Skypine,

I would say about 95% of fedex pilots have no intention on bidding an FDA. So you are saying that their "yes" votes are the problem?? The FDA, in a whole, was a bad deal. I agree with you about that, but if it is truly this big of a problem, we can make that priorty 1 of our next negotiations. Until then, if the deal isn't good enough for you, don't bid it. There are plenty of folks on the street that will suck it up for the opportunity to work here. Guys in the pool (or about to be in it) will have a choice to take an FDA or keep swimming until other positions open. If it is truly a hardship (and I know for many it will be), then keep swimming and hope some new hiring takes place soon.....

 

Why should we give up any "negotiating capital" to make the FDAs better. If the company wants to expand let them pay for it. FDAs and contract negotiations should be seperate. Next contract I will be over 53 and I don't want to give up any of my extras just to help Fedex open up china cheaply.

 

Looks to me the company can fill the slots without them paying for it. The positions that go unfilled will go to new hires.

I tend to think most will agree with your views in the end. I don't think improving the FDAs will be a cornerstone issue.

 

Got an email from a friend who was a member of OBAP (below). He said OBAP was a waste of money and did nothing to help him, yet looking at this email makes one wonder how OBAP can get one an interview without all the other silly unwritten requirements:

FEDEX HIRING

Federal Express will be hiring a limited number of qualified candidates into the right seat of the Airbus to be based in Hong Kong or the right seat of the B757 to be based in Paris. All interested candidates should email there resumes to Clarence Grisham at [email protected] if interested by 18 DEC 07. If you have any questions concerning these assignments please do not hesitate to contact Clarence Grisham.

 

Maybe, but they haven't tried to fill the Maddog slots in HKG or the bus slots in gay paree yet. We will see. Put me in the we have leverage camp.

 

I couldn't agree more !!!!!!!!! Well said. Good luck to those that want to get hired, maybe they will help straighten this "good 'ol MEM boy outfit" out that 68% of us can't.

 

Intl. is the future at fedex. I think the domestic domicile numbers will not have a noticeable net gain in the next five years. Since we are sending more A300s to CDG and MD-10/11s to hong kong, combined with loss of 727 so and DC-10 so, MEM crew positions are going to be hard to come by, even with the addition of the 777. IMHO. So poolies beware.

 

Wow....I think you're missing the long term implications of a such a poor LOA on so many levels.

 

Dlax,

Not sure what you are looking for here. I agree that the LOA was lacking, and I voted against it. I have no desire to move to either location, but I thought the compensation package was grossly inadequate. We would all do better if the LOA was so good that the slots were filled with senior pilots.

However, it was approved by the majority of the membership. The company has sweetened the deal a couple of times (shorter STV, deposit assistance). I am not sure what can be done at this time. I will be interested in hearing the results of the Dec 6 meeting, but I am not expecting the company to budge. Why would they?? They have filled many of the slots, and now will fill the rest with new hires. If they want the demographics to change, they will have to improve the LOA. Will they? I doubt it...

Again, if this is important to us a group, we can make this a priority for our next negotiations. My guess is that it won't be considered that important to the vast majority of the membership and gains will be small. Call me a pessimist, but that is my take. I believe our neg capital will be used for things that effect a larger percentage of pilots. This seems to be the case with the Subic pilots, people outside of Memphis tend to get ignored....

Long term implications? Not sure about this. It will be tough financially for a new hire to live in HK or Paris. After about 8-9 months on the line, they will get a decent raise. I wouldn't chose to move to either location living on FO pay, but it will at least be an improvement. But I believe the company will give the poolies a choice, take an FDA or keep swimming. It is a choice that each individual will have to make based on their circumstances. In todays tough job market, I would take the FDA and commute for at least the first year.

At least current pilots can't be forced to take an FDA assignment. While a 30 day STV really sucks, most of us can survive a month of it. I think much of it will go voluntary, but I guess we will have to find out.

 

I left the military so I didn't have to go places I didn't want to against my will! We have SIBA, why change it to something that is a big giveback?


The voluntary STV is for 3 months Do you really think there will be that many voluntarilly willing to dive on that grenade?