Vote: NO
Balls in our court.... Don't Lose the advantage!

Rowdy,
Excess of 500 pilots? Is that why we had a new hire class of 4 that started today?

How about that fleet plan that was published today that goes from 351 planes now up to 368 by May of '09. If my math is correct that looks like an additional 17 planes in the fleet in less than 2 years.

Do you think those excess 60 engineers on the DC10 panel will be heading back to the Boeing to "protect essential" and do a week of hub turns?

Looking at the BHA and COLA rates for the military in Paris and Hong Kong, it adds up to almost $8000/month. Does that seem a little out of whack for what the LOA entails?

Have you looked at Cathay Pacific package of Emirates? Our LOA doesn't get close.

The STV is the kick in the &&(^%^$%^(!

I do not want the company having that kind of control over my shcedule and life that the military did.

It's a no for me.

Ah yes, I had been reading too much about the LOA. I think my humor had gone MIA... :D

I have been talking to a Block Rep "who I do not want to identify in case I missed something." In talking about my voting no because of the SVT portion of the LOA he told me this about the hotel provision. The LOA just says we will be provided a Hotel during the SVT assignment. It does not say the same one as in a "apartment" i.e. one you do not have to check out of when you go out on a trip. He told me Dave Webb says the company will provide you a hotel room that you do not have to check out of for the entire SVT assignment so you family can stay the whole time. I told him if this is correct that makes this better from my view but could we get the intent it in writing? He indicated we just need to trust the people in the know? I emailed him and said if things are as they say why can't they put out the information? I tend not to trust people who say just trust me! My question is if we do get the same hotel room for the whole SVT assignment does this change things as far as the SVT section?
Also, guys do we trust them?

I know you CANNOT trust this company--their word is only as good as the contract (if there's a loophole they'll find it and violate it).

hfbpilot,

My impression of how STV works was already pretty much what you said. It's basically TDY w/o the ability to go home on your days off. Doesn't help much if your spouse works, kids are in school, or if someone needs to be home to watch the house/pay the bills. Don't know about you, but it's been a long time since I've had a living situation where I could afford to completely check out for 1 -3 months.

I care less about the hotels and more about the TDY itself. NO WAY IN HELL DO I WANT TO BE SENT ANYWHERE INVOLUNTARILY, LET ALONE HKG OR CDG FOR THREE MONTHS.

How many marriages do you think would survive this? "Oh hi honey, I know Christmas is next week, the kids have school plays and you're swamped at work, but I have to go to Hong Kong for three months. No, I won't be able to come home on my days off. Hello...hello?"

I don't trust the company that is why I want it in writing and then I will think about it! What really scares me is my Union telling me to trust the company to do the right thing, we don't need it in writing! R24 to hotel stbys and the passover pay issue etc and we should trust them to do the right thing. Yea right

I've heard some guys say they would love to take their families on these 90 day SVT mini-vacations. Then I asked them how they felt leaving their loved ones behind in either HKG or Paris for about 13-16 days while they go off to work in other parts of the world having NO idea what type of medical care or hotel situation they would be face. Not such a great vacation anymore.....
Second; if anybody thinks the company will spend an extra dime for creature comforts for pilots on SVT who bring their families with them....remember the optimizer. They don't care about our families....unless the contract requires them to. I can't believe a senior Union member would actually say we just need "to trust the people in the know". Does anybody think any of our Union leadership had the slightest notion that this LOA would actually personally impact them or their families?
Still waiting to see a breakdown of the openers from ALPA and FDX on the LOA...

If you post again, could you please break up your posts into paragraphs? Almost got cross eyed there trying to read this. Thanks.