Originally Posted by
FDXLAG
Actually I think they prefer the guy who will only be here 15-20 years. Less money wasted on pensions, vacations, and sick days. But I don't think those guys want a 4 hour bus ride through Communist China (twice or more) per trip.
It's a cycle. The Fedex deal didn't change much before 2007. It looked pretty good, imho, before 9/11 and looked great after. After that many folks were EXTREMELY happy to be here and not there. Amazingly, the formerly bankrupt majors stayed in business. Now it's time again for pax to look like a decent alternative to FedEx and UPS.
The deal has worsened for newhires. But it hasn't changed much for those relatively junior and already on the property. There have always been periods when SOs were stuck in the back seat for 2 or 3 years. The recent past was unusually good for newhires.
I say the glass is half full, not half empty. We have a lot of good things that are not going to change for the average person on the property right now. A little STV is not going to kill anyone. Not a single person will be forced to go an FDA. That should be noted. Even though the FDAs are not being filled on the bid, no low seniority SO has to worry about going. But I will not stand for someone saying it's more expensive for the company to fly out a spouse than to offer SIBA. We should all know the facts.
Flame away but I just can't get too upset with what is going on. So the senior guys got most of the spoils in the last contract and the LOA. They are both pretty good for a select portion of the seniority list. o.k. for most others. They both ignore newhire issues. Was I the only one who signed on knowing the pilot group at FedEx treated each other in this manner? Most on the property were expected to pay some dues the first year or two. Some longer. That mentality is alive and well.
On a personal level, I find most crewmembers a pleasure to be around. I like this job. How we do business is another matter.
I think the lessoned being learned by folks hired in the last few years is an important one. Research is extremely important in getting you to the right job AND helping you enjoy that job once you get there.
BTW, by some measures a recession is already here. If we are in recession, it will probably get worse before it gets better. Thankfully, we are somewhat insulated from it here.
Cheers.