I voted NO.

I was leaning that way from early on, but I did the best I could to consider the complete package and various viewpoints before coming to a final decision.

I guess one of the biggest things that pushed me over the edge was the recent Motley Fool article in which management basically admitted our contract was a zero-sum deal. 5 Things FedEx Management Wants You to Know -- The Motley Fool

They were able to manipulate the playing field to the point that we will effectively pay for the increases in the contract with higher productivity. It makes their claims of "no money" for the A-plan ring even more hollow than they already were.

The other factor is that I'm okay with leaving some money out of my bank account in order to eventually secure a real, tangible raise as opposed to taking from the company with our right hand and giving it back with our left.

It seems like many "yes" voters are standing behind the concept of the time value of money and the increases we will forgo as negotiations resume. While I don't discount that, if that's really the only reason anyone can come up with to vote for this, then isn't a yes vote always going to be the outcome? Assuming there are raises and increases in various areas of most non-bankrupt, non-concessionary TAs we might see at FedEx, then voting it down always carries the burden of either temporary loss or possibly permanent loss of income. So, if you can't deal with that possibility, then once you saw raises in section 4 and some extra $ for signing, no need to look any further. Your decision was made.

Personally, I don't see real value in voting for a moderate increase in income for which we will eventually reimburse the company with increased productivity over the life of the contract. To me, there is just as much value in that time spent on increased productivity long term as there is in the short term extra dollars I may see in my pay stub.