Here we go FedEx guys...

[sandman2122]

Just think about it next time the company offers DRAFT, Advanced Volunteer and $$$$ for cancelling YOUR vacation.......




FedEx Express Requests National Mediation Board Assistance

Thursday October 6, 3:49 pm ET

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2005--FedEx Express, a unit of FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX - News), today requested the assistance of the National Mediation Board (NMB) in completing its ongoing pilot negotiations. The company and its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, have been engaged in active contract talks since March 2004.

FedEx sought to resolve the contract negotiations without the assistance of the government agency. The union leadership, however, refused to present the Company's first comprehensive contract proposal to its membership for a vote, and since then has failed to moderate its demands sufficiently to justify continuing with the current process. As a result, the company elected to request NMB assistance. NMB-led mediation is a common step in the process of airline negotiations.
FedEx pilots already have one of the best overall contracts in the airline industry. Earlier this year, the Company offered a comprehensive contract proposal containing compensation improvements worth more than $500 million over the life of the contract. Last week, the Company made another comprehensive offer that included signing bonuses, pay increases and work rule changes designed to address many of the issues raised by the union. Both company offers would have cemented FedEx crewmembers' position as the best compensated pilots in the aviation industry.
"FedEx has worked very hard to move these negotiations forward so both the company and the pilots have economic certainty in today's ever-changing aviation industry," said David F. Rebholz, executive vice president, U.S. operations for FedEx Express. "We are confident that with the assistance of the NMB, we will be able to bring these talks to a successful conclusion for all concerned."
The current contract became amendable on May 31, 2004. Under the Railway Labor Act, the contract terms remain in effect until the RLA process is exhausted.
About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX - News) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $30 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brands. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 250,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit www.fedex.com

 

[Los1]

They wanna go??? Let's Go!
My negotiating comittee speaks for me
Los1

 

[Dangerkitty]

Sandman,

Please tell me who that is in your avatar. Nice pair of legs!! :cartman:

 

[SWPA Pilot]

Anyone else hear word being spread around that Nov 1 is the end of draft, ava and vacation buy back? We had another crew in hotel van and they said that they had heard that and to pass it around. I guess the union can't officially put anything out, but it is up to the individual crew member to do this if they want to.Any word on what is the latest at UPS?Sandman, your woman is hot.

 

[USNFDX]

What offer did they make last week???????????

 

[sandman2122]

Beats me, curious what offer was made last week. This is probably the "October Surprise" our MEC Chairman mentioned to expect....

 

[Mr Zog]

Is anyone at FedEx really surprised by this. I'm not. Doesn't change a thing. I do like the spin they put. "Comprehensive offer" my a$$. After one year of negotiation, you come up with an offer of only a 3% cost of living adjustment and same work rules. Thats your idea of a "comprehensive offer". Nothing on retirement, health care issues, work rules, etc. How many lawyers and hours did it take to come up with that proposal? Heck, it probably cost them over $100 million in lawyer fees alone.

 

[klhoard]

Anyone else hear word being spread around that Nov 1 is the end of draft, ava and vacation buy back? We had another crew in hotel van and they said that they had heard that and to pass it around. I guess the union can't officially put anything out, but it is up to the individual crew member to do this if they want to.Any word on what is the latest at UPS?Sandman, your woman is hot.

.
.
.
They've been "NOT" saying this for months. Guys just don't get it. . .
.
.
.

 

[VaB]

Is anyone at FedEx really surprised by this. I'm not. Doesn't change a thing. I do like the spin they put. "Comprehensive offer" my a$$. After one year of negotiation, you come up with an offer of only a 3% cost of living adjustment and same work rules. Thats your idea of a "comprehensive offer". Nothing on retirement, health care issues, work rules, etc. How many lawyers and hours did it take to come up with that proposal? Heck, it probably cost them over $100 million in lawyer fees alone.

It wasn't 3%, it was $500,000,000. It's different. I guess. Or so they say. Well, someone said it. Someone said it, so it must be true.

 

[Mr Zog]

It wasn't 3%, it was $500,000,000. It's different. I guess. Or so they say. Well, someone said it. Someone said it, so it must be true.

The offer I read was 3%. It may cost the company $500 million because it was over 7 or 8 years. I don't know. To be honest, after the 3% I stopped reading. Wasted my time opening the envelope.

 

[Mr Zog]

To quote the offer. (Not to confuse anyone this was the May offer)

"After more than a year of negotiations, FedEx Corp. has offered its pilots tens of millions in signing bonuses if they will agree to an annual 3 percent raise and no other changes to their 1999 contract.

Although aviation analysts call the offer "innovative" and "promising," union officials Wednesday said it is unacceptable because it does not address job and retirement security, among other issues. They they plan to negotiate as if nothing happened."

I love the fact that analysts call it "innovative". Hate to see what a mundane offer would look like. I guess it is innovative in the fact it is non-existent, and it took only a year to come up with.

 

[VaB]

The offer I read was 3%. It may cost the company $500 million because it was over 7 or 8 years. I don't know. To be honest, after the 3% I stopped reading. Wasted my time opening the envelope.

Perhaps you should crank your sarcasm detector up a notch or 3. It's subtle, but it's there.

 

[PurpleTail]

I have a feeling the company had every intention to file for goverment help from the begining. Pay rates are still the same, work rules are still the same, etc, etc...exactly what the company wants. There is no telling how much longer this thing will get dragged out but as far the company cares, they don't.

What we do have going for us are the numbers, those are things the company can't really fugde per say for FCC reasons.

They wanna play ball, I have my bat and plan on using it.

BUT FOR CRYING OUT LOAD TAKE YOUR VACATION AND KEEP YOUR DAYS OFF!!!

 

[MemTrash]

No VLT,DFT, or selling vacations backs seems like the perfect thing to show support for the union. Doing 100% of your job should be enough don't you think!

 

[JethroF15]

No VLT,DFT, or selling vacations backs seems like the perfect thing to show support for the union. Doing 100% of your job should be enough don't you think!

Now there is a post I agree with 100%. 100% of your job and NO MORE!

 

[de Pez]

Enough of this posturing... Our proposals to The Company via the negotiating committee account for less than 1% (ONE PERCENT!) of the Company's revenues last year. (Think about it over the life of a contract.) Utilize whatever accounting procedures, or bean-counter "smoke and mirrors" that you wish to evaluate that statement, (profit/income/revenue), regardless, the truth is that while we unquestionably sympathize with the plight of the industry as a whole, and our close friends at other airlines in particular, the fundamental truth is simple:

We as a company are exceptionally profitable, even in these challenging times, and recognition of our contributions should not only be acknowledged, but rewarded with benefits reflecting our efforts.

Extremely high fuel prices are a consideration, however, fuel is not fundamentally significant considering the unique situation that FedEx is in since it can offset transient fuel prices with surcharges.

Lack of profitability or bankruptcy at passenger carriers (while troubling) does not have any bearing on our unique situation what-so-ever.. The issue really comes down to control...because the Company can afford twice what we are asking, give raises to all other groups contributing to the success of FedEx, give stock dividends to shareholders, continue the expansion into new markets, AND remain profitable...All of these things and more..

The modifications to our contract should be commiserate with the profitability of the Organization, and we should accept nothing less. Instead of questioning what we know to be reality, we should simply consider the numbers and stand by what we truthfully feel to be reasonable under our unique set of circumstances...I am not in the Union leadership, but feel that we as individuals should consider backing off the draft and open time for a few months. It may be in our best interests to apply some level of pressure sooner rather than later. That's my personal perspective, and what I'm choosing to do...

 

[Mr Zog]

Enough of this posturing... Our proposals to The Company via the negotiating committee account for less than 1% (ONE PERCENT!) of the Company's revenues last year. (Think about it over the life of a contract.) Utilize whatever accounting procedures, or bean-counter "smoke and mirrors" that you wish to evaluate that statement, (profit/income/revenue), regardless, the truth is that while we unquestionably sympathize with the plight of the industry as a whole, and our close friends at other airlines in particular, the fundamental truth is simple:

We as a company are exceptionally profitable, even in these challenging times, and recognition of our contributions should not only be acknowledged, but rewarded with benefits reflecting our efforts.

Extremely high fuel prices are a consideration, however, fuel is not fundamentally significant considering the unique situation that FedEx is in since it can offset transient fuel prices with surcharges.

Lack of profitability or bankruptcy at passenger carriers (while troubling) does not have any bearing on our unique situation what-so-ever.. The issue really comes down to control...because the Company can afford twice what we are asking, give raises to all other groups contributing to the success of FedEx, give stock dividends to shareholders, continue the expansion into new markets, AND remain profitable...All of these things and more..

The modifications to our contract should be commiserate with the profitability of the Organization, and we should accept nothing less. Instead of questioning what we know to be reality, we should simply consider the numbers and stand by what we truthfully feel to be reasonable under our unique set of circumstances...I am not in the Union leadership, but feel that we as individuals should consider backing off the draft and open time for a few months. It may be in our best interests to apply some level of pressure sooner rather than later. That's my personal perspective, and what I'm choosing to do...

Agree 100%.

 

[PurpleTail]

Ok, just read the Union email and it sounds like the next 10 days will be a key deciding factor. I hope the pilot group keeps the faith and holds the line. One thing is for sure though, NO concessions are warranted! The company can stick their PR spin machine crap up the tailpipe.

Question...because I'm as familiar as others on the process...once you are in national mediation, do the two groups continue any talks at all or is it totally in the governments hands and communications halt?

 

[Dangerkitty]

Beats me, curious what offer was made last week. This is probably the "October Surprise" our MEC Chairman mentioned to expect....

Sandman,

Focus man!! FOCUS!!!

You must tell us who the chick is in your avatar!!!

DK

 

[Laughing_Jakal]

My Ex

Gotta admit, Sandman's chick looks like my ex-wife!