jetstar1

I have been reading these forums since being put in the pool last year. I think all FDX poolies have gotten some pretty good information on all aspects of FedEx. With the FDA bid now awarded and the 40+ vacancies between Hong Kong and Paris, I have some questions. For those of you considering these FDA's how are you going to pay for it? The American school of Paris tuition for two grade school children is around $60k not counting application and administrative fees. The housing allowance leaves you short by about $1100-$1500 a month for a two BR apartment in CDG. Do any of you plan on commuting to these FDA's? Will the schedules be commutable? How long do you think it will take to bid back to the CONUS? What are the chances of new hires getting 2nd year pay to go the the FDA's? What are the chances of this LOA being renegotiated to make it more attractive? Would any of you bid the FDA's if the package was better? Do you think FedEx really wants to put such a financial burden on new hires? Can a poolie remain in the pool until a domestic assignment becomes available?

Albief15

For those of you considering these FDA's how are you going to pay for it?

I think the assumption is the same way guys and gals suck it up on year one pay at CAL and UPS. Not being a wise-@ass here...I don't like it either...but I think that is the answer some will give you. Its an "investment" in your future at FDX..


The housing allowance leaves you short by about $1100-$1500 a month for a two BR apartment in CDG.

Noted. Unlike HKG, however, you may be able to live outside in a more rural area or suburb at a more reasonable price. Again--I didn't bid it, so I didn't research it, but I hear there are some options outside the city. You'll still eat some out of pocket, however.


Do any of you plan on commuting to these FDA's? Will the schedules be commutable?

I think the company has made it clear they want folks to live in domicile. I have no idea how that would affect most of us other than losing the $2700 if they got upset, but for a guy on probation missing even one trip could have career ending consequences. I think our management folks are generally pretty reasonable, but you have to remember your are at "at will" employee for a year. Want to bet that career on the 777 CAL jumpseat out of EWR? Might be a very stressful year for a commuter...

How long do you think it will take to bid back to the CONUS?

My WAG---4 to 5 years. Just a WAG based on age 60, etc.

What are the chances of new hires getting 2nd year pay to go the the FDA's?
Not in the CBA or LOA. When enough poolies pass on the job it might be an "enhancement", but nobody has offered it yet.

What are the chances of this LOA being renegotiated to make it more attractive?

Who benefits? The company has what it needs to man the FDAs. The union already told us we have no leverage...so caving now would certainly be losing a lot of face.

Would any of you bid the FDA's if the package was better?I'd commute to CDG to be a 757 captain if we didn't have the tax equalization issues. Then again--without that, I probably couldn't hold it anyway.

Do you think FedEx really wants to put such a financial burden on new hires?

Safety/Legality/Reliablity...then stockholder value. They will find SOMEBODY who will do it...what makes you so special? Nobody envisioned new hires going anyway--a good deal like this was going to "go senior"...remember? It is a union's job to negoatiate a reasonable package for its membership.

Can a poolie remain in the pool until a domestic assignment becomes available?
Not our call. That will be up to the company. My gut says after about 10 people say "pass..." they will go back and say "take it or leave it". However, this assumes they are even going to hire into the FDA vice using STVs. Lots of words about "intent" from the union lately, but the LOA says STVs may be used for 2 years. Time will tell what will happen.

Ranger

I haven't figured out how to use the multi-quote function so this is going to be a bit confusing.

I'm not bidding either FDA so I can't speak to "how to pay for it". Our captains (depending on the individual circumstances) can probably afford it without much long term financial damage. I've had the conversation many, many times. Most that bid it want to live out of the country for the adventure, the tax bennies or because they're hiding from someone/thing.

The practice bid schedules that I at looked were not particularly commutable. My guess is that the company will work to make them un-commutable to a large degree. They want the crews in domicile. They've made that very clear.

System bids are at the companies discretion. There will be at least one, maybe two more in the next few months just to get the 757 spun up. After that, who knows? If I was doing it I'd plan on a minimum of three years before I could bid back. Especially if you're very junior.

Changes to pay won't happen. Again, my opinion. The company is quick to point out when something isn't in the contract. There are no provisions for pay changes in the CBA. They'd have to do a LOA (possible) or renegotiate the rates (not gonna happen). But it'd sure surprise me if they did either. The bid closed, as you probably know. There is no real reason for the company to go back and revisit the LOA. I had lunch with one of the ACP's last week and he thought that they would close the bid, man the shortage on a month to month basis and hire into the uncovered seats. But even he wasn't sure what they'd ultimately do.

Does FedEx care about the financial burdens of new hires? Let me put this as gently as I can.

NO

They could not care less. If they did we would never have found ourselves discussing a grossly substandard LOA for pilots while other FedEx employees that are sent overseas get literally all of what we should have asked for.

If you're in the pool you can probably expect a call offering a job in one of the FDAs. It might be a "take it or leave it" option. Will they leave you swimming? I think they will. But I've been wrong before. Ask my wife.

jetstar1

"what makes you so special"
I never implied I was special. I think you will admit however that this is a financial burden that has not been experienced by the average new hire .

Albief15

That comment wasn't meant to sound like it was from ME, but rather the institution.

dude...I'm on your side on this. I got several folks I know in the pool, and all are quite torn. Well...except the guy flying 757s out of MIA for UPS...he ain't torn at all....

jetstar1

Thanks Albie for your insight

Beaverdam

For all the poolies wondering when they are going to get a call, I wouldn't get too excited yet. I hope I'm wrong, and I hate to sound negative, but we currently have extra pilots in all seats. I think the company will use STV to the maximum extent allowable for as long as they can to avoid putting any more pilots on the payroll. A recent e-mail from the ANC chief pilot suggested there won't be any hiring for a couple of years.
Good luck to all.

Meathead

jetstar -

From mgmnts mouth -

They will offer FDA slots to poolies at no risk (can stay in the pool if you want). If they don't get enough poolies, they hire from outside. Again, that is direct from mgmnt. Yes, that could change, but I find it irritating that people feed you gloom and doom when it is only their personal wag.

When the call comes, just ask. This board was full of all the same 'take it or else' fodder when they were hiring to ANC. Had me scared (wasn't interested in Alaska) and turned out to be complete BS. They were very straight forward and open, and more than willing to leave you in the pool. The call is very friendly, by the way, and not a pressure event. I am proof that you can 'just say no' and still get in the door here.

I think all the 'take it or leave it' mythology was rumorism from an incident where some knucklehead agreed to go to ANC, and then backed out the Sunday night before he was to have started training. Good luck, and don't let this board scare you.

O'DarkThirty

Based on what I've read in the FDA bid, the company doesn't need to worry about hiring off the street anytime soon. The HKG base is fully manned until Dec08 due to the fact that the SFS pilots are required to stay in theater until Dec08. There's 38 SFS FOs and 7 new guys equally the 45 required.

CDG may be the base the company needs to fill first but again later this year. Only two 757s by May-June requiring 12 in each seat(6:1). By Dec08, they hope to have five 757s operating in the European theater which would require the company to fill the vacancies by late summer/early fall.

In the meantime later this spring we should see another bid(clean-up)....
The over 60 guys may be back able to bid early next year(08) and it would be their only chance to move back up to the front row. And, we may even see LOA#2 before they hire off the street. It's all up to the bean counters now.

MX727

I thought the first few 757 were going to stay domestic.