards to the NMB to trigger a secret-ballot election.

• Cards will be mailed with a postage-paid envelope, available from OC members, and downloadable at skw.alpa.org when we reach this phase.
• Fill it out completely in ink and mail it. The NMB reviews cards for accuracy; names are not shared with management.

No. Cards are confidential and handled by ALPA and the NMB. Management does not know who signed.

ALPA dues are 1.85% of eligible earnings once you become a member after certification. Roughly 50–75% of dues remain with the SkyWest MEC to fund representation (negotiations, grievances, communications, safety/security, unity events, roadshows, etc.). The balance funds national/lateral support (legal, safety, economic & data analysis, communications, IT, training). Many member services (peer support, Pilot Assistance, safety programs) are included.

The Local Council is your local representation—usually organized by base and sometimes by seat/seniority. The idea behind this structure is to make sure that everyone’s needs are represented equally. The LEC leads the Local Council and is elected by the pilots. Each LEC consists of at least a chair, vice chair, and secretary-treasurer.

Local Councils are the backbone of pilot representation. While the MEC liaises between the company and the LECs, LECs work directly with the pilots in their local council. The LEC representatives are the primary contact for pilots for daily matters or when any issues arise.

Our pilot group’s governing body. It’s composed of elected LEC reps (one or more councils across bases/status or seniority blocks) and elected MEC officers (chair, vice chair, secretary-treasurer). The MEC sets strategy, runs committees, negotiates, and manages finances.

Bottom-up and democratic:

• Local Councils elect reps; those reps make up the MEC for each airline.
• Nationally, ALPA is led by the Board of Directors (all Local Council reps), Executive Board (MEC chairs), and Executive Council (national officers and elected Executive Vice Presidents). Local pilot reps make final decisions for their group; staff advise and support.

Two parallel tracks:

1. Representation structure. Interim MEC/Local Council representatives are seated, then a membership drive and elections to choose permanent representatives. Committees (Negotiating, Safety, Scheduling, Grievance, R&I, etc.) spin up with staff training and support.
2. Negotiations preparation. Data gathering, pilot surveys, and other preparation begins quickly so negotiations can start with a strong mandate.

Under federal law, unions owe a duty of fair representation to the employees they represent. ALPA’s Constitution & By-Laws, Administrative Manual, and Code of Ethics add internal accountability, including member-driven recall processes for elected representatives. Financials and decisions are transparent within the pilot group.

It’s your wallet card with the 24/7 ALPA Accident/Incident Hotline and Pilot Assistance contacts. If you’re involved in an incident/accident, you get immediate access to aviation-savvy legal and safety experts; ALPA coordinates with NTSB/FAA processes and protects your rights.

No one can force membership. If ALPA is certified, it legally represents all SkyWest pilots. Historically, >98% of eligible pilots at ALPA carriers choose to be members because pilot group success is stronger when we’re unified.

ALPA’s Constitution requires arranging to resolve past ALPA obligations before new membership is approved. Payment plans are available—talk to Membership once certified.

With representation, SkyWest pilots have a seat at the table and enforceable rights under federal law. ALPA’s Merger Policy provides for fair seniority integration and a pathway to a joint CBA. Without a union, pilots have no legally protected bargaining representative in that process.

No dues money is used for partisan political contributions in the U.S. or Canada. Any political activity is governed by member-approved policies and applicable law; pilots can voluntarily support separate PAC efforts if they choose.