FlynLow

In what regards, the VEBA?

The shoring up language in our A plan, that took some wiggle room away from the company.

The 1% bump in b plan.

Pay rates don't have anything to do with age...so I guess I'm lost on what your wanting to know.

I was general on my comments, but I'm not sure on what specifics you want in why the over 53 guys got rich or that is where the money went.

I think we set a good precident by improving retiree healthcare, big deal, even though I will have tricare I hope still available...(I'm 46, been here 11 years..)

Hard to please everyone, as each different subgroup on our seniority list has there "this is my bottom line" list.''

Again, my opinion, my perspective.

FDXLAG

Yeah Veba is a good start, just make sure you add the $25K HSA to the published $32 million. I have no idea how many got the 25K but if it was 1,000 dudes that another 25 million.

Along with pay you can add B fund since I assume the over 50 crowd gets that too.

The contract was good, but not great. Most of the perceived gains (accept VEBA) have turned out to be illusive (Scope, Trip Rig, International Grid, A380 pay). Still looking for that hidden money everyone talked about.

May be hard to please every group, but not hard to see which group got above the "bottomline".

Tuck

Fly n Low - what the heck are you talking about?

You're confused about the over 53 guys - well let's see we have HSAs at $25k/person for use on pre-medicare spending - let's say we have 1000 pilots that are in that category (25,000*1000=25M of the contract). Then add the 43.2M that VEBA accounted for. So we've got about $70M specifically going to the age 53 and over guys. Not to mention that the crew force is chipping in about $500/yr to the VEBA account.

What do the under 53 crowd get? Well we get the +1% in the B fund (even though it looked liked everyone wanted and most expected a +2%) - and that doesn't take effect until DOS+1 even though the equivalent increases in A fund factors take place at DOS. Explain that one.

How was the A plan exactly "shored up" again?

Pay rate increases were generally junk - 3%/yr - a little less than a COLA I'd say and less than my annual military increase for every year (and less than my public school teacher wife's raise every year).

We did about nothing for healthcare because the entire scenario will change between DOS and the next contract and, here's the key point, everyone on the MEC knew that (Age 65 and the changing dynamics of health care funding in the country).

fdx727pilot

Ahh, as far as I have been able to find out, VEBA is those HSAs. Money is paid into the VEBA fund by the Company ($43.2M,) the Union (that last Scope money,) and us ($.50 per credit hour.) When a pilot turns 60, he gets the 25K HSA from the VEBA fund. If he doesn't retire (SO or sometime in the future, front-seater,) while he gets the HSA, he keeps paying into VEBA. See Sect. 27 H & I.

So, yes, money for over 53 guys, specifically 43.2M. Wasn't retiree health care one of our concerns for the last negotiations?

And No, I'm not over 53. I just hate people posting inaccuracies.

Jetjok

I keep reading about this VEBA fund and the associated HSA, which is supposed to be a total of $25,000, that the company has placed in an individual account for those that meet the criteria agreed to during the last contract negotiation. However, I don't see where any of those monies actually come to me before I retire. As an example, this heart bypass surgery I just volunteered for, when all is said and done, will cost somewhere around $200,000. Not one penny came out of this VEBA fund. If I were to retire tomorrow, then that money would become available. If someone sees this another way, please let me know ASAP, as I sure could use that cash because it's been just about 20 years since I last took my Porsche down to metal and reshot the paint. Thanks, and I look forward to your comments.

FDXLAG

The way I read that, the 25K is a seperate contribution. One section talks about 43 Million. Another section says fred will deposit 25K into the Veba account for each pilot which will then be used to establish the HSA.

JJ, I don't think you can use 25K till you retire, but it is collecting interest until then.

FreightDawgyDog

"Especially considering all the factors we had to work with:

A pilot force that won't stop flying draft, volunteer, and open time.

A pilot force that flies DP's at the drop of a hat."

I agree with you. But, where is the leadership on these issues from our MEC? Where is the tough language to those that fly DP's, the lists that should be provided by the MEC showing anyone who voluntarily flies DP's? Where was the leadership in subtlety discouraging any extra flying during mediation? It's sad that we needed it but it should have been there to remove all doubt. All they had to do was what UPS did in their last contract. Put 2 statements on the website. One says they take no position on flying extra for the company. The other says they encourage it. Would it really take a rocket scientist to get their "No Position message"? What the greedy, free agent union pilots that fly DP's and extra trips during contract talks here need is leadership that will not let them just walk away doing things that hurt us collectively with no penalty whatsoever. What they need is peer pressure encouraged by MEC leadership to let these guys know there will be a price to pay for those that screw their fellow pilots by flying trips none of us should be flying. The MEC was quick to cast aspersions on their fellow union members that dared take a different stance on their LOA. BC said he even wanted to fight them. So where is the real leadership on taking on these bozo's that just keep flying DP's and increasing their pocket change at our expense? Yep, we have a pilot force that is crying out for leadership and the cry has gone unanswered IMO. Expect them to continue as long as the MEC keeps undercutting the SIG by not taking stronger action against those that hurt the group for their own gain. I know several SIG members that are very unhappy and may not be there much longer without more support to stop the rampant DP flying. I for one don't blame them..

Micro

This thread was started to discuss what we need in a new negotiating chairman and a suggestion that we have professional negotiators at the table vice FDX pilots. The union directs our side from the background, but pilots don't sit at the table. I personally don't give a rat's a$$ about the scum flying Disputed Pairings. In the big picture their noise and we'll probably never get them to stop. It's not like the union has not put it's opinion out on this.

I have to agree that the UNION should have and should now be taking tougher stances/communication (like posting names!!!) on extra flying, disputed pairings, etc at all times not just negotiations. I suggested things during negotiations but the MEC/Strategic committee didn't want to implement them. If you want things to change then demand it of your reps and communicate their replies here and elsewhere.

However, right now we should be discussing what we expect of a negotiating chair, passing names to the MEC of people we think should lead this effort, and brainstorming other options of negotiating vice the standard ALPA option.

fdx727pilot

Once again, we see things differently. As far as I can tell, the $43M is 25K per eligible pilot (as in 1720 pilots 0ver 53.) One section talks about money in, and the other talks about money out.

Anyway, my basic point is it is not $70 Million for "old farts."

FDXLAG

And Once again I am right :

27.I.3 The Company will make a lump sum contribution to the VEBA of $3.2 million, payable no later than November 30, 2006, with an additional $40 million contribution to be made to the VEBA no later than June 1, 2007.

27.H.7.b For each eligible active pilot (i) having a seniority list number on August 25, 2006 , (ii) who has attained at least age 53 before January 1, 2007, (iii) who is expected to meet the age and service requirements for coverage under the Retiree Group Health Plan as of his attainment of age 60 or older, and (iv) who retires on or after August 26, 2006, the Company will make a one-time cash payment of restricted signing bonus to the VEBA equal to $25,000. Such contributions shall be made no later than January 28, 2007 (90 days after October 30, 2006). The contribution and interest attributable thereto shall be transferred to the HRA established with respect to that pilot upon the date that the pilot attains age 59, or if earlier, as soon as practicable after the pilot dies. If a pilot attains age 59 or dies prior to the date that the Company funds the VEBA pursuant to this Section 27.H.7.b., the contribution and interest attributable to such pilot shall be transferred to the HRA as soon as possible after the date on which the Company funds the VEBA.

Different contribution dates and different recipients means different funds.

I have no idea how many got the 25K. I'll bet it was more then 1000. Should be easy to track down. The MEC had a Contract lessons learned session. I am sure they had a table showing how much each section has paid off. If not they should have.