Originally Posted by
jetstar1
I have been reading these forums since being put in the pool last year. I think all FDX poolies have gotten some pretty good information on all aspects of FedEx. With the FDA bid now awarded and the 40+ vacancies between Hong Kong and Paris, I have some questions. For those of you considering these FDA's how are you going to pay for it? The American school of Paris tuition for two grade school children is around $60k not counting application and administrative fees. The housing allowance leaves you short by about $1100-$1500 a month for a two BR apartment in CDG. Do any of you plan on commuting to these FDA's? Will the schedules be commutable? How long do you think it will take to bid back to the CONUS? What are the chances of new hires getting 2nd year pay to go the the FDA's? What are the chances of this LOA being renegotiated to make it more attractive? Would any of you bid the FDA's if the package was better? Do you think FedEx really wants to put such a financial burden on new hires? Can a poolie remain in the pool until a domestic assignment becomes available?
I haven't figured out how to use the multi-quote function so this is going to be a bit confusing.
I'm not bidding either FDA so I can't speak to "how to pay for it". Our captains (depending on the individual circumstances) can probably afford it without much long term financial damage. I've had the conversation many, many times. Most that bid it want to live out of the country for the adventure, the tax bennies or because they're hiding from someone/thing.
The practice bid schedules that I at looked were not particularly commutable. My guess is that the company will work to make them un-commutable to a large degree. They want the crews in domicile. They've made that very clear.
System bids are at the companies discretion. There will be at least one, maybe two more in the next few months just to get the 757 spun up. After that, who knows? If I was doing it I'd plan on a minimum of three years before I could bid back. Especially if you're very junior.
Changes to pay won't happen. Again, my opinion. The company is quick to point out when something isn't in the contract. There are no provisions for pay changes in the CBA. They'd have to do a LOA (possible) or renegotiate the rates (not gonna happen). But it'd sure surprise me if they did either. The bid closed, as you probably know. There is no real reason for the company to go back and revisit the LOA. I had lunch with one of the ACP's last week and he thought that they would close the bid, man the shortage on a month to month basis and hire into the uncovered seats. But even he wasn't sure what they'd ultimately do.
Does FedEx care about the financial burdens of new hires? Let me put this as gently as I can.
NO
They could not care less. If they did we would never have found ourselves discussing a grossly substandard LOA for pilots while other FedEx employees that are sent overseas get literally all of what we should have asked for.
If you're in the pool you can probably expect a call offering a job in one of the FDAs. It might be a "take it or leave it" option. Will they leave you swimming? I think they will. But I've been wrong before. Ask my wife.