Originally Posted by
R1200RT
Why does it have to be a level playing field?
Life isn't fair, some folks are smarter, or luckier when they start a business. FedEx started as an airline, UPS started as a trucking company. FedEx is more of an airline than trucking company and UPS is more of a trucking company than airline. UPS being 50 years older should have done it differently when they started flying airplanes a few years ago.
Play the cards that are in your hand and don't pull any cards out of your sleeve. Sounds like a lot of executives crying "he has a better deal than I do" get over it. One thing is for sure it doesn't involve anyone on this board. I guess it could cost the FedEx guys some advancement if it cost us some 777s in the future.
UPS, not the pilot's union would be just as satisfied to have all the UPS truck drivers under the RLA. In fact they lobbied to have that done after the first IPA contract when they saw how mediation, cooling off, and the PEB worked. Unfortunately for them FedEx lobbied against it, they happen to have a former executive that was the FAA Administrator at that time, and I'm sure he was consulted and advised on the ramifications to the administration. I think all UPS would like is that we all play by the same rules, then the smarter ones would have to rely on their smarts, and the lucky ones would have to rely on their luck. The argument would hold less weight if FedEx hadn't started competing on the ground.