You hit the nail on the head. In your scenario above the pilot owes $1,000 to the company and is another out-of-pocket cost for living in the FDA.

 

It's the best deal we're going to get (+ 30 STV + $10,000 security deposit) ... just shut up and color. Obviously, you and I weren't the intended demographic for this "deal."

 

I wonder what the company would be willing to offer if the next practice bid showed even more vacancies than the first two? Maybe a little more move money, help with education costs, or an increase in the $2700? Since this LOA that was voted on is now a moving target and the MEC is cool with that, a smart crew force would find out and really help the guys who end up over there get a better deal since the MEC and NC could not. I wonder what this crew force will do?

 

I think that anyone that is trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes by only pretending to bid the FDA's on the practice bids...Is doing a diservice to all of us. The practice bid should look as bad as as it's really going to be. Then, maybe the company will come back to our "legal representatives" and fix this POS permanantly.

I'm in complete agreement with IARA and FJ. And, the response to the letter I sent to my rep was pretty much in line with what I've read here, from the MEC meeting.

 

You have nothing to lose by trying it and not bidding it. As someone pointed out, if you want it at a certain percentage you can change your bid back after the practice bid.

I know some have said you are only messing with other pilots, but in this particular case I'm not sure I agree. If the 10k deposit was due to practice bids, and in fact the union doesn't want to argue about LOA provisions anymore, then I would argue we as individuals are in de facto negotiations right now. Both the company and union would say "no we are not...", but as somebody pointed out there have been enough changes to argue to the contrary.

Its up to you as individuals. I am not bidding either domicile if the COLA was 10k a month, so I'm out of this fight. For those of you that want it, however, you have a chance to play some poker. Your call...

 

FedEx is going to get $10K (or whatever the amount required and paid is, it could be less) one way or the other at the end of the lease. Should the landlord determine that there is sufficient reason to keep the deposit, I would bet that the pilot is going to have to repay FedEx. I can't imagine any other way it working out based on the language of the FCIF.

Potential pitfalls? You bet.

Should you be concerned about this if you are going to an FDA? Of course not. $10K is not a "substantial" amount or enhancement.

FJ

 

I think FedEx is taking notes on NWA. The NWA union is also concerned about this practice of skirting the CBA/negotiations as NWA keeps offering these "incentives" around the holidays to supposedly guarantee reliable service to the customer. (Read greedy/pillaged employees won't call is sick if we offer them another $1K not to call in sick for a month during Christmas and New Year.) It's the same thing they did the end of Aug/beginning of Sept. Totally done unilaterally by the company. Totally skirting the CBA. Falls right in line with the Pinnacle recruiting bonus. The company will piecemeal out money when they think they can benefit at the lowest common denominator without making improvements to the CBA. That way they can give and take away at their convenience. BEWARE!

 

Hit the "Preview Post" button every once in a while...it appears to reset the "timer" because your PC communicates with the website again.

 

Typing class in high school. Probably the only class of any value now that I look back...

 

Took it in 10th grade...my mother made me.

The teacher would cover the keys with paper and if you still tried to look down she would hit you on the knuckles with a long wooden rod she would carry around.

No kidding --- can't believe that was still legal in Maryland in the late 70s (...it probably wasn't)

At the time, the only benefit I saw in the class was the girl-to-guy ratio --- about 9 to 1