HerkyBird

<< You've got a choice here - personally I live in San Diego and pay about $4500/month in a mortgage and love it - my choice entirely so I'm not so shocked by the housing. >>

So, Tuck -- what is it you don't get about paying $4,500 on a MORTGAGE versus paying $4,500 on RENT? Hmmm ... let's see ... mortgage: property appreciates; you're building equity; and you write off the mortgage interest on your taxes. Rent: spent.

That's it. Done, gone, bye-bye. No property appreciation (except for your landlord); no equity is built; no write-off. And you honestly aren't shocked? You honestly think those housing situations are the same? Also -- you love it, but you also have the option of commuting from somewhere cheaper to live. Those in HKG won't have that option. This LOA is a P.O.S., and they'd have to fix more than the STV to get me to go for it. And I already live in SFS. 500 lbs.? Get real. That'll cover my clothes, now what do I cook with? My bare-bones, crash-pad level move was 1,500 lbs. My vote is no, and they'd have to come up to D.O.D. standards for HOA/COLA (which are NOT excessive) before I'd even consider it. I've done one "Foreign Base 1.0" with FedEx, and they haven't learned a thing from their missteps, obviously. My vote is an emphatic NO. There's no reason a flush, growing company should treat us this way.

HerkyBird

<< Really fdxmd11fo, do you think that the company is going to change gauge just to mess with us? I really don't think so. >>

Boy, are you naive!! You maybe didn't know we used to have a crew base in OAK. You know why we don't have one now? Because it was a hotbed of union support, that's why. So they closed A WHOLE DOMICILE "just to mess with us." They're willing to spend a fortune on DH tickets to keep the domicile closed and not base pilots there. Changing gauge is chump change.

Micro

As usual, a company full court press-FCIF- (plus our own union), to get that 50%+1 approval for this LOA. Like I said before, the NC needs to be replaced now. "No leverage" and "this is as good as we'll get", oops, maybe we can do better if seeing everyone is up in arms at all the "infomeetings" and the company is worried that it will not pass. I hope this FCIF doesn't allow that 50%+1 and we send the NC back to the table.

FreightDawgyDog

"Prez, you have done a major course reversal and gone to a full court press in favor. I am really curious.....why the turn around?"

Yeah Prez. What gives? Did you get some answers to these questions you raised earlier? If so do you mind sharing? Maybe it will help some of us change their minds.


"Gee Sleepy, actually I have a few more questions of my own:

What are the schedules going to look like?

Will there be double-deadheads?

Will there be multiple legs in and out of the hub?

If we are on hotel standby, where will we stay?

Will the company require pilots to take ground transportation to work?

Could the company have us take ground transportation to CAN, fly an out-and-back, then deadhead via GT back to HKG?

How will our pay be affected by ground transportation?

If we take the "enhanced option", will the company provide relocation days?

Will we have to justify our expenses to Steve Hanks "up to" $2700 every month?

How am I supposed to pay three months rent, a deposit for utilities, phone/internet service, furniture, kitchen items, etc...with the approximately $7000 of "seed money" that I'll have after taxes?

Will the Steve Hanks hold up the payment of your "seed money" until you have provided 15 things to prove that you have actually located to your domicile?

Should I wait until I finish training before I sell my home?

Should I rent my home?

Should I keep my home?

Should I get a crash pad and try to commute? (Knowing that it will take about 24 hours to get to Memphis from Hong Kong and I will lose half a day returning.)

What if I can't sell my home?

What if I have preceded my spouse and children to the domicile by more than 30 days? Will I still get two days with a relocation specialist/real estate agent to find a place to live? Will the company allow me to extend in the hotel with the $250 compensation?

If I need the specialist for more than two days, do I have to pay for it?

Are there no house hunting tickets provided so my spouse can get a start finding a home?

Will the specialist help me negotiate?

Will the specialist be legally bound to assist me with reading and understanding the lease?

After I have stored my household goods and find that my essential (can't do without) shipment to the domicile is 2000lbs, will I have to pay the difference (2000 - 500) of 1500lbs to have my goods shipped Int'l Economy?

If I missed something in storage and now need it, will I be able to use a 100 or 1000lb shipment if I've elected the "enhanced option"?

What kind of bereavement assistance will the company provide in case my parents or those of my spouse die?

After I have completed two years in domicile, do I have to wait for 1 more year before my dependents get a coach class ticket home?

Why doesn't the company provide any assistance for my children to attend school?

Will our current medical insurance cover me, my spouse and children to the same level as the US?

Will I have to get pre-approval for all hospital visits?

How much out-of-pocket will I be if I need major surgery?

Why does the STV look like it could be a really bad deal?

What if I am inversed into HKG or CDG for three months and I am still in the Guard or Reserves? How accommodating will the company be?

Will the company use STV's during Thanksgiving and Christmas?
What if I get inversed and I have vacation?


That's enough for now. While not an exhaustive list, I do think there might be more than just a couple questions about taxes and housing."

CaptainMark

the guys on here are to old to know who he is!!!!!!!!!!! i liked lisa turtle...

CaptainMark

jeesh.....people bid subic and the only question that was answered is that subic bay was indeed in the P.I.

prezbear

CaptainMark,

Actually, no one knows whether I've voted or not, or whether I've voted in favor or against. One thing that I've tried to do is articulate both sides. Probably not very well.

This is how I see it:

LOA Passes
Company opens bid
-seat movement
-pilots in domiciles for 2 years prior to
next contract
-some money to offset costs
-FDA pilots make up larger
voting blocks during next negotiations

Best case: Bid what you want to fly! If you bid FDA, you understand the costs

Worst case: Some pilots may have to do a bid or two in Paris or Hong Kong

LOA Defeated
Company comes back to table
-minor improvements to LOA
-Bid opens

Best case: WE WIN!

Company does not come back to the table
-company opens bid
-no "enhanced" benefits
-pilots who bid FDA's will bear all costs

Worst case: WE LOSE!

I realize these are simplistic comparisons.

It's all about leverage. Whether we pass or defeat this LOA, if you don't bid it, we will have all the leverage we're going to get at the moment. Arguments against this LOA claiming the company's prosperity is not being shared are ridiculuous. The company may have the money to spend, but they will use our weaknesses against us. If we vote the LOA down and the company opens a bid and they get enough takers, we've lost. Our leverage is grounded in not bidding it.

Haywood JB

Prez,

STV in any length=we lose!

The company can afford to SIBA guys.

VOTE NO, so like many others who are junior in our seat, we don't get sent for a month every six(if they changed the loa).

CaptainMark

prez....i have talked to some higher ups...they have already explored the option to hire into the right seats to these bases...they will hire into the bases like ANC..it is not preferred but they will do it! they have too much to lose to worry about a no vote..they will not go back to any table..a lot of our guys want to bid these bases reguardless of the outcome...

CaptainMark

the lines are going to be 3 on 3 off type lines...can't SIBA that!