Information (Or lack thereof) for the FDA's
 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If I may make an observation, without "opening a can of worms", is there another source of "information" on the FDA's that us poolies do not have access to?

Does the FDX ALPA website contain detailed information such as local living conditions, housing and other important information so that a "normal" human being can make a "sound" decision for himself/herself on going to the FDA?

From my observation, there isn't any information except what is posted here to make such a "sound" decision. My extensive time in China, particularly Zhuhai and the Guangdong Provence allows me to make the decision for HKG soundly. Hong Kong itself isn't even an option with regards to the housing costs. But what if I was to only be offered CDG? I know nothing of the area and don't have any information here to make a "sound" decision.

Wouldn't it be prudent for FDX ALPA to send out an informational packet to poolies in the event they need to make a decision about the FDA? It would seem that since we are the "future" of FDX ALPA then this would be much better served than the "standard" Welcome aboard Packet that you get when you are hired at an ALPA carrier. If a packet couldn't be sent due to cost constraints, perhaps a page on the website for us to become "educated" on the FDA. Knowledge is power and for anyone not to have this knowledge prior to making a decision is crazy. Basing on what information I have on the FDA I can only choose HKG.

I understand that my information would be limited as I am not yet an employee but the "potential" for being called exists thus this information should be considered if it even exists. If not, and the rank and file don't have the information either, then how in the world did the FDA pass without such information?

I hope I don't make anyone upset but I thought this would be a proper dialogue considering the possibility of the purple olympic swim team being retired.

Thanks......

Whale

Whale,

I wouldnt put the cart before the horse. If and when you might be offered a position, the company would surely provide you information for you to make a decision. The FDA is what it is. There is valuable information on this forum if you can weed out the chaff. I honesty think we are years away from new hiring. We are parking jets and are fat in every seat. It will take years (in my opinion) to get the FDA's up and running and until then I believe the company will use their options to man the FDA's with the current seniority list.

Take it for what it's worth.

SS

There is information on the pilot fedex web site and they have slowly been adding more info to it as time goes by. I thought it was severely lacking in information leading up to the vote on the LOA. They added more info prior to the bid for the FDA's but it still comes up short. It would be worth reading prior to making a decision but needs to be supplemented with some good research.

Great idea, they could use the leftover packets they sent out to those that work here......

Whale,

If this really concerns you, I would suggest you start researching this information. Spend some time on the internet and you can learn a lot about the living situation in Paris, or possibly somewhere outside the city. I wouldn't count on ALPA getting any more information than you can find out yourself. The company has given us very limited information, but maybe your sponsor will share this with you as well.

Bottomline: Spend a few hours searching the web and put yourself in a better position to make a decision if it comes to that. Don't count on ALPA doing any of the leg work. I doubt the lines will be very commutable, but there is always the option of crashpad living over there.

I wouldn't expect any information from our union, we couldn't even get that from them before we voted! Here's a couple of sights I found useful

http://www.parisattitude.com

http://www.paristay.com

Hope it helps, good luck!

An Alpa rep at a past meeting, when asked about the lack of info given to us by the union concerning the FDA's stated that Alpa feels that this is the Company's responsibility. Good luck getting info from either...

I have to agree. Take the union out of the picture for a moment. What company is expanding in Asia? What company is opening foreign domiciles? What company is paying for everything? Who provides the information at other companies for employees moving to a foreign country? This is a FedEx sponsored move and they should have inundated us with information. It was our MEC's responsibility to push some buttons when that didn't happen.

Whale,

Good questions ... I'm disappointed in the job both my company and my union have done with regard to the ENTIRE FDA package, including but not limited to, the questions you ask. And, like several others have said ... it's the Unions position that the Company is responsible for disseminating info about the FDA's.

I might have considered bidding an FDA myself if the compensation had been better AND we had better information on which to base a decision!*?

Regards ... Mark

The company didn't even give us info before the vote - why would they feel compelled to give it to a potential newhire?

Fat in every seat - maybe - but where are all the people to fill the bid going to come from? The said they aren't going to use STV for that!

I think you are way off base or have been drinking way too much (purple koolaid that is)!!