FedEX, Pilots mediated talks proceed...

[SWPA Pilot]

Divide it among the membership AND (for reasons I still don't agree with) non-member free loading scabs like FoxHunter

When do they divide it among the pilots? Not that it is as important as getting a contract.

Why do the non-members get any? Do those cheap jerks really need more money?

 

[FoxHunter]

FoxHunter is not a FedEx pilot, he is FedEx flamebait.

Sorry PurpleTail, no flamebait, just the truth. I guess it would be better if ALPA could force the management to be more like the folks found at UAL, DAL, NWA and others so they could throw money at us rather than investing in all those new wide bodies.

Why did you vote for ALPA in the first place? I tried to argue that it was weak, ineffective only interested in the revenue stream the FedEx pilots could provide. ALPA was/is a "Paper Tiger". I was countered by those that argued we needed ALPA because they had "deep pockets". The common expectation among the new ALPA members at FedEx was a 30% pay rise with the new contract. Where are we now? 7% or 8%. Just wait till you see the final TA sent to you. You'll be impressed. There will be a great explanation why things are not as expected. Just keep saying to yourself that your MEC speaks for you. It may help make you feel better.

 

[FoxHunter]

When do they divide it among the pilots? Not that it is as important as getting a contract.

Why do the non-members get any? Do those cheap jerks really need more money?

I was a member when that last check was sent out. I really needed that check for $70.98. Thanks ALPA.

 

[Echopapa]

Why does any FedEx UNION member care what the company publishes as our pay, accurate or not?

The union has absolutely no need for "public opinion". The public is not voting on our contract, only our membership votes. My neighbor is not going to vote for a contract or for a strike because he is not a FedEx pilot. So let him think whatever he wants.....If everyone thinks we are greedy, so what....the only thing that matters is what each individual UNION member believes.

I emphasized Union Member becuase Non-members (3%rs) have no right to vote on our contract because they have chosen to opt out of the collective barganing process. In doing so, they have eliminated the value of their opinion and preferences in the UNION-COMPANY negotiation. Perhaps each non-member could negotiate their own individual set of work rules and pay rates with management.

FedEx on the other hand is very sensative to public opinion. This is where we have a huge advantage. People pay a price premium to send packages by Fedex. They pay that premium based on the assurance that it will be delivered on time. If that assurance is erroded then so will our customer base.

The only reason FedEx posts pay numbers is to try to pressure union members, through neighbors and friends, into accepting a concessionary contract. Lets not let them. If we as a membership can recognize their intention, and insulate ourselves against these unimportant opinions, then we can immunized ourselves against that type of company negotiation tool.

I for one am proud of how much I EARN and am not ashamed to EARN more. My company is extremelly profitable and it is not unreasonable to expect that profitablity to be extended to the employees.

 

[Goose17]

excellent post Echopapa!

I'll drink to that.

Goose17

 

[klhoard]

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I'll have to second EchoPapa's post. I find it funny that FedEx writes letters for the Commercial Appeal whining about our pay when less than 25% of the pilots live in MEM, and an even smaller percentage of THAT 25% even read that rag. My neighbors all know I fly for FedEx, but don't have the balls to bring it up to my face because they know I'll just laugh at them. If every pilot that lives in MEM would do that, we'd never see articles in the paper.
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[needapayraise]

Why are you FedEx guys willing to leave so much money on the table?

 

[stonewall]

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I'll have to second EchoPapa's post. I find it funny that FedEx writes letters for the Commercial Appeal whining about our pay when less than 25% of the pilots live in MEM, and an even smaller percentage of THAT 25% even read that rag. My neighbors all know I fly for FedEx, but don't have the balls to bring it up to my face because they know I'll just laugh at them. If every pilot that lives in MEM would do that, we'd never see articles in the paper.
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They put it in the paper because there are about 40,000 Memphis FDX employees. Everyone's got a cousin, brother, sister, mother, nephew, son or whatever that works for FDX. They paint us as the few greedy ones who are going to jeopardize everyone's jobs. They try to make it as uncomfortable as possible for all the pilots that live in Memphis to go to the grocery store, church, t-ball or wherever and "face the neighbors." The company flat out lies about alot of things we're negotiating over, but that doesn't matter to the peeps in Memphis.

 

[needapayraise]

They put it in the paper because there are about 40,000 Memphis FDX employees. Everyone's got a cousin, brother, sister, mother, nephew, son or whatever that works for FDX. They paint us as the few greedy ones who are going to jeopardize everyone's jobs. They try to make it as uncomfortable as possible for all the pilots that live in Memphis to go to the grocery store, church, t-ball or wherever and "face the neighbors." The company flat out lies about alot of things we're negotiating over, but that doesn't matter to the peeps in Memphis.

Who cares what other employees think. You are not negotiating with them.

 

[FedEx1]

And let me tell you guys, we are "being painted" by Fedex management. I have heard more than once from ground workers that they have been told by their managers that "it is all the pilots' fault they no longer have their personal jumpseats." I managed to starighten out only 2 over the tens of thousands that hate us for this.

Another ramper told me that he knew I really made $250,000 a year. (Yeah, right...)

And I was chit-chatting with the DG guy on day, telling him I thought he did a good job, and worked hard, and it was too bad he doesn't get a more dough for the risk he takes for being the DG Specialist. (It is something really pathetic, like a few cents an hour extra.) He almost fell over, and started laughing. He said he never thought he hear from a pilot that they deserved to be paid better.

And yet another ramper refused to talk to both of us because he thought we were "sneaking our Southwest buddy onto the jumpseat." He was all checked out with the CASS system, but I guess this guy didn't know about offline jumpseats (since his are sadly gone.) I overheard him telling another guy that he wanted us to push out of the gate, so he was could write us up and get us fired. And it wasn't personal to us, just towards any pilot in general that happened to do something he thought was "not in the book." A call to the Duty Officer and GOC got this one straightened out. But it was an awful feeling.

I do care what the other working groups think. We have to work together. And getting along and respecting each other is not only more comfortable, it is SAFER.