This contract was a huge loss, especially when you consider how long we waited and the time value of money. Worse, there were many of us who passionately tried to show how this contract was a bad contract and it seemed we had to fight against ALPA's message that this was the best we could get, and those who seemed to be on the side of the company. Baloney. It is amazing now how you don't hear anyone say they voted yes because no people are realizing how bad it is. The super senior guys don't get it.
I was recently asked from a super senior guy "Oh when are you going to training". I just looked at him like ... really? He said, "oh but you get to bid on it now...". Never mind. Topic change.
In all fairness, I think FDX ALPA really believed the company when the company told them each were in agreement in the language interpretation.
The worse part is we now have a full up PBS on property and the company was successful in establishing it for a higher percentage of lines. They'll continue to use the VTO process to chip away at our hard lines and "industry leading vacation." ALPA never even negotiated how the system would work, the parameters, etc.etc. They 100% control the strings of how it works. I personally warned ALPA. I wrote a long letter detailing how PBS worked at previous company. I told them PBS can be good, depending on how the parameters are, or it can be your worst nightmare. Guess what we got?
FDX ALPA is under the impression that in order to get a gain, we must give up something. Bull crap. Look at where the industry is right now. It is surpassing us. And the company is having to use these meet and greets to get people to come here.
But so many of us, who have never worked anywhere else, who have never been furloughed, think this place is the end all be all. They just don't know what they don't know and the company has them exactly where they want them.
It is time FedEx pilots grow some testicular fortitude and band together and demand a better contract. We fly harder schedules and have haul more dangerous crap than our competitors and the passenger carriers.
You can go to Delta where there's a maximum of 6 short call days. Most pilots there will never be assigned the full 6 days. Or you can go to FedEx and 100% of ever month sit 15 or 19 short call days depending on the month length.
I know I know, that only affects senior guys. You choose to be junior. What will we have to give up to change our reserve system? Well more senior guys are going to get reserve with the VTO process.
And that's how FedEx works, screw the junior guys. Why do you think ALPA is looking at this variable annuity? The senior guys make out like bandits. The rest of us, who knows?