HerkyBird

The people who voted YES on the LOA, and then bid an FDA, are scabs. Think about it: people who voted NO (incl. SFS crews) wanted better terms and conditions for the move to HKG, or even just fair and livable. That's a reasonable stand to take. But along come some people who say (as one MEM capt. recently said to me) "My wife and I figured we can stick it out for two years for the adventure of living in HKG." My answer to him was, "What about those of us who already live in Asia and want to stay here, not just stick it out until we can't take it anymore?" He had no answer, of course, because he hadn't for one moment thought about anyone but himself.

So, these people come along and say, "Well, it's good enough for me, it's not forever", and they undercut the people who are trying to get a livable deal. That's scabbing, folks. They're no different from scabs who cross a picket line in the belief that the strikers have unreasonable demands, and the present deal is good enough for them. Thus, the living standards are brought down to meet those of the guy with the highest pain tolerance, and quality of life is degraded for all.

There are too many pointed questions asked by too many pilots that are still met with thundering silence by the Company and even the Union (which I honestly now believe is in bed with the Company). And as anybody over the age of 25 should know, a non-answer is a bad answer as yet unspoken. No answer on "Who pays the relocation agent, under contract to FDX, the commission of 150% of a month's rent?" means "You do." No answer on "Who pays the tax on [this or that]?" means "You do." No answer on "What happens if the van trip from HKG-CAN takes longer than 3 hours and starts causing departure problems?" means "We'll move the meeting point closer to the border, shortening the travel time for us but lengthening the time it will take a pilot to get from home to the meeting point, and s/he'll have to wake up even earlier."

Scabs cross picket lines because the given deal is good enough for them, and they don't care what they're doing to those already in the job who are holding out for a livable deal. Anybody who voted YES and then bids an FDA is doing the same thing, and is therefore a scab.

frozenboxhauler

Scab is a "big" word and when used like that cheepens the meaning. Personally, I think the ONLY people that should be allowed to fill these spots are the "sheep" that voted in favor of it!
fbh

HerkyBird

Now, THERE'S an idea! Maybe they should fill all the empty slots with STVs from the folks who voted YES. I think you've got a winner there.

frozenboxhauler

I thought that might put a smile on your face
fbh

Albief15

Herky,

I voted against the LOA, but NOT to make your Asian experience more liveable. I did it because I thought the potential to be STV'd (repeatedly) would be a serious infringement on my quality of life and collectively was too big of a give-back.

I imagine everyone who voted yes/no did it thinking of how it affected THEM. No disrepect intended, but as Tip O'Neil was once quoted: "All politics is local...." If you think some guy hub turning on the panel on year 2 pay is going to lose sleep over a Subic F/O or Captain's lunch money, you are probably going to be disappointed. The Flex guys got very upset at the deal they got in the last contract....and what happened...it passed by 94%. I suspect many of them were part of the 6%. That is why it is crucial when contracts and deals are negotiated that "no one gets a pass, no one gets left behind...." There has to be a reasonable cross section of improvements for everyone. In a pefect world, that rests on the NC, by way of direction from the MEC chairman, which takes his direction from the block reps.

I'm not saying those of you wanting to stay in Asia got a good deal--I wish you could have gotten about $2,000 or more a month and kept your tax benefit. However, that "S" word gets used and abused to much. Please consider putting it back in the quiver for its real use. If you feel left out, overlooked, or underappreciated by the NC or by the company--okay. If you are mad some guy decided that the deal was "good enough" for him if wasn't for you...I empathize. But being self centered in your economic decisions doesn't make you a SCAB, crossing a picket line does...

Good luck in any case.

FLMD11CAPT

Herky,
In addition to Albie's salient points:

1. Your wrong. The folks you mention are NOT scabs. That is a very specific term used for a very specific type of pilot. Namely one who crosses a picket line during a sanctioned job action.

2. You accuse these folks of only self interested views, yet your post is all about you and your good deal in Asia........hold that thing up to the mirror brother.

3. I too voted against the LOA. Not protect the 2.5% of the crewforce currently in an FDA, but because I thought it was a sub-standard offer for any crewmember who chose to take an FDA assignment. The reality is the deal currently enjoyed in Subic is the exception rather than the rule. I just wanted our new "rule" to be sweeter than what we got.

Good luck in your planning....hope it works out.

DLax85

Albief15 and FLMD11CAPT are spot on.

Albief15

Easssssy there trigger. Don't confuse angry venting with personal attacks. Breathe...breathe. And call me if you want to do some Navion flying Sunday morning....

SNIZ

What's a Navion?

Albief15

One of the finer General Aviation aircraft ever produced. Mine was breathed life in Galveston in 1962, and I'm up here at a Navion fly-in in Royston this weekend. I left Huck an invitiation to fly together on my RTB on another board, but I think he missed it..