Leave SWA for Fed Ex

[Mooseflyer]

Moose,
ok, you may not get the stress of retirement, transition, furlough, etc...

We do...!!!!

So, walk a mile in our shoes.

That is all.
Z

The stress of retirement? YGBSM. How's that nice O-5 check every month while you job hunt and wait in the pool? When I and most others "transitioned" from the civ and/or mil background, our annual paycheck for working a full year at first year pay was not much more than what you made for simply getting out of bed every morning. How about YOU walk a mile in OUR shoes?

If you are, as your profile seems to indicate, retired active duty, then let me be the first to say thanks for your service and wish you a rewarding retirement. But don't for a minute compare the stress levels of someone drawing a retirement check against someone who is furloughed, job hunting, or otherwise hurting for cash.

 

[Phaedrus]

737ski: It sounds like you fit right in there at SWA...Holy Bovine.

 

[JethroF15]

Dang skippy Air Force & proud of it!!. Can u say you've logged combat time, been to Afghanistan, Iraq, or flown a Congressional delegation to Africa???

Why yes, yes I can!

 

[Purpled]

I didn't do HPA, and was hired. So, your theory is neg. Any more ??

Yes, I get that your type came from C-40 flying, did his? Your thread mentioned his 'hook-ups' not yours.

Sorry you're so bitter.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

Ever heard of Scope??

Yes. Scope is what a company agrees to when it is negotiating a contract with it's represented employees. While they're virtually a staple of most labor contracts, there is NO requirement under the NLRB binding a company to a scope clause unless they've agreed to one.

Ever heard of Spin-offs? Outsourcing? Foreign subsidiaries?

 

[Purpled]

Dang skippy Air Force & proud of it!!. Can u say you've logged combat time, been to Afghanistan, Iraq, or flown a Congressional delegation to Africa???

The smallest thing that you've flown is the Skytrain and you're bragging about combat time? Get over yourself.

 

[Slippery Mick]

Isn't it interesting that when a customer wants to ship a package to Aunt Mabel and the agent says "that'll be $150" the customer doesn't blink. But when they want to go VISIT Aunt Mabel and the agent says "that'll be $150" they lose their minds and complain about how expensive air travel is.

Ha! Entertainingly accurate. Good perspective.

 

[Phaedrus]

Ever heard of Spin-offs? Outsourcing? Foreign subsidiaries?

Ever heard of "happy retirement"? Sincerely...retire, be happy. What's outsourcing? I know spin-offs...that's like Laverne and Shirley.

 

[Purpled]

Ever heard of Spin-offs? Outsourcing? Foreign subsidiaries?

Yes, these are the companies that let freight sit on the ramp for days when their jets break. They also kill plane-loads of animals at a time. Great reliability!!

 

[Falconjet]

How do you like living in Mempho

While I would prefer to be farther away from any big city (such as Mempho) my family is quite thrilled with life in Collierville. 20+ years in the CG, wife was happy wherever we went, I am lucky in that regard. We make the most of wherever we live, but C'ville has a lot to offer, and not having to commute was a godsend those first 2 years.

Now that I can hold a line I prefer the pm out and backs, and life is pretty good. Wife works part time about 5 minutes away from the house, kids can walk to the neighborhood school, and the schools are actually pretty good, especially compared to Mobile, AL (my adopted and beloved hometown). Kids are happy, the wif is happy, can't complain.

Yeah Memphis has its problems: crime, crappy government officials and school district, but I try to stay out of Memphis as much as possible. All of those elements creep inexorably to the east, and there is more than enough crime in Collierville, but overall it is a very nice place to live. There are lots of parks, good recreational programs and sports for the kidlets, and the town is fairly well managed.

I know there are plenty of purple guys who hate the area, that is fine and they can live where they like. I am happy to be where I am and I think any of the outlying areas to the south, east and northeast are certainly worth considering if you do get on with FedEx. I don't know much about West Memphis (Ark) so I can't comment on that part of the area.

Again, good luck and let us know how it works out.

FJ

 

[737ski]

I am not bitter, justwhistlin' dixie...

I disagree with having someone sponsor a pilot or recommend for SWA or for a meet/greet for FEDEX, then tell SWA or FEDEX, no thanks. Just sounds like he doesn't know himself or what he wants from life...

 

[Lowpayisgreat]

Combat time????

Combat time in the KC-10 and KC-135. The only people over there that should get to log combat time are the army helos who are getting shot at everyday and maybe the A10 and herc. If your above 18000 your safer than if you were in the states.

 

[active_herk]

Stay at SWA. More fun and you don't have to deal with boxes. That's right, boxes don't care how they get there. And I gurantee Fedex management doesn't either. Truck or other company. The whole job security thing is ridiculous. Fedex has a large bet with international business, especially China. Ever heard of outsourcing. Again, boxes don't care.

So I guess the job security is poor at FedEx but great at SWA? As far as outsourcing, didn't we have a conversation about this before?

Rather than retype, I've attached the link below.

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showpost.php?p=1103895&postcount=78

Speaking of FedEx management not caring how the boxes get there, can you explain why on our latest TA the company went from having FedEx line pilots flying our express freight only to now flying our express freight and our charter freight? Thats right, the company has EXPANDED the scope of our flying and the thing is... THEY ARE THE ONES WHO WANTED IT THAT WAY!! Kind of shoots a big hole in your argument.

 

[Phaedrus]

Sounds to me like a man that's covering all the bases.
Know thyself, Sir ski. Whether you disagree or not is irrelevant. What do you want from life? Oh, that's right, you've already found your Shangri-La. Any "buds that hooked him up" that wouldn't understand a guy leaving for, in his estimation, a better choice ain't "buds" to begin with.
And stop sending me immature pm's about how nadly you are.

 

[AlbieF15]

737ski...

I would personally say that anyone who KNOWS what they want before living the life just a bit is unrealistic. You dont' KNOW how you will like living out of hotel on 3 day trips or hub turning through a freight hub until you've done it a while. People come to the boards to get perspective and ideas. For whatever reason, some SWA guys act like jilted lovers if someone considers going somewhere else..."leave then d@mn ya!" or "dont' let the door hit you on the @ss", etc. These guys are doing ALL of you a favor--they are sending a signal that SWA's benefits could be better...all at no cost to you. You should say "hey bro...thanks...maybe the bean counters will factor you into the pay matrix..."

As far as sponsorship goes...I've only sponsored one guy. My spiel was "I want you to do what is best for YOU and YOUR family. I will burn green stamps to get you here, but if this ISN'T for you...follow your heart. I'm doing this for YOU...not for my company..." My loyalty is to my friends--not my company. There are enough good people out there who would kill to work at FedEx that I don't need to worry about "scewing the company over" if my bro decides to go somewhere else.

I realize a lot of SWA guys (and some guys at FedEx too...) get an almost cultish attachment to the company, and they indentify part of their persona with the organization. Here's the dirty secret...its just business. Its a business I love, and a business I am greatful to be part of...but when the market goes soft your pay IS negotiable and you CAN be furloughed or displaced...even at stalwarts like SWA and FedEx. IMHO, the smart guy loves and supports his company, but has a B and a C plan at all times. I've seen too many guys who LOVED United, Delta, or USAir on the street. Sure--our companies are "different"...but the life lesson isn't. A diverse mix of skills and talents is certainly a good thing...