Originally Posted by
TonyC
It's too bad we didn't get sufficient notice of the event to be able to bid around it. [SARCASM] At least this way we'll be able to surprise The Company. [/SARCASM]
Yeah, you missed the point completely.
I'm glad you know how to find the FDX ALPA website and log on. Kudos for being able to find the NEWS > Latest Communications > Recent Publications. We don't get notifications when the website is updated, but I get notifications when I receive the e-mails that are identical to the communications posted on the website. But since the website is your method of choice, please go look at the page again, and read the titles.
Who are those updates "from"? Committees. Where's the one from the MEC, or the MEC Chair? You said, "
I trust our leaders more than you. They did give us an update yesterday." Either you're talking about an update that is not on the website or our Inboxes, or you are counting committee chairs as proxies for our leaders. HINT: THEY ARE NOT.
Committees are valuable components of the support structure, but they are not our leaders. They are volunteers, and we appreciate their contributions, but they are not our leaders. They may even have some expertise in the subject matter or fields in which they serve, but they are not our leaders. When BrianH referred above to "our leaders firmly seated, hands folded, while listening to another SME saying all is well," that's what he was talking about. Our leaders are our Block Reps and the MEC Officers. They are elected by us to lead, and they have a responsibility to lead. That requires making tough decisions sometimes and taking responsibility for the results. That can be a little tougher sometimes than just listening to the Subject Matter Experts and always deferring to their recommendations. Sometimes it means taking risks and making tough decisions. It always involves looking at a bigger picture than a single SME's scope of expertise. It involves being SMEs themselves on the subject of FedEx - the ultimate anti-union stall artists. It involves knowing our opponent in this battle based on the past battles, understanding the history of negotiating with FedEx over the past few decades. It involves knowing what has worked well for us in the past, and what hasn't. But when our leaders are more concerned about getting along with each other than making tough calls, the easy way out is to defer to the committee chairs and let them make the decisions and write the comms.
So, again, where is the update from our leaders?
.
Whenever Strategic Plans decides on a date, a certain percentage of the company will have to work. It'd be nice to go but I can't. I made the last one.
The updates are from the negotiating committee. That's good enough for me. I don't need a biometric checkout of the specific volunteer that I feel owes me an explanation. The update is on the alpa FedEx Alpa website. I'm not making this up... You must be struggling to find it for some reason. The "Negotiators Notepad" literally has an update dated 3 September.
As for the rest of your rambling... The Negotiating Committee is good enough for me. I'll accept their updates more than an elected rep who isn't sitting at that table. Sorry they don't meet your expectations but that's not my problem.