New class at Fedex?

[capt_zman]

That sounds good. Starting soon and I'm scaring myself at how clueless I am right now. Any words of wisdom please advise.


Z-

 

[JollyRoger]

God I hope this doesn't jinx me

Does any one have an average from interview to a call? Going on 18 days and losing a little more hair every day.

Checking my mail, seeing way too many Fed Ex trucks, ( freight, ground, express?, does FDX own every 3rd truck on the interstate?)

Patience, young Jedi, I know.

HoursHo', Hair Club for Men might be of interest to you. I waited 5 weeks for the call. Just got it last week, along with several other folks. I know it's not fun waiting. You are probably living with a cell phone in your hand 24/7. They left me a nice message, so don't worry about missing the call. Averages don't apply right now. I constantly reminded myself that there are a lot of highly qualified people that would love to be standing in my shoes waiting for the call. Also, tell your wisea$$ buds to NOT FEDEX you a letter of encouragement! Best of luck. Jolly

 

[Huck]

2. Is medical insurance available to you and the family on day 1 of new hire training?

If you aren't moving to Mempho, better check what coverage is available where you live.

i live in rural Alabama, and all we can get is the 80/20 plan (you pay 20%).

We had my second child while I was in new-hire training. There were some complications. Long story short, I owed $3500 in copays within the first three months of working here. And ten thousand in the first two-and-a-half years.

My cheap old former employer had Blue Cross with the full meal deal, anywhere you lived. My first baby cost us $200.....

 

[FedEx]

SO Open trip

Any of you 727 SO want to pick up a trip? Trip 278 6 Mar? I know this is not the place to post trip drops, put haven't seen that much action on Pilotswap.net.
Thanks

 

[VaB]

Also not the place for this. But what the heck. I'm glad to see that the scheduling committee took so much time to tell us all about the ridiculous number of disputed pairings on the MD11 this month. Those things flew out of open time faster than a someone chasing somthing else (insert your own funny saying). I expected to be doing them on RA. Nope. All gone in less than 4 days.

Maybe we won't be seeing that retro pay. Hope Triple B isn't here to read that.

Oh well.

 

[Daddy]

Is per diem paid per flight hour or per hours away from base...i.e. is it perdiem times 6 hrs/day or 24 hrs/day?

 

[VaB]

24 hours per day. And Anchorage is considered international. So when you fly one of these week long pairings on the west coast that touches ANC just once, it's 2.65 instead of 1.85 for the whole week.

 

[hawg2hawk]

Any guesses how long it would take a brand new guy to be able to bid ANC these days?

 

[oldf4guy]

to expand on VaB's comment regarding disputed pairings:

I don't mean to rant here, but some of you guys out there profess to be great union supporters because you wear the alpa ID holder, have the ALPA baggage tags, and wear your ALPA tie pin. You display these badges of unity every time your greed has you out on the road flying disputed pairings or counting how much money you are making by flying carry over trips. As negotiations progress, it is clear to me that the company knows that they can play on individual greed to the detriment of collective benefits. As long as pilots keep helping out the company by flying disputed pairings and flying extra trips without any additional cost to the company, any hope of retro pay will remain a distant dream.

If negotiations are to result in a favorable contract, we need to start ACTING with unity now - not just wearing the tie pin. As a start:

- If you must work more than BLG, make the company pay time-and-a-half. Carryover and MU greed lets the company get off cheap for understaffing.
- Don't voluntarily fly the disputed pairings. You pay alot of money in dues, get your money's worth by listening to the advice you pay for.
- Be visible when the associations ask you to. The rally this weekend would be a good start!!

As a relative new guy (and not part of union leadership), that's my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[AlbieF15]

I wish to have oldf4guy's baby.

Okay...that was over the top. What I meant was "right on, man!".

I don't believe every conspiracy theory, but when the folks say "man...flying this hurts ALL of us..." I think they mean it. I echo your thoughts on CO and the other issues too.

 

[active_herk]

One other question,

I wonder how many of the guys/gals picking up the disputed pairings now will be complaining about the trips a few years from now? Just a thought.

VaB,

I'm assuming you are out of MEM. For a glimmer of hope, take a look at the ANC open time. While I'm not sure how many disputed pairings are gone, it seems to me like quite a few of them are still in open time up here. I haven't seen this much open time this far into the month EVER! I imagine though that the company will just slap some deadheads on the front of these from MEM, and the MEM guys will end up picking them up anyway.

Also on the topic, I just got forwarded an email from a distinguished member of the union who listed many of the ANC disputed pairing picker-uppers by name and emp. number. That might be a good idea down there as well. When your name goes up in lights for the membership to see, you may not be so inclinded to pick up these pairings.

 

[klhoard]

..
.
.
Well, I got lectured by one of our MD-11 Captains right here on this distinguished message board. Since the disputed pairings out of ANC were really OK the way they were built I should sit down, shut up and not listen to the union . . .
.
.
Someone will pick them up on AVA, don't worry about it. . .
.
.

 

[VaB]

Yeah, I'm in MEM. Live in base housing. Lot's of guys out here run around on volunteer with a 1 hour call out. Not judging or anything, just amazed. I've done my share of time and a half flying, but haven't done that in a while. But I know some folks that are just constantly on a 1 hour hook down here. My comment was just in regards to the disputed pairing getting picked up so quickly. And I disagree with your assessment of local guys picking up those flights. I think it's the commuters trying to get those long, long trips. Personally, I don't like being gone that long, but that's just me. But, whatever, I'm not going to judge anyone. Everyone has a different story.

As far as naming names, that seems a little dangerous if ya ask me, but I don't think it would be to hard to find them.

Come on now, everyone say it with me "ONE MORE DAY OF RETRO PAY"

 

[VaB]

..
.
.
Well, I got lectured by one of our MD-11 Captains right here on this distinguished message board. Since the disputed pairings out of ANC were really OK the way they were built I should sit down, shut up and not listen to the union . . .
.
.
Someone will pick them up on AVA, don't worry about it. . .
.
.

Probably one of the guys I know on a 1 hour Volunteer callout.

 

[Falconjet]

oldf4guy:

Amen.

FJ

 

[PurpleTail]

One other question,

I imagine though that the company will just slap some deadheads on the front of these from MEM, and the MEM guys will end up picking them up anyway.

There is hardly anything in Open Time in LA. I'm not sure about MEM but the company has been using LA reserves to fly ANC trips with front and back deadheads the last couple of months. Its a bunch of crap if you ask me.

I also wish more crewmembers thought like OldF4Guy too. Until the contract is settled I am DONE bending over backwards for the company. You can work late, move the freight, dodge WX, fly on short call, etc, etc, and the first chance management/scheduling has they'll stab you right in the back. This company has no appreciation for what we do out there day in and night out...NONE.

ONE MORE DAY OF RETRO PAY!

 

[psysicx]

Does ANC only do pacific trips?

 

[Huck]

I'm sitting resrve on Sunday - will be at the rally if not called out.

And I don't pick up open time. I figure I'm away from my family enough already.

I flew with an ultra-senior -10 captain last month who told me he always flies 5-6 extra days a month. He left the cockpit and the FO told me the guy makes about $350 a year.

Thing is... the guy was 59 and he looked 79. Hope he lives long enough to spend it....

 

[FastCargo]

Why...

...work harder than you have to! I can't figure out why guys (especially married guys!) want to work more than your line gives you. Now, I play the open time/makeup time thing a LOT...but only to make my schedule better with the same amount of hours (roughly, usually always lose a few hours overall). I drop, swap, makeup, etc...but only if it benefits my QOL.

When it comes down to it, it's a J O B only. I've got kid number one due in June, and I will be there for it, even if the company gets shortchanged (not like I don't get greased enough by the company).

Fly Safe!
FastCargo

 

[VaB]

I flew with an ultra-senior -10 captain last month who told me he always flies 5-6 extra days a month. He left the cockpit and the FO told me the guy makes about $350 a year.

Thing is... the guy was 59 and he looked 79. Hope he lives long enough to spend it....

Or this flex CA i flew with a month or 2 ago. I was telling him about my buddy recently activated to 27 F/O and how he get's called every single day for draft. He did a little of the extra flying, but that's irrelevant to this story. So this CA proceeds to lecture me, and tells me to make sure my friend knows also, that we shouldn't get "addicted" to the extra stuff. So that when the time comes (whatever that means) we don't need it. He spends a good 15 minutes going on about it. Guess what HIS pay status was.

OK, I'm not going to bash anyone else. I think we can all agree there are lots of guys out there doing different things and everyone has their own opinion has to why they are doing it, and how bad it is or is not to our cause.

So, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens from here on out. For a little while anyway.

 

[Purpledog]

Greedy F*&%ers. We used to call them buddy F***kers. What I really hate is the 72 SO's who pick up extra trips. I guess they aren't smart enough to realize that they are halting thier own upward mobility. I have never taken a draft trip and never will unless it is to get back to my usual guarantee since I drop a couple trips a month.

Retro Pay

 

[PurpleTail]

What I really hate is the 72 SO's who pick up extra trips. I guess they aren't smart enough to realize that they are halting thier own upward mobility.

I am going to have to disagree with you here. Its not the S/O hurting themselves, you have to go much high on the ladder to affect upward mobility. What I mean is...it is the Captains that fly Draft and Open time that prevents the company from upgrading more First Officers...and then its the F/O's that fly Draft and Open time that prevent the company from upgrading S/O's and so on.

A Captains payscale flying Draft is hurting the company alot more than a S/O payscale. Most newbies take a pretty good paycut when they start out ($2k/mth training pay) with FedEx...so if they fly an occassional Draft or pick up a little Open time I don't blame them...its the Captains trying to jack up thier High Five that slows things down...IMHO.

 

[Goose17]

How about...

We all stop pointing fingers at each other and press on. If the union comes out and states no more draft/volunteer, I think the group will come together. Until that happens, guys will fly when they want, despite our opinions.

I personally think the company has gotten themselves in a manning pickle. If the group stopped flying draft/volunteer, there would be a LOT of packages left at ramps and lots of angry costumers. True, the company should have been hiring all along, but that is not the FedEx way.

Goose17

 

[FoxHunter]

We all stop pointing fingers at each other and press on. If the union comes out and states no more draft/volunteer, I think the group will come together. Until that happens, guys will fly when they want, despite our opinions.

I personally think the company has gotten themselves in a manning pickle. If the group stopped flying draft/volunteer, there would be a LOT of packages left at ramps and lots of angry costumers. True, the company should have been hiring all along, but that is not the FedEx way.

Goose17

The union will never come out and say no draft/volunteer. That would be an illegal job action. I believe American's pilot union was fined $45,000,000 for a similar action, sick out. Even a word of mouth campaign would be illegal, as the pilots at Delta found out. Delta pilots decided not to fly extra and the company took them to court. The judge ruled it a illegal job action. Your post could be used as ammunition to prove the case if it were to happen at FedEx.

 

[Los1]

I was out in the Pacific talking to Union leadership about this issue...

Right now Draft, VLT, Vac sellbacks, flying over Vacations are all OK,(It WOULD be an Illegal job action)...
HOWEVER!!...Under no circumstances should anybody, other than getting them on reserves, should ANYBODY, fly a disputed pairing.
Any Questions?
'nuff said
Fraternally
Los1

 

[beam_d]

Feb 28th Class Aircraft assignment?

Fellas,
Sorry to rehijack the thread, it seems like most FedEx guys on the board agree with not flying extra.
Anyone know what the aircraft/seat breakdown for the Feb 28th class was? There were some rumors earlier that 727 FO slots would not be offered after Feb. Can anyone elaborate? I start class the 21st of Mar and am trying to keep tabs on what's coming down the pike.

Thanks

 

[Goose17]

misconstrued

My above post is not suggesting any job action. You are reading too much into it. I am simply saying let guys fly what they want and stop pointing fingers. If a guy wants to fly extra and pay some bills, I am not going to critisize them. However, IF the union were to come out and advise against flying extra and guys continued, then I would have a serious heart burn over it.

Like I said above. Until that happens, we need to stop pointing fingers at each other.

Goose17

 

[VaB]

Goose,

Your f***ing killin me here.

 

[Goose17]

so sorry

Can't we all just get along.

Time for a group hug.

Goose17

 

[JethroF15]

The union will never come out and say no draft/volunteer. That would be an illegal job action. I believe American's pilot union was fined $45,000,000 for a similar action, sick out. Even a word of mouth campaign would be illegal, as the pilots at Delta found out. Delta pilots decided not to fly extra and the company took them to court. The judge ruled it a illegal job action. Your post could be used as ammunition to prove the case if it were to happen at FedEx.

Actually... Yes the union can come out and say no extra flying but not until the process runs its' course. If the National Mediation Board releases the pilot group to "self help" then the union can direct action. American was fined because they had not been released to "self help" when they called for the action. As far as Delta is concerned, as I understand it, a certain amount of "extra flying" is written into their contract unlike at FedEx where extra flying is 100% voluntary. Deta took the union to court because of "breach of contract". This is the way I understand it to work. Of course it is a lot more detailed but that's it in a nutshell... of course I've been known to be wrong before...