FDX1

This IS THE PROBLEM...you need to read it if you want to understand it and not be subject to the 'Forums' educational process. With that being said I'll try to summarize for you:

Option #1 (3 Year Commitment)
Same as current Section 6 agreement except the FDA Bonus??Not sure why we gave that one away? + Tax equalization
Option #2 (2 yr com) Tax equalization+
Seed Money = 10k + 5K if you stay for 48mo; Currently = none
Storage = 4K per year; Currently = None
Housing allowance = 2,700/mo if renting, 1,300 if buying, Currently = None

FDX1

[quote=MX727;192919]Yes, STV is the deal breaker for me. Many of us are former military pilots and one of the worst parts of that life was the unknown TDY. STV simply brings that back to us.
quote]

MX727
I was subject to the same unknown of TDY's but it was to places with lots of sand and very little alcohol. Paris and Hong Kong aren't on my list of hardship tours.

As far as the unkown... that's loud and clear. I would have a major problem being told to pack up and go for up to 3 months and leaving my family behind. But the LOA only allows for the STV option for the first two years and then, worst case used once every 18 bid periods. Limits your exposure to 2 tours. It would be great not to have that in the LOA but I think its a bit of a stretch to compare it to some of our TDY fun spots.

MrSuupafly

Seed Money = 10k + 5K if you stay for 48mo; Currently = $10,000 or 79 credit hours multiplied by the pilot's new hourly pay rate, whichever is higher if you stay for 18 months. (Section 6 c.2.)

Storage = 4k per year; Currently = none ..Ok
Household goods shipment 500 lbs; Currently = 16,500 lbs. (Section 6 1.a.)

Housing allowance = $2,700/mo if renting, 1,300 if buying; Currently = None... Ok. ($2,700/mo gets you an apartment in between an Opium den and a ***** house in HKG).

Nothing about transporting a car; Currently = Movement of household goods shall include transportation of 1 automobile if the move is more than 750 miles except that 2 automobiles may be moved to U.S. domiciles outside the contiguous 48 states. (section 6.6)

STD, sorry I meant STV; Current = None.

This IS THE PROBLEM...

FDX1

Mr. Fly,
I think there may be some confusion; You can still choose all the benefits under the section 6 which is LOA Option #1. This gives you all of the benefits that you stated with the added option of the tax =. This would require the longer 3yr commitment. Or you could opt for the 2yr 'enhanced option' which is not presently in any language of our Contract.

MrSuupafly

True, but what I'm trying to say is that there is nothing "enhanced" about that option except for the housing allowance. The LOA makes it seem that currently you're required to stay for 3 years in Subic (the only FDA at the moment). Not true. If you bid Subic and don't like it you can bid out on the next bid (if you don't take the move package). If you take the moving bonus (79 CH x hourly rate or 10k which ever is higher), you only have to stay for 18 months.

I believe that enhanced option is woefully inadequate. That's all I'm trying to say FDX1, not trying to start a war of words with you.

dckozak

The problem is, you have summed up the salient points of this agreement in less than half a page. The problem is this document lacks specifics for a host of issues that ain't mentioned or (in the case of children's schooling) purposely left out.

Some of the major notables left to the imagination

Health care: Are we covered under local (read: national health) or are we continuing with the FedEx plan (and associated) deductions and co pays??
If so, how will that work in the French and HKG medical care system??

Children's education: Even though its clear (by default) that FedEx has made this a non issue,, its still an issue with those with families who may consider going to either base. Both the company and the union have implied that they looked into the issue, what did they find and why did both (the company) agree that a premium for children's education was not necessary?? Have they found thats its so cheap that it doesn't warrant paying for??

Currency values: All monies are based on USD when in both HKG and Europe, other currencies will be required to pay for the (rents) the monies provided are meant for. In HKG, this is probably a non issue, as the HKD has been pegged to the USD for years. As we all know, the Euro is a different story. If the dollar continues to decline, we will loose even more buying power than is currently figured. Maybe the dollar has hit rock bottom (We hope ) but it becomes a currency play for the families living there. Good (dollar strengthens) or bad (the reverse) its a risk we shouldn't have to take and the company can afford to assume.

Tax equalization: So many unknowns. Maybe Cassels's FCIF promise to provide more details will answer these questions, both lack of detail in a LOA means you can't count on anything definitive (so will be a huge question mark until the first pilots actually test this benefit). By than (you) will be there and at the mercy of a company paid for accounting firm and a foreign government's tax bureaucracy.

While these details are left out or under explained below, the following become issues to even those who have no intention of bidding a FDA.

SVT: Reverse seniority for one to three months?? This definitely smells of an (expected) failure on the companies part to get warm bodies to bid the above mentioned domiciles. Anyone here long enough to remember the last HKG fiasco involving a TDY?? Couldn't get even one pilot to bid a TDY for the Airbus when a (modest) SIBA type bid was put out for a three month (vacation ) in HKG. Than, if I remember right, they were offering a one time business jump seat for a one time (in the three months) return stateside to see your family. (and they wondered why no one jumped at the chance). This time they want to avoid that embarrassment, just force the junior crew to go in case no buys on the Hong Kong holiday.

While some things are a step in the right direction, this LOA is woefully short in both content (read: money) and detail. And as anyone will tell you, "the devil is in (or lack of) the details". Any pilot who accepts the terms of this LOA will truly be a test pilot regarding treatment by FedEx and how it interprets the (slim) terms of this agreement. Send it back, improve and clarify the details and take out the showstoppers (forced TDY).

trashhauler

Out of curiousity, do you expect the company to pay for all of your rent? I pay about $2300 a month on a mortgage for a modest house. If you get an extra $2700 that would get you $5000 a month for rent. It would at least move you out of the opium den location. As far as taxes go, the only reason the SFS guys have been enjoying the tax break, is because the PI is letting them live there tax free. Not so for most other countries in the world. I'm not sure that this LOA is a good deal, but everything on this BB is slanted in the direction of a real bad deal. I think the union needs to do a better job of explaining this LOA. I know that the Cathay guys get a great deal as far as housing goes, but if you look at their whole contract, it falls quite short in a lot of areas compared to ours. Ex. they have no duty rigs. It's nice to cherry pick the best from different contracts, but in reality, it never works out that way. Like I said, I'm not sure how I'm going to vote, but there are two sides to every story. BTW, this is my opinion, you don't have to like it.

Penguin

For your $2300 a month mortage you are gaining equity in your home that is in all likely hood gaining value with time. You want me to **** away $2300 a month in rent. No equity building there and historically the rent has increased 20% a year the last five years in a row in Hong Kong. You are also required three months advance rent or more and are responsilbe for agent fees that are 10% or more depending on length of lease and cost of the lease. You sound like Bob Chimenti when you say that we shouldn't cherry pick the Cathay contract. Why shouldn't we. They get that living allowance for a reason. By the way it is about to be increased because of the rising cost of living there. I don't think that I should be required to accept a lower quality of life than a Cathay pilot. They also get tuition assistance for their kids. Don't you think we are entitled to that. This LOA is lacking and should go back to the drawing board.

BrownGirls YUM

Not OK. The current CBA does not place a limit on the amount of storage paid for by the company other than to say the amount of goods stored shall be "reasonable".

BrownGirls YUM

IT'S NOT!
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS!