Ok fellas, maybe I am a bit harsh, but hear me out. I am extremely frustrated with ALPA, and the handling of the LOA was the last straw.

This isn't my first airline. I am tired of hearing all the hot air and empty threats from ALPA! (Not just at FDX, but from what I read/see and experienced at other carrier(s)). For YEARS, "We're taking it back!", "Fighting management", "We stand as one", "we support our fellow pilots at XXX Airlines". Look at the magazine, don't buy this product because they're non-union employees there...blah, blah, blah...then whenver and opportunity comes along to lock horns and stand our ground against the very people/organization that caused us to unionize....we get, "this is the best we can do", "we'll fix it later", "we're afraid that this or that may happen if we stand up to them"...I mean c'mon here!! If you talk the talk, then walk the walk. This was an opportunity where we could've stood our ground and made things better for the pilot group, but we took the first lowball offer and buckled like a belt. The LOA was a POS, we bit off on the first offer that the company came up with. Our MEC admitted that they could've done a better job with handling this. I think we are a paper-tiger, management knows it. I And, we re not going to get it back next time around fellas...you're a fool if you think so. I bet someone said, "We should've offered them less!"

Who's watching our backs? All we have is eachother, and this union. I think we're some of the most intelligent, professional, skilled people in the work force. However, look at us from the outside. The public is pi$$ed at us for delays/lost luggage/ground holds/etc, the media attacks us, incorrectly reports the story (one interview with an airline exec and now it's OUR fault for all the NWA cancellations/undermanning because WE didn't come to work) and labels us, and blames us for the crisis in our industry. They think we're a bunch of overpaid, underworked, picketers...standing around next to an exec building alongside a giant blow-up rat holding bags of money. We're getting it from all sides now...and I have lost faith in the entity that is supposed to support us and look out for our best interests.

I think we really missed out on an opportunity to do good. But, now it's back to "don't fly these DPs" and "here are the non-members" and "you're a POS if your do" and a "SOB if you are." The LOA is signed, and I'll carry about my orders smartly. It's just very frustrating.

This is NOT the ALPA I so proudly joined many moons ago. It is a shame.

 

I feel your pain brother. This along with the age 60 stand have pi$$ed me off too. Pretty much the only game in town though. We learned that the hard way with FPA.

 

Ok, now that you have vented. What are you going to do and what are you able to do about it??? Absolutely nothing thanks to our last contract and agency shop. I guess the only other options is to get involved...

 

Don't be mad at ALPA, be mad at your ALPA. I work for an airline working under a concessionary contract that only my fellow pilots voted on. No one from outside of my group voted and certainly no one from ALPA national. Maybe I'm a little naive but what I think they mean by "taking it back" is taking it back one step at a time. I'm still ****ed that the wusses I work with voted for the crappy deal I work under. But I'm not ****ed at anyone else.

 

"Ok, now that you have vented. What are you going to do and what are you able to do about it??? Absolutely nothing thanks to our last contract and agency shop. I guess the only other options is to get involved..."

Good point. The only thing I would add is will they let you get involved if you don't sing their song? Ask EI and whether or not he feels they MEC was helpful in getting his message out.

That being said, I have thought a lot about this. Now that the LOA has passed, how involved will the MEC be in setting up these bases? Will they provide better info than already provided about what those that bid these FDA's might be up against? Will they tell these pilot's that getting a place in Paris or HKG furnished will be much harder and much more expensive than the mailings sent out by FDX have implied? I know for a fact the MEC did not even bother to call pilots that live in HKG and CDG now for their input before voting to recommend this LOA to us. I also know for a fact the pilots I speak of would have laughed out loud at this LOA and both voted No. Will they call them now? Will a member of the MEC or LEC take the first involuntary STV that is assigned since they pushed this LOA though by saying how unlikely it ever happening is? Will those really junior pilots going over there be told they will be stuck until a bid comes out and they can hold something back in the US? Maybe 5 years or more likely 8 to 10? Still lots of questions that I wonder if ever will be answered fully.

So, the long and short of my point is I am a 32%er and I want anyone who knowingly bids these bases to understand what they are in for. I can promise you when it comes to cornerstone issues for our next contract, the Wilson Center will not hear me saying my priority is making life better for these pilots that voluntarily bid a bad deal. (Damn, I think I just got put on their no-call list) Right now, retirement, scheduling, compensation and work rules are my 4. At this point will any of you be willing to give something up for 5000 + pilots for the 200 to 300 that knowingly bid these FDA's under this LOA? I think it is important that every pilot thinking of bidding these FDA's need to understand all these issues before doing so. Life is about choices and living with the consequences of those choices. AS JL likes to say..Bid what you want, but want what you bid. If you don't do your homework, it won't be anyone's fault but yours. FDD out..

 

What am I going to do about it? I don't think 'they' want me at this point in my career. I'm going to keep a level head (try) and (unfortunately) take what ALPA passes down with a grain of salt.

Had to vent fellas, I'm sure I'm not the only one out there feeling this way, and I'm not looking for praise or support. I just don't think my union is as strong as it used to be OR is as tough as it used to be. Guess that's just the way it is.

I'm proud to be here and to be a part of this pilot group, and love what I do.

Fly safe everybody.

 

Pretty much with you here, Rat.

 

Taking it back really means just of more of us taking it in the back(side).

Nothing but empty rhetoric from the mustaches in Washington.

ALPA national and our MEC sold out the majority of the pilots at FedEx.

I can't believe we then turned around and handed them this LOA.

If you think ALPA will be taking anything back I'm afraid you will be sorely disappointed.

I know I am.

FJ

 

"What are you going to do about it..."

Well I for one have been by the union office to see what I could do to get my foot in the door and start "getting involved"...the strange thing is I got the same response I got from my ACP when I spoke to him about getting a friend hired..."Who are you??? You weren't in my unit."

BWP...trying to figure it out

 

I have no problem with ALPA, I am ALPA. So is every other pilot at FedEx. I do have major heartburn with the FedEx MEC and our national "leadership". They clearly are not ALPA because they refuse to represent the will of the majority of their membership.

I'm looking forward to the day when we can get some new blood in those positions to actually fight for what the pilots want, not their personal agendas and those of their cronies.

FJ