UPS Pilot Contract 2003

[tredding@swa]

jeeze....

The price you pay for a multi-million $$ career.... 12 lousy months of getting by.....

How about this - I am at the top of my previous career path, corporate aviation. It will take me 5 years to break even at my new job - SWA - and I can't WAIT to start!!!!

For SOME of us it is not ALL about the $$$$.

Short term pain for long-term gain - look at the B I G PICTURE!?!?

 

[qxeplt]

Yeah what the man said

Tredd is right, a very very small price to pay for millions in the long run. Probation pay is better at some and worse at others but once you get that behind you then you're off and running. One measly year out of a average of 20 to 30 years left in your career there. I've been with a regional for the last 6 years and I will make 25 k more my second year at SWA then 6 year pay were I'm at now. I'll take the first year pay cut Gladly... Just look at the BIG PICTURE like tredd said. Besides where else are you gonna go. It's a buyers market out there, if you haven't noticed and I'm sure there's a thousand or more pilots out there that would jump on that in a heart beat if given the chance at UPS even at 2,167.00

 

[P3-Adub]

5 Year Plan ???

Be very careful,

My 5 year plan recently turned into maybe a 10 year plan ! It now appears that it will take a while to get back and even longer to make captain. UAL was upgrading in as little as 4 years when I started and has attained the lofty position of a "big maybe" in making it through this mess. Who knows how long it will take once things recover. Fortunately, like you, I have a corporate background and have found employment outside of the airlines for the time being.

So, it is not all about the money, however in my relatively short stay I saw the end of a contract, negotiations for a new contract, the possible merger with US Air, a turning economy, 9/11, the aftermath, and now more furloughs to come, wow, so much for the dream job ! I know, things WILL turn around and this will be something we all talk about down the road as the bad times. With that said though, I will return when the time comes because it still is a better career in my opinion. The highs are the schedule, career expectation, free travel passes, and the chance to fly the 777 or the 747, well if we keep any 747s.

To keep to the original thread, yes the 1st year pay is meager, just don't bank on the fact that it will improve with a guarantee such as a contract, mgmt has rolled over ours like it was not even there !

Better luck at SWA and UPS !

 

[kidflo]

Just a few observations:

1.) No one should be complaining about UPS first year pay because no one is on UPS first year pay. The last UPS class started Sept 2001.

2.) If you are lucky enough to get on with UPS, you CAN easily support your family on 28k: move to Louisville, bid reserve, work 3 days a month and get another full time job.

 

[nightrider]

I hope we do something about the first yr. pay rate but most of the pilots don't really seem to care. The opinion that I have seen the most is that first year pilots are not members of the union, and most of the guys feel it should be the companies responsibility to raise first year pay.

In other words if we get it fine, but we won't trade anything for it.

This is not my opinion but it does seem to be the prevailing attitude.

N

 

[packdog]

Kidflo just what would you know about it. With your time (3300) you must be UPS management.

 

[Capt TedStriker]

Flying will not pay for food (at UPS)!

Kidflo,

You are way off base with your statements about "making it through" first year pay at UPS.

First of all your idea of working only 3 days a month and getting another full time job is absurd... Currently engineers are being fully utilized... That means being on call, and probably working all of them, 16 of the 28 day bid period.

Secondly we make 26,000 a year on probation (not 28,000)... Lets put that in perspective for this thread... That equates to 800 take home every two weeks... So you tell me how 1600 pays for rent, utilities, insurance, kid, clothes..... and oh yeah you have to EAT too!!! Good thing that the state of Kentucky will step forward with milk, cheese, and eggs.

Bottomline. First year is financial hazing... Come to work at UPS with the attitude that you will need to supplement your income to make ends meet... Or... Go the credit card route. (You will need $15k to $20k)

UPS is a great company.... At $4 Billion in profits they can afford to pay a wage that makes sure that their college educated employees with at least 10 years of experience make more than the minimums to qualify for state sponsored food programs.

Don't get me wrong UPS is "THE" right place to be ... I would not have made another decision as whether to come to big brown. Just come to Brown with the knowledge that you must plan (financially). The outlook is great. The next contract will definately be our coming out.

 

[AlbieF15]

For what its worth, back in the "good old days" of 2000 when I was applying, I didn't put in an App at UPS until I had already thrown a bunch of others out. Yes, it is a great company...but lots of other "great companies" were hiring and wouldn't be kicking you in the financial crotch your first year. I'm sure UPS can live without me, but the low first year pay did in fact discourage me from applying there. In 2002 its a different game, and I'm sure they have no shortage of qualified guys who'd love to work there.

Another F15 retiree got started there about 1 year before I got my airline career going, however, and it is a great fit for him. He works for a very successful company, and with his military retirement can afford to ride out the first year pay troubles. Seems to me like UPS would be a great first choice for those guys who stuck out the military for 20 years. For the rest of us....wow! I hope you guys can "fix" the first year pay at UPS on the next contract. Probation is one thing, but 26k is hazing.

 

[active_herk]

Speaking of your next contract, what has the union put out for openers, and what has management responded with?