Originally Posted by
FLMD11CAPT
DL, read the Contract. No pilot can be forced to an FDA, excess bid or otherwise. I do however think that a real possibility is 1) The LOA gets voted down and the Co. immediately moves to run the 2 FDA's via 1 or 2 assocoated airlines under the FDX umbrella and says "sue me". Case in point is the seniority list merger lawsuit that the Co. successfully drug out for well over a decade, had a judgment overturned, and ultimately just wore the opposition down. If you want a classic "camel nose under the tent" scenario, this is it. Does this mean a sub-standard LOA should be voted for? Perhaps not. But it is somthing we should all be VERY aware of and consider. "Somtimes the devil you know is far better than the one you do not". An LOA voted for but not bid still binds the Co. legally w/one more strap to fly FDX Cargo w/FDX pilots. Then it would simply become a question of price. Flame away boys.........FLCAPT.........out
So the question is framed--
1) Vote for the LOA and junior folks CAN be "excessed" into the FDAs via temporary SVT assignments when not enough bubbas bid for it.
2)Vote against the LOA and risk foreign pilots at foreign domiciles and possilbe furlourghes to follow. Stagnation in seat at a minimum.
I think the company overhired for this very situation. Enough folks to volunteer for the FDAs instead of using a majority of newhires (anticipating LOA approval). Over 60 guys aggravate the overmanning and a fat workforce is more likely to vote for something to enhance seat movement.
I predict the greed of the top 60-75% of the pilots to take over and the LOA to pass. They will not want to stop the gravy train under the new contract.
But it is not the right thing to do. DW knows it and that is why he isn't using that line now, as he did with retroactivity. Ignoring or disrespecting the input of the SFS folks speaks volumes.