Here we go FedEx guys...

[ThisistheDream]

In a perfect world I would agree with you, but in reality I see the whole the pilot profession being restructured whether we like it or not. The passenger airline pilots are being hit hard 1st, and evenetually it will reach the current untouchable this doesnt effect us FEDEX, UPS. I am not being negative but being realistic. Right now some cargo companies make millions, but they could make more, with less labor costs!!!!!!! and thats the botton line with mgt.

 

[Mr Zog]

In a perfect world I would agree with you, but in reality I see the whole the pilot profession being restructured whether we like it or not. The passenger airline pilots are being hit hard 1st, and evenetually it will reach the current untouchable this doesnt effect us FEDEX, UPS. I am not being negative but being realistic. Right now some cargo companies make millions, but they could make more, with less labor costs!!!!!!! and thats the botton line with mgt.

Go to www.fedexlabortalks.com. If the bottom line with FedEx is profitablity maybe some of management should ensure there compensation and stock options are more in-line with comparable companies. The problem with the airline industry is not labor costs, it is mismanagement and the perception that labor is SOLELY a cost. Labor is a source of revenue and once companies realize that the airline industry will finally get out of the dark ages. FedEx is profitable and we are not asking for that much. I know of no other profession that is willing to belittle its worth so quickly.

A comparison in the corporate culture of Microsoft and FedEx. Bill Gates when he started Microsoft realized the contibution of his employees; at one-time Microsoft had produced more millionaire employees that any other company. FedEx on the other hand, over the past five years has grown tremendously. How have they shared the profitability with the employees? Bonuses? No. Profit Sharing? No. Stock Options or Stock Discount Purchase Programs? No. Dividends to Investors? YES. FedEx is concerned about one thing and one thing only - STOCK PRICE. I guarantee Mr Smith is aware at all times what the share price is and is in constant communication with institutional investors. The investors have received a large return on their investment because of the contributions of all FedEx employees. The first day of negotiations, FedEx issued a press release saying that we would receive a pay raise. 3% is NOT a pay raise. It is not even a cost-of-living adjustment.

 

[Mr Zog]

In fact, I am willing to bet anyone on this board on the following occurences regarding FedEx. If the contract negations go into the later half of next year, which all indications are that they will. In the first half of the year, FedEx will increase their dividend to investors again and/or announce a stock repurchase. Any takers?

 

[PurpleInMEM]

Ready

Folks I don't know about the rest of you but I'm ready to walk when the time comes. That time is rapidly approaching.

I've got money put away, a credit line on my house, clear credit cards and most importantly a part-time job. I don't fly DRF, VLT or AVA and I don't sell back vacation.

When the time comes I will walk away from this place like I've never worked here and will plan on never coming back. If a contract gets signed, great! If not, well then I guess it's time to find something else to do. Neither this job nor this corporation is the end game for me, even if it means a substantially lower standard of living.

This is the kind of resolve it's going to take to force the corporation to negotiate, and force them we must.

 

[AdlerDriver]

Folks I don't know about the rest of you but I'm ready to walk when the time comes. That time is rapidly approaching.

I've got money put away, a credit line on my house, clear credit cards and most importantly a part-time job. I don't fly DRF, VLT or AVA and I don't sell back vacation.

When the time comes I will walk away from this place like I've never worked here and will plan on never coming back. If a contract gets signed, great! If not, well then I guess it's time to find something else to do. Neither this job nor this corporation is the end game for me, even if it means a substantially lower standard of living.

This is the kind of resolve it's going to take to force the corporation to negotiate, and force them we must.

Your resolve is admirable and hopefully will not be required. Unfortunately there are many pilots at Fedex that don't share your views.

The rest of this post is just a general post to the masses who will listen.

I think it's important to realize, however, that a strike is a last resort. If you haven't read the latest issue of "Positive Rate", please do. It should be required reading for all Fedex pilots right now. It details the events of the 1985 strike at United. As a former UAL guy, it was sent to me this past spring and I read it cover to cover. I had hoped ALPA would send it out to the Fedex crew force. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and interviews of critical individuals from ALPA and management, they were able to accurately re-construct the events of the strike, day by day (sometimes hour to hour).

What really hit me was the amount of bad information that was used to make critical decisions by both sides during the strike. The other eye opener was that management really thought they could break the Union. It was their goal to remove ALPA from the property. Think anyone here at Fedex might get the idea that breaking ALPA is the way to go? If it comes to a strike, they will use every underhanded tactic they can. The lies to the press (they’re already doing that), phone calls to your wife, your kids, misinformation to co-workers, other labor groups, you name it.

If we strike, there will be SCABs. That in itself will forever change your work experience at Fedex. I’ve seen (and carried) a company scab list with details of every UAL pilot who scabbed. I’ve flown trips with them, heard them try to explain themselves and seen what a miserable existence they live. It’s not a good trip in a Boeing when the F/O and S/O don’t say anything to the Capt other than checklist responses and operational related stuff. A two person crew is even worse. Actually, we already have a few scabs here. They are on the nationwide Master Scab list. They scabbed at Braniff, Eastern, and others and seem to stay under the radar here. I know who they are and if you don’t, you should.

The bottom line is: A strike will $uck and will change Fedex forever. If it comes to it fine. Everyone better be able to look themselves in the mirror and know they did what they could to help avoid it. Not everyone is going to volunteer to do ALPA work. One of the only tools we have during negotiations is our contract. Now that we appear to be entering mediation, that becomes even more critical. We can’t violate the “status quo”. That means ALPA cannot come out and say “Only fly the contract, don’t accept draft, don’t sell back vacation, etc. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO!! You as a crewmember can use your contract, legally, to pressure the company long before a strike it necessary. At this stage of the game, “building your warchest” is BS. I’m new too but I ain’t doing it. If you need to, do it with a second job. The guys out there doing the extra flying and making the deals are kidding themselves and hurting our overall effort. It might hurt the wallet a little now, but not as much a strike will. Guaranteed.

We could force the company to the table with a real offer if we just flew and worked to the contract. No drafts, no deals, no vacation sales, no extra flying, NO NOTHING. If we did that, we wouldn’t need to strike. They would watch reliability and customer satisfaction go out the window. That’s going to get their attention well before we get to the point of going out on strike.

Just my .02 – Thanks

 

[Huck]

For what it's worth, my uncle, Bill Glenn, is a member of the 570. He retired last year as an ORD 757 captain. The most mad - dog, rabid ALPA member you'd ever want to meet. Dog-cussed me once because I was in uniform without a pin.

And you can imagine the fun he had flying with crossers. He spent ~3 years in court getting his job back (with ALPA's help) and then getting his original date of hire, while the crossers made money and got upgrades.

 

[dtfl]

Now to one of the original questions - Sandmans avatar - I say it's Brook Burke.

 

[pilot141]

Now to one of the original questions - Sandmans avatar - I say it's Brook Burke.

Dude - it's his wife. Read between the lines.

But in any case: having known the Sandman and his wife for many years, I can confirm that the pic is her.

 

[AlbieF15]

R&I just sent out a newletter. MGT proposed increase in health care premiums at 400%. (Previous pay increase 3%). The "bonus" they promised would be absorbed by most guys in 1-2 years of increased health premiums.

Its all business--it ain't personal--but the stuff I see out there from MGT at this stage is more "give a quarter here, take back a dollar there..." stuff.

My negotiating committee speaks for me.

 

[Murdawg5]

Folks I don't know about the rest of you but I'm ready to walk when the time comes. That time is rapidly approaching.

I've got money put away, a credit line on my house, clear credit cards and most importantly a part-time job. I don't fly DRF, VLT or AVA and I don't sell back vacation.

When the time comes I will walk away from this place like I've never worked here and will plan on never coming back. If a contract gets signed, great! If not, well then I guess it's time to find something else to do. Neither this job nor this corporation is the end game for me, even if it means a substantially lower standard of living.

This is the kind of resolve it's going to take to force the corporation to negotiate, and force them we must.

I'm with you... Being a pilot for FedEx is not WHO I am, but WHAT I do... That means that if we don't get a contract, I loose my job, have to downsize, then that's what I'll do... I wont look back... Don't get me wrong, I love my job and the "perks" of flying around the world, but I WILL NOT be taken advantage of... And that what FedEx is attempting to do...

Yes, this is a business negotiation, and a business decision... I will not fly DFT , VLT nor will I pick up any more trips until the contract is signed... It's WAY past time for war chest building!! Everyone knows that flying DFT, VLT, and selling back vacation helps the individual pilot, and its perfectly OK (IMHO) to do so in an environment where little is to be gained (or lost)... But, using the reasonable man theory, now is not that time... Simply put, If you choose to do these things, in our current state of negotiations, you are doing MUCH MORE harm than good... You know that, I know that, and everyone on this board knows that!!

You choose to do what you will... As for me, my negotiating commitee needs my help... They could use your help as well...

Take Care!
Murdawg5

 

[VaB]

Yes, this is a business negotiation, and a business decision... I will not fly DFT , VLT nor will I pick up any more trips until the contract is signed... It's WAY past time for war chest building!! Everyone knows that flying DFT, VLT, and selling back vacation helps the individual pilot, and its perfectly OK (IMHO) to do so in an environment where little is to be gained (or lost)... But, using the reasonable man theory, now is not that time... Simply put, If you choose to do these things, in our current state of negotiations, you are doing MUCH MORE harm than good... You know that, I know that, and everyone on this board knows that!!

Good thoughts and I'm with ya. But, I don't think we'll put much of a dent in the thing.

Just last night, in MD11 F/O open time, 2 of the disputed pairings (the MEM-EWR-FRA thing) showed up. I thought, great, guys are getting wise. Finally. But they're gone already this morning. Wish I remembered the darn pairings. I'd post some names. WTF? I can almost understand guys flying DFT and VLT. But the disputed pairings? At straight time?

My negotiating commitee speaks for me.

 

[FedEx1]

I saw the disputed paring thing, too, but a few days ago. I was sweating it, because I was on reserve for those days, and was convinced I could end up with it (the legal type way.)

I was already to do the trip if assigned, then come back and file a flight safety report on how fatigue-inducing the trip was. (Stupid optimzer.) But, lo and behold! Some Loser picked it up. On purpose. Voluntarily. Hope he keels over in a narcaleptic fit from lack of sleep and lack of a brain.

 

[semperfido]

mem-ewr-fra? fra being france? doesn't sound that bad to me. what 10 hrs flying and 14 hr duty?

 

[fr8doggie]

mem-ewr-fra? fra being france? doesn't sound that bad to me. what 10 hrs flying and 14 hr duty?

FRA=Frankfurt, Germany. It's a little longer leg than going to CDG (Paris). Anyway we are going to farm that flying out to one of the myriad charter outfits that can do it better, cheaper, faster...

Regards,

 

[semperfido]

ok frankfurt (eddf). still only 10 hr flying and 14 hr day. fedex1 was pulling the fatigue card out? how long is the stop in ewr? 3 hrs? just looks like a routine day to me.imp: