I thought it was "just the facts, ma'am" too.

Oddly enough, this isn't even the end of it. As I said (to much scolding of the apparent kool-aid drinkers) when Fred learns to drive long haul trucks and use rail as efficiently as UPS it will have as great or greater impact than age 65. UPS has always paid far better, with far better benefits to it's drivers. Now that the playing field may be getting leveled the landscape may change yet more. As union members you'd think the Fed Ex pilots would support improving working conditions and more union membership. Keep in mind that if they do all unionize they might well consider supporting you guys next contract instead of Fred threatening to shut the whole thing down. Face facts fellas, you're past V1 regards one big happy non-union family thing. How you adapt now will determine your place in the brave new world. As Jack Nicholson would say, "...act accordingly..."

Meant to write a reply to vagabonds similar post a couple of days ago. What should we do; walk out of the next hub turn and stop traffic on I 55 while singing the internationale. If they want a union good on them. If they want help great. I don't feel threatened by Fedex Ground or Fedex Kinkos. Now those sneeky ba$tards at Fedex LTL is a different story. :)

PS
I think we will be alright unless Fred reads your post and discovers what he is missing!

Grape Koolaid is best

I agree. I don't think it is a bluff it is just business. They are not making it up that we have over 150 very senior guys coming back and a majority of the crew force who will now work until 65. Don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that this equates to fewer new hires and fewer upgrades.

Hell has frozen over. I actually agree with you.

Folks, this DOESN'T MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE! Consider this:

1. We are FAT, MOSTLY in the S/O seats (727)/(DC-10)
2. Current rates are $123.91 for the 72 or $140.90 for the 10
3. If the company opens those 200 seats up to the over 60 crowd, they all go to $231.65/hr. (at least a $90 pay increase per hour!)
4. The folks they bump out are all around $220/hr ($12/hr difference)
5. Those folks will most likely populate narrowbody Captain spots at $195/hr. ($25/hr paycut - BUT $55 MORE PER HOUR THAN THEY ARE PAYING THE OVER 60 CROWD TO STAY PUT.

To me it makes NO SENSE to do this. What they SHOULD do is NOT open a bid for then next 2 year till the 777 shows up. Then they purge a bunch of the 200 or so that will be over 63 that are in the back now. Negotiate a side-letter that disallows the migration from 60yrs old to a S/O seat where a vacancy doesn't exist (can't believe they have allowed this to happen this long as it is).

In the end, the company would save MILLIONS on pay and training in just the next two years.

...or just send them out on an ice flow. Isn't that what the inuit do? (Just kidding JJ....)

OK, now I'm really confused( yeah, I know, former Marine, what do you expect) What 200 seats are you talking about here. And how do they bump these guys back if it is an excess bid that generates all this movement. And if they do bump them where do the bumpees go. And do you mean 65 year old guys to the back seat?

200 seats seems to be the number that has been floating around......not exact obviously. If you excess a S/O that can hold MD-11 Captain, correct me if I am wrong, he displaces the junior MD-11 Captain if the company deems that junior MD Cpt as a newly generated excess. The "bumpees" go where they can hold a seat, thus bumping out the junior folks and on and on till the break of dawn.......as the song goes.

Honestly, we are all speculating here anyway. We'll find out soon enough I guess.

[quote=Sideshow Bob;288660]Oddly enough, this isn't even the end of it. As I said (to much scolding of the apparent kool-aid drinkers) when Fred learns to drive long haul trucks and use rail as efficiently as UPS it will have as great or greater impact than age 65. quote]

Hard to drive a truck from China