JollyF15

Boys and Girls,

With the lack of trust in our MEC, the Age 60 fiasco, Our substandard LOA which we had no leverage on (right!), the "I got mine" crowd, and now a huge s--t storm on the horizon with our over 60 coffee biatches moving up to the left seat----How do we stay Unified?

As the saying goes, divided we fall. My 2 cents is what's done is done. However, we need our MEC to represent us---all of us, not just the top 10% on the seniority list. I'm tired of being back briefed on decisions that were made, ignored inputs, and scare tactics to force our hand as a crew force. What say yuse guys?

Trapav8r

Jolly,
I think the key is to put another log on the fire, say a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings that surround us all, kiss you wife and hug your kids, and just relax and focus on what is really important. In the end, we have professionals for whom we voted that are working on our behalf. Just relax and let them do their job. If you have concerns, voice them. This too shall pass, and in the end we are doing what we love to do and earning a living doing it. There are 98% of Americans and 99.7% of the world making less than we.

This may seem like an oversimplification, but mental health can be a fragile thing. Live within your means and make decisions based on your priorities. As long as your priorities are sound, the rest seems to take care of itself. Also, appreciate the efforts of those protecting our freedom around the world and have compassion for those that are less fortunate. In fact, going to the soup kitchen this week might re-cage your gyros on life.

Not sure of your faith, but there is more wisdom than religion in this passage of the Bible:

Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.



Merry Christmas, Bro.
Trap

Jetjok

Jolly,

1. If you truly want this crew force to remain or become united, you might try not using such derogatory language like "coffee biatches" when referring to our flight engineers, or are you using that term only for the over 60 guys? In either case, it's inappropriate and acts as a divider and not as a uniter.

2. Your comment about over 60 guys "moving up to the left seat" is not correct. A better statement might be that these guys are "returning to the left seats that they left upon reaching age 60."

3. As well, don't forget that some of these over 60 guys were never captains to begin with, and as such, will probably want to return to the f/o seats they left.

4. Could you please clarify your second paragraph, because it seems that you're saying that all these over 60 guys are very senior ("top 10% on the seniority list), which, again, is probably not true. Don't forget, FedEx has hired a lot of "older" guys, guys in their 40's and even their 50's, so just because someone is 60+ doesn't make them "senior."

I too would like to see a united crew force here, but in order for that to happen, we'll all have to try to work together, both in the jets as well as on these boards.

JJ

DLax85

Trap -

Thanks for the post and the passage.

However, I think many folks on this board have legitimate concerns with portions of your first statement above.

...but, do agree, wholeheartedly, with your second.

Happy Holidays to All,

DLax

fdx727pilot

Good points, JJ. I know quite a few over-60 SOs who are junior to me, and were WB FOS or SO Flexes before turning 60. Not likely that they'll be displacing any MadDog Captains.

HSLD

Good post JJ, and I agree that unity throughout the ranks is key. Airline management is in collusion and shares information on the status of CBA's, labor costs, etc.

Think I'm paranoid check this out: http://www.aircon.org/what_is_aircon/index.htm

The more energy we spend beating on each other, the easier it is for management to get what they want out of labor. Without a unified labor force - across all airlines and unions, we're toast.

JollyF15

1. JJ -- Ok, you got me. What I think is funny is not funny to all, and for that I apologize. Hell, I used to call myself a coffee biatch when I rode in the back of the slave ship for my first three years here. I need to learn to play well with others. I'll refrain in the future referring to the Over 60 retreads as CB.

2. OK, we can call it whatever we want---but the bottom line is that some of our pilots will be gumming up the upgrade and hiring process as they continue (or go back) to seats that were previously vacated for us to move into. I'm about 80% over it, really I am---but it's hard not to get just a little pi--ed off at those who just can't move on and pass the torch. It's just plain greed, and it's all about the money---period, dot, end of statement. Shiza, now I'm back to only 60% over it---I'm doing some deep breathing as we speak to calm down.

3. You're right---there is the non-member whose name will not be mentioned who will want to go back to the right seat.

4. You raise a good point about FedEx hiring older guys. But I'm not just talking about the over 60 fiasco. I'm talking about the "perception" that the vast majority of the crew force is not represented, and our inputs are apparently ignored.

Sorry if I offended you JJ. I really do believe our unity is important, and that divided we will get scr--d. Hope you have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Cheers,
Jolly

Trapav8r

You bring up a point I have contemplated for a while. Why is it that we have a negotiating committee made up of pilots? To prepare for each round of negotiation, they have to get trained and spun up on techniques, laws, prior deals, 5000 individual agendas that need to be represented, etc.

It is time that we hire PROFESSIONAL negotiators. We spend a lot of money for ALPA and that money would be well spent on professional representation. Having a negotiating chairman is a good thing, but they should augment a professional team. The company uses this approach very effectively, and it is time we do the same.

vagabond

As I understand it, airline management actively scours through this board and others for a variety of reasons. It would be so easy to get a "pulse" of the pilot group. If I were given that job of collecting information, I would be delighted to read about the discord among the different groups. However, I also understand the fine balance between making this board a resource to many and giving management a one-stop shopping place.

I have no dog in this fight and no horse in this race. My concern is for all the members here, many of whom have become my friends. I just don't want to give management any more ammunition.

Albief15

I would remind you that when negotiations fail, it takes folks willing to do the unpleasant stuff that we hope we never have to do....self help actions. Even not picking up extra trips is a financial hardship. Walking a picket line is a huge gut check. Who do you want telling you to walk? Another pilot with similar vested interests, or a for-hire attorney who gets paid no matter what the outcome.

The idea of using ALPA is there should be some superior legal folks and cost experts behind the scenes...giving the best info and legal recommendations to the pilots involved on the NC. Could some things have been done better last time? Probably--I'm not privy to all that went on or how much work was done. (especially ditto the LOA stuff...) But you need one of your own at the point...at least that is the argument.