Young Jack

Im not wild about this 65 deal either, however; I dont think all is lost and in fact some oppurtunities for us junior folk may arise. Just follow. Unless you are dying to have a forth stripe than his post will not apply to you. Overwhelming in every argument pro or con there seems to be an underlying notion on money. If you look at the payscales at fedex more than any other airline your biggest percentage jump in pay is backseat to right seat. Thats good. Lets make it bigger. If there is a focused effort to increase the FO salaries and get within 75 percent of captains salaries I would suspect that a fair portion of the pilot group would stay put. I would also keep seperate pay scales for the 757 or 727 in the next contract as to allow those who want to go left seat to make more money than a widebody FO. This also opens up some higher paying FO slots. Retirement I would push for two option solution. You either choose B-plan and retire at 60. Or, 65 no B-plan only A-plan...I bet more people would retire at 60 than what the previous law mandated. Healthcare, at age 60 you pay a bigger portion, period. Old people have a nasty habbit of getting sick and young folks should not have to pay. Lastly, a buyout option may be viable say at 62 if your an engineer you get a WB FO 3 year buyout or you upgrade to captain.

Essentially what laws cant prevent certainly a bureaucracy can. Any suggestions?

boost

I don't see how you can possibly put any sort of positive spin on this. FedEx is unique because our over 60 guys are still here!!!! So we get hit immediately with the next couple hundred captain spots being filled immediately. Don't you get it?????
In one day we all just went down hundreds of seniority numbers. That means lower bidding, lower vacation choice, less career earnings potential, less ability to change bases or aircraft and many many more years until upgrade. Seniority is supposed to be the fairest system in the world and they changed the rules to benefit the few and screw the many.
It is total BS that these guys are going to be allowed to come back to a front seat. I am ready to fight this any way possible to keep the re-treads from coming back.

Young Jack

I see your point. But what can be done about it? You can beat the wardrums all you want. Or you can come up with ideas to even the score. You say your ready to fight this. Ok. lets hear some ideas.

Albief15

YJ,

I am in agreement about bumping up the raises for the FOs in the next contract. My proposal is to "model" a few typical careers at FDX before the age change, and a realistic career after the change with the pilot STILL retiring at 60. Then take a look at the differences in the numbers...

There is no way to recoup that whole loss, nor should there be. The captain's position is (almost) everyone's goal, and we want our captains rewarded. However, I also think there is room to bump up the pay scale for those trapped on the low side of the age 60 upgrade curve. The battle will be of course where we get the money...who gives up something?

I think there has got to be a way to share the "windfall" that some at our company will now reap. I'll probably get told to "stuff it", but with enough support from the junior blocks I don't think its unreasonable. Right now I think only 2 MEC reps or MEC reps elect are FOs. However, whenever the union has negotiatied, they always say "no one gets a free pass, and nobody gets left behind" I'm not the only guys only 100 numbers away from narrow body captain that will probably be waiting in the wings another 3-5 years, and I think there is enough "gravy" in those 5 extra years to share with some whose career expectations have taken a sudden setback.

Start throwing out some (reasonable) ideas. The whole "I won't eat with you, you are a greedy bastard" chat won't fix anything. However, maybe together we can mitigate some of the career damage.

pdo bump

albie, this is EXACTLY why i voted for you and stumped to all i knew in my block to do the same.

you have been chosen from your block to represent us, not just "rubber stamp" what the mustaches want. (like the former block rep who voted for the age 60 change, even though it negatively effected 99% of his block) i won't even get into the fda thing.

i know we can count on you.

pdo

HerkDriver

I like the thoughts, but you saw how well the union took care of the junior pilots on this last go around. Something tells me that helping us junior pilots won't be one of the "pillars" in our next negotiation...

mrzog2138

Albie,

There is one question I would have for you and the union. And that is concerning VEBA. Now that there is no need to provide that bridge for medical from 60-65, which I beleive was the purpose, what is the future of VEBA? There is $43.5 million that was negotiated in our contract for VEBA. Basically, since the CBA was signed the bottom half of the memebership at FedEx has taken it in the sorts in my opinion (I have been here a little over 7 years). Alot of the negotiated capital in this CBA went towards retirement and healthcare. It targeted the over 50 crowd with the increase in retirement multiplier (more negotiated capital from the "allocated pie" lost). The LOA for FDAs is going to be a negative for years to come. As a union, I beleive this MEC is losing a lot of it's support in the lower half of the membership.

A300_Driver

Who says there is no need for VEBA? I and the vast majority of pilots here still plan on leaving at 60. Maybe you are going to work 'til 65, but don't force me or anyone else to do the same.

MAGNUM!!

I support the idea of some kind of A-Fund / B-Fund tradeoff like UPS did in their last deal. With the extra 750K-1M+ in salary the 60 yr olds are going to get, they can plan to do with a reduced A-Fund. A 12% B-fund and a 20% raise in F/O rates might get some of us junior folks to settle down. And if the senior crowd doesn't support that, then, well, I guess it WAS about the money all along.

mrzog2138

A300_Driver,

This is what I am talking about. Straight from the CBA. A pilot who turn age 59 gets a check for $25,000 in his HRA fund and can continue to fly until age 65 (where is completely covered by the company). He can then still have his HRA account when he retires, while being covered by Medicare. THIS WAS NOT THE PURPOSE OF VEBA AND IS A HUGE LOOPHOLE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. Section 27.H.7

b. For each eligible active pilot (i) having a seniority list number on August 25, 2006, (ii) who has attained at least age 53 before January 1, 2007, (iii) who is expected to meet the age and service requirements for coverage under the Retiree Group Health Plan as of his attainment of age60 or older, and (iv) who retires on or after August 26, 2006, the Company will make a one-time cash payment of restricted signing bonus to the VEBA equal to $25,000. Such contributions shall be made no later than January 28, 2007 (90 days after October 30, 2006). The contribution and interest attributable thereto shall be transferred to the HRA established with respect to that pilot upon the date that the pilot attains age 59, or if earlier, as soon as practicable after the pilot dies. If a pilot attains age 59 or dies prior to the date that the Company funds the VEBA pursuant to this Section 27.H.7.b., the contribution and interest attributable to such pilot shall be transferred to the HRA as soon as possible after the date on which the Company funds the VEBA.
c. HRA contributions will not be reduced for a pilot who continues as an active employee past age 60. There is no requirement that a pilot participate in a Company-sponsored Pre-Medicare health care plan when he retires in order to use his HRA or to receive an HRA contribution
d. There is no requirement that a Pilot participate in a Company sponsored Pre-Medicare Health care plan when he retires to use his HRA or to receive an HRA contribution.
e. A pilot’s HRA may be used for reimbursement of any qualified medical expenses while retired, including participant premium contributions, whether before or after Medicare eligibility. Any unused amounts in the HRA at the time of the pilot’s death (whether before or after retirement)may be used for reimbursement of any qualified medical expenses of the eligible surviving spouse and any other eligible surviving dependents. Any unused amounts in the HRA at the last to die of the pilot, eligible surviving spouse and eligible surviving dependents will be forfeited to the VEBA.

Am I wrong?