Originally Posted by
BrianH
Some here are saying "I don't care" others are saying "It matters." The truth is it does matter to us all because we live in a seniority based system. The pilots who are invested are here to stay. Win loose or draw, they are here to stay. Its the system stupid.
Now why everyone should care if pilots are leaving is simple. Those pilots who are here to stay know if our contract remains substandard, we will not attract the best pilots. At four in the morning, we all want to fly with a pilot who wants to be there, understand the tradeoffs, and is ready to go flying.
I was told very early this job was a good job, not a great job, If you put nothing into it, it would look like it was getting better just through progression, but in fact it would be getting worse for those who came behind. I studied the bidpacks from then on. Yes, I'm that guy. But what I can tell you is it is getting worse for those who are being hired after us. Since contract '15, it has gotten 27% worse. Yes, I did the math. But only a few have checked my math and understood the issues. Clearly those who are leaving have quietly check the math. But I agree, no one knows until the very end If they chose wisely or not.
So yes I care some are leaving to chase the money, quality of life and sunglasses required flying. After all, I know how copper wire was invented. And I know pilots who spend hours a day trying to better their schedule just to be able to survive another month.
I'll leave you all with this. I had a mentor here who sat sideways for years. He did the math and saw the degradation of the lines below him. It mattered to him as he understood the issues and wanted better for those who came after him. His position was we all needed to give two years of volunteer work to the union if we wanted to better the place. So I'll ask have you tried to better the place for those who follow, or are you only worried about yourself? I would like to leave this place better than I found it. And the only way I have found to ensure possible success, is to get involved. Showing up for a union meeting once a year is the minimum. Crewbus commando status is way too easy to achieve but does little good. Get off the bus and walk over to a union and volunteer in you really care.
Nice post Brian but i disagree. I do not, not one bit, care what a handful of junior pilots are doing. And it is a handful. Not 100. Not even 50.
If you read all my historical threads on whether to come to FedEx or not, I'm consistent in saying that it depends on what you value most. FedEx isn't the end all be all. For me, it made sense to leave a major and come to FedEx.
We can run down the pros and cons of every airline which can change at any given moment. That means nothing IF your #1 choice has a con that is a no-go for you.
To the new hires who were hired during COVID and FedEx's super growth, welcome to a downturn at FedEx. Historically, this is as worst as it gets. Management hasn't even mentioned the F word, yet.
While there is a lot of unknown with DRIVE and Network 2.0, flying for FedEx is still a pretty good place to be.
Anyone leaving because the artificial skyrocket seniority growth is over is in my opinion making a mistake. No matter where you go, you're going to have to put in your time. "But I can be a junior 767 Captain at Delta." Ok. Ask yourself why is that position going so junior and do you want to have that junior position for the next five years of your career? Maybe. Maybe not.
It all goes back to what I said above. What do you value most and make your decision accordingly.
As FedEx pilots, we aren't going to let another Contract like 2015 slip through the cracks. I think we learned our lesson. But we aren't going to negotiate meaningless and unenforceable scope clauses to give up an industry leading retirement plan for the perception of job stability.
Today is the day. Read the TA. Read the TA twice. Call your reps and ask why they negotiated what they did. Vote accordingly.