captain_drew

UPS pilots union seeks strike approval
Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:59 AM ET
NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - The union management representing pilots of United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said it would seek approval from its 2,500 crewmembers for a possible strike after the latest round of negotiations ended without a new contract.

UPS has been in talks with its pilots association for about two years. The two parties had been working with a mediator who had set the end of March as a targeted date for reaching a new contract. The final round of scheduled mediated negotiations ended Thursday with no agreement.

UPS said in a statement that the mediator has scheduled additional mediation dates for weeks beginning May 16 and May 23, which means that "there is no threat of a strike and a strike authorization vote means nothing at this time."

The company said the negotiations continue to show progress.

Tom Nicholson, president of the Independent Pilots Association, said in a statement that the two sides are only "slightly closer" on retirement, benefits and compensation issues than when they began the process eight months ago.

SWAjet

What kind of money and/or retirement are you UPS pilots after? Are you in fact going for a killing with this contract, or are your demands pretty reasonable ?

SWAjet

BoynamedSue

..........

SWAjet

Yeah, Scope can come back to bite ya if you're not careful. I look forward to seeing your new industry leading rates, however; much more interesting to view than a scope clause or scheduling language- at least from an outsider's point of view. Good luck fighting the brown wooly mammoth!

SWAjet

War Eagle 83

I sure would like to know what the new pay rates are before I apply to fly the big brown planes. Anybody out there got any ideas as to whats in the TA so far. In peticular the first three years. I've already lost half of my pay where I am and to then loose another 60k a year would really hurt. Any info would be appreciated.

captain_drew

I could have read this wrong, but attitudes like the above are indicative as to why pilot groups regularly get their asses handed to them on a plate come contract time -and subsequently.

Watch the little pea under the walnut shell while management moves an elephant into the room with you. “Huh. . how did that pachyderm get in here?”

Man ! If you don’t think SCOPE and scheduling/work rules aren’t MORE important than pay-rates . . that’s where the industry problem lies.

To War Eagle 83. . I am reticent to point out that the day of the good “airline” flying job is over . . finito. . . done. The good ole days are just that. History. Look at the folks who worked 30+ years at the majors and now their nice retirement is either in jeopardy or GONE! Can you say: “Welcome to WalMart, shoppers” . .retired wide body captain? A least there is more dignity to that than “Do you want fries with that?”.

The future (at least for the piloting profession) is in cargo. If you hadn’t noticed -FedEx and UPS are making money hand over fist and will likely continue to do so. The Big Brown boys negotiated a pretty decent contract last time around. ALPA/FedEx is having a little harder time of it, since for the last 3+ decades we tried to convince management to compare us to the majors. NOW. . . management is taunting the negotiators with that. Opps! Now, we don’t want to be “just like UAL”.

While a big pay raise would be nice, knowing you will have a job until you retire and THEN collect that promised retirement is MUCH more critical in the equation. ALSO. . flying freight at night makes Scheduling and work rules MUCH more important. . and SCOPE is probably (or should be) at the top of the list. SCOPE can hose your whole career! Behind a merger and bankruptcy.

Former Fr8Puke

War Eagle 83

Well Capn Drew, I know what you're talking about more than you know. I am a 19 year US Airways pilot still in the right seat. I've gone from 177/hr to 85/hr and lost my retirement as well. so believe me I'm living the dream(nightmare) thats why i'm looking to go elsewhere and I'm interested in the first year pay under the new contract @ UPS.BTW, the main reason we lost our retirement was due to the scope clause. We gave up the scope clause to keep our retirement. Then after they got the scope, the next words from Mgt. was "if you don't give up your retirement then we'll chapter 7 the airline." So far the pilots of US Airways have given up 7 Billion to "Save" the airline. So now I've got my PBGC retirement to look forward to,all 24k a year. Oh yeah I forgot the PBGC is bankrupt too! So in the end , May I biggie size that order for you sir!