I both agree and disagree with "Browntailguy" "de727UPS" and "UPSCapt"
The part I agree with you guys on is that I also dont think we will hire until the contract is signed and that will not happen until UPS has exhausted every single aspect of dirty play in contract negotiations.
I agree that we will never drive our point home to the company as long as these selfish few continue to pick up open time and except JA's... Yes they are allowed to per our contract, but Our Union has made the rules of "war" perfectly clear, and these guys are out to make there own rules and have their own interpitation of what should be right and not right.
I do however disagree with your reasoning about the Sr 130 FE's leaving when the ink is dry on the next contract... In my humble opinion, these guys are going nowhere. Why whould they, they already have made the adjustment to moving to the back seat, they have the best schedules, get the most time off, get the most vacations, and make the most money for doing the least amount of work... All of these things should be changed for the better and in their (Our) favor on the next contract. Why would they leave. If any of these guys were interested in leaving, they would have taken the early out offer the company just offered them. The offer gave them cash and future retirement from the next contract to be signed, but only a few took it... Most of these FE's need to be here (for the money) and obviously are in no position to retire right now or in the near future when they can make even more money for doing the same thing. Maybe Im wrong, but I dont see them leaving... What do you think UPS guys???