"Ok, now that you have vented. What are you going to do and what are you able to do about it??? Absolutely nothing thanks to our last contract and agency shop. I guess the only other options is to get involved..."

Good point. The only thing I would add is will they let you get involved if you don't sing their song? Ask EI and whether or not he feels they MEC was helpful in getting his message out.

That being said, I have thought a lot about this. Now that the LOA has passed, how involved will the MEC be in setting up these bases? Will they provide better info than already provided about what those that bid these FDA's might be up against? Will they tell these pilot's that getting a place in Paris or HKG furnished will be much harder and much more expensive than the mailings sent out by FDX have implied? I know for a fact the MEC did not even bother to call pilots that live in HKG and CDG now for their input before voting to recommend this LOA to us. I also know for a fact the pilots I speak of would have laughed out loud at this LOA and both voted No. Will they call them now? Will a member of the MEC or LEC take the first involuntary STV that is assigned since they pushed this LOA though by saying how unlikely it ever happening is? Will those really junior pilots going over there be told they will be stuck until a bid comes out and they can hold something back in the US? Maybe 5 years or more likely 8 to 10? Still lots of questions that I wonder if ever will be answered fully.

So, the long and short of my point is I am a 32%er and I want anyone who knowingly bids these bases to understand what they are in for. I can promise you when it comes to cornerstone issues for our next contract, the Wilson Center will not hear me saying my priority is making life better for these pilots that voluntarily bid a bad deal. (Damn, I think I just got put on their no-call list) Right now, retirement, scheduling, compensation and work rules are my 4. At this point will any of you be willing to give something up for 5000 + pilots for the 200 to 300 that knowingly bid these FDA's under this LOA? I think it is important that every pilot thinking of bidding these FDA's need to understand all these issues before doing so. Life is about choices and living with the consequences of those choices. AS JL likes to say..Bid what you want, but want what you bid. If you don't do your homework, it won't be anyone's fault but yours. FDD out..