More than 50% of UPS pilots are idiots!!!

[MalteseX]

Faulty Analogy

So, when your gardner comes to you and says, "Hey, I hear you got a big raise. Congratulations! But since I'M the guy who mows your lawn, thus allowing you to be gone 16 days a month, I figure I ought to get one of those "signing bonuses" too. In fact, since I should have raised my rates 3 years ago but didn't, I want an immediate "signing bonus" of say, 25% of what I billed you last year, in addition to an increase of 10% on future billing. I don't CARE what other gardners in the neighborhood make. This is what I want. You're a rich airline pilot, you can afford it."

If you really believe that how much money you make should be a factor in how much you pay for services, you'd agree to his request for an increase in his rates and write him a check to compensate him for all the years he didn't get a raise.

If it were me, I'd be looking for a new gardner...

Faulty analogy.... apples and oranges.

UPS pilots labor DIRECTLY contributes to the financial profits of UPS
The gardener does not in any way contribute to the income of the UPS pilot.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Faulty analogy.... apples and oranges.

UPS pilots labor DIRECTLY contributes to the financial profits of UPS

So does every package sorter. I think it was a good analogy.

Let me ask you this....if the pilots should make bank because the company is making billions in profits right now, if the company were to stop making any profits tomorrow, does that mean we should take an immediate paycut? As much as I would love to make 500K a year, I just find the "our pay should be based on the profits of the company" argument hard to swallow.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

UPS pilots labor DIRECTLY contributes to the financial profits of UPS
The gardener does not in any way contribute to the income of the UPS pilot.

No, it does not!

As a pilot, your duties and responsibilities remain essentially the same, whether you're flying a full 727 from SDQ to Ft Wayne or wherever, or a 767 with one box from Anchorage to Taipei. As a previous post illustrates, when a company loses money (which yours did, in opening many foreign markets) it doesn't mean that labor is expected to work for "free." The skills necessary to perform your job and the difficulties you incur while performing it lie irrespective of whether the company is making money or not. Like the neighborhood gardner I used in my analogy, the value of your service is determined (at least on the high end) by how motivated your company is to avoid an interruption of service. On the low end, it's determined by the lowest amount that other pilots are willing to work for. If you look at what other pilots flying similar equipment and schedules are making, you'll see that you have an industry-leading contract.

If you want to share in the profits of your company, I suggest you use your raise to purchase as much stock in them as your budget or the articles of their incorporation will allow.

Lee Iaccocca used to close his automobile commercials with a challenge to prospective purchasers..."If you can find a better car, BUY it!"

I think a similar challenge might be put forth to anybody who feels that the UPS pilot group are "idiots" for ratifying this contract.

 

[Green Baron 737]

Reserve

24 hr call out wouldn't be bad since you could commute. Are you seat locked or can you bid to another jet right away?

May not be that easy to commute to. Last minute jumpseating is just rolling the dice to get yourself into trouble. Getting in trouble while a probie at UPS is not a good idea.

You can bid something else straight away but the company have no obligation to consider your bid. About 4 times a year they have system bids and sometimes they will include probies but mostly don't.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

Jeeze, did I say "gardner" in my previous 2 posts, when I obviously meant to say "gardener?"

Maybe I should have stuck to "lawn-mower-and-mulch-tosser-guy" like I originally planned to...

 

[psysicx]

24hrs is a lot of time. There are freak things that happen but there shouldn't be any problems making it.

 

[Corona]

So, when your gardner comes to you and says, "Hey, I hear you got a big raise. Congratulations! But since I'M the guy who mows your lawn, thus allowing you to be gone 16 days a month, I figure I ought to get one of those "signing bonuses" too. In fact, since I should have raised my rates 3 years ago but didn't, I want an immediate "signing bonus" of say, 25% of what I billed you last year, in addition to an increase of 10% on future billing. I don't CARE what other gardners in the neighborhood make. This is what I want. You're a rich airline pilot, you can afford it."

If you really believe that how much money you make should be a factor in how much you pay for services, you'd agree to his request for an increase in his rates and write him a check to compensate him for all the years he didn't get a raise.

If it were me, I'd be looking for a new gardner...

Well, congrats: You've discovered the difference between the service industry and being a professional pilot! Apple, meet orange...

My farmer uncle made the same comparison between pilots and restaurant waiters last year, for gawd's sake!

If the gardener can negotiate higher compensation, then he is a fool if he doesn't. It's not a personal attack to demand more money; it's just business. It's too bad that most pilots in this stupid industry don't understand that.

C

PS: Not that I can afford a gardener (I'm not a rich airline pilot), but I'd definitely choose the one who doesn't scalp the grass and butcher the shrubs, for starters, BEFORE considering price...

 

[Corona]

As much as I would love to make 500K a year, I just find the "our pay should be based on the profits of the company" argument hard to swallow.

Fair enough.

Do you actually deserve the pay you're receiving now?

How do you justify your pay?

Couldn't you survive on much less?

My main point in my original post is that pilots need to look out for their own survival. Basing their compensation on company profits or whatever is but one weapon in the potential arsenal. When pilots adopt management justifications as their own, they lose.

C

 

[Captain Oveur]

God knows management is incompetent, grasping, and short-sighted at
a lot of places. And I have no complaints about pilots and maintainers
looking out for their own best interests. I find it fascinating, though, to
hear UPS and FedEx guys liken their situation to medieval galley slaves.:nuts:
Work towards a contract with features that you want, but until then,
at least admit you have a pretty good gig.

 

[MalteseX]

So does every package sorter. I think it was a good analogy.

Let me ask you this....if the pilots should make bank because the company is making billions in profits right now, if the company were to stop making any profits tomorrow, does that mean we should take an immediate paycut? As much as I would love to make 500K a year, I just find the "our pay should be based on the profits of the company" argument hard to swallow.

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