New Union
 

What about starting a drive to vote ALPA off the property, and vote in an in-house union with bylaws that address the issues written about here? There's still time before the next contract is up for negotiation.

pickle pause get-a-grip

Been there- Done that....Midnight Parking lot contract!

MAYDAY MAYDAY Chugs and Stalls............ Weve been down this road before.........

From our ALPA website history:


ALPA leaders ask the FPA to do what is best for the FedEx pilot group as a whole. Even if they cannot support ALPA, they should at least support the current contract negotiations. Then once a contract is signed, the FPA is still free to petition the NMB for a new representational election. If they win, they will inherit the contract and avoid the added expense of negotiations on top of the startup costs of a new union. FPA leadership refuses.

1996:
Let's not go down this road again for the sake of someone that was not here for these three events. Voting out our current representation is not the answer. Getting involved to improve it should be our focus.

FDXer

Exactly which cubicle do you work in?

No? Well, you could have fooled me.

Absolutely, Positively, No.....
While I have not hesitated to voice my displeasure at times, there are countless people working tirelessly for the betterment of the pilot group....especially the MEC.

The solution to the problem is individual pilot involvement. There is no pill that can treat these issues. While you (collectively us) may not like some of the positions of the MEC, those guys are working pretty hard to look out for what they think are the best interests of the pilot group.

We may disagree on the issues, but I don't think that these guys that represent us are trying to hose us....that may be the result :D, but I don't think that is the objective they're working towards....it is just the by-product:D

We need to have the maturity to recognize that it is not going to go "my way" all the time...that is the nature of collective bargaining. However displeased I may be at times, I am certainly pretty happy in general to have cast my lot in with the collective group. I like the guys I fly with, I love working for the company, and on a personal basis, I like the guys who are working on the MEC.

Sooner or later, the casting of darts has to stop. Now that we have their attention, lets work toward something positive. I have grown weary of the negativity that I have also participated in at times.

Let's try a new tack.

Feel free to dive in. The water's fine. I made the jump.

We need some new blood to work comm. I'd like to see the website improved and made more interactive. So--jump in and help out.

Hate comm? Lots of other areas need some oomph too. If someone kyboshes your interest--PM me. I'll help you get a vector.

Could IPA be voted in? Serious question.

Been there, done that. Worked my as$ off for 3 years on the Mil Affairs Committee. Won millions due members in unfunded B-Fund contributions. Answered countless emails and phone calls from Mil members regarding any and all questions. Ran interference between mgmt and members over MLA issues. Never cost you one red cent of your (or my) dues money.

Was unceremoniously kicked to the curb by DW due to my calling the LOA a dog turd. His weasley little henchman (WR) who lurks here and then runs tattling to DW if he sees something counter to the party line was the instigator. I think the volunteers I worked with are the best. I think the curent crop we have as the MEC are dog vomit.

I wouldn't take another volunteer job, well, even if you PAID me! Now maybe 98 hours/month (every month) at the highest paying line I might take (like the MEC).... Vote me in as a block rep and I'll go at them again, but I won't be put in a situation where I have voice support for something I know sucks.

Just my 2 cents...

Thanks for your work.

98 hrs a month...

MEC. Or, MEC officers?

I realize that things won't go my way all of the time, but as a fairly junior crewmember (6 years), things haven't been going my way (or our way) for quite some time now. What about the simple fact that the MEC is supposed to work for us, and might actually once in awhile step up and stand behind what the majority wants??? Period. We all shell out ALOT of money, and so far, all I feel like I've got in return is a tie tack (which I choose to no longer wear), bag tags (which I choose to no longer use) and a calander that, while somewhat handy, costs as much as a an initial trip to an orthodontist. Albie...you are my block rep. Put this in your list of things that at least one member of Block 7 wants on the next contract negotiation:

Get rid of the agency shop!

I thought it would be a good idea. Unfortunately, the dirt balls that weren't members were grandfathered anyways. The only way that I feel like I will EVER get the attention of the MEC is to have control back of the one thing that I believe they care about the most...my money. As it stands right now, this MEC has no incentive and no motivation to do anything that goes against whatever "they" decide is best for the rest of us.

P.S. I just hit my 100th post. Yeah me.

I appreciate your thanks. I'd still be doing it if I were welcome there.

It's the officers only. Here's a quote:

g. Flight Pay Loss and Override
(1) Officers will bid in a pay only status.
(2) Officers will be compensated at the rate of ninety-eight (98) CHs per month,
calculated in accordance with Section 60.m. 2. b.(4) of ALPA policy, the MEC
having determined that this compensation falls within the parameters of this
ALPA policy. This compensation will be based on the bid status of the MEC
officer.
(3) Carryover will not be considered or paid for any pay only line bid.
(4) Officers will receive an override of:
MEC Chairman $1,500.00/month
MEC Vice Chairman $1,350.00/month
MEC Secretary/Treasurer $1,250.00/month

To see all the other benefits, try this link.

https://crewroom.alpa.org/fdx/Deskto...ocumentID=7348

If that doesn't work, log on to the ALPA site, go to the FedEx start page, HOME tab, FedEx MEC Info Center then MEC Policy Manual. Pretty good deal if you can get it. Especially considering I did all my work gratis.

Amen, brother...

a tell tale thing that bothers me is just about every resolution that has been coming out of the MEC are "unanimous". Is there no free thinking or is it policy to present a united front....

Good question, Albie do you think a purple/brown union would be possible? After all, we'd have lots of leverage standing together. What do you think?

Deleted....

I would go for the Purple/Brown union in a minute! The Idea of getting "National" out of our pockets and away from driving our collective agenda sounds pretty good to me.

"F" Alpa national's resources. I thought they were supposed to be helping us in return for our money. Why is our comm chair overwhelmed with taskings from "National?"

--deleted--

IPA for FedEx ??
 

The minute you have more than one airline, with more than one seniority list, trying to represent both groups ... you have a mini-ALPA.

ALPA is a multitude of MECs flying in loose formation under the banner of "one union". In reality the MEC with the most political connections, largest membership, and the greatest dues dollars tends to control the direction of the union ... historically speaking.

I can CERTAINLY see where UPS & FedEx pilots have MANY common issues ... but we don't want your stinkin' scooby snacks ! ;)

I personally don't think IPA would work for both. After 15+ years in that other union, I am happy to have a union that can focus on one airline's issues only. That can be challenging enough ... ;)

Later, Brown CC

:D

I have been saying that for a long time. I think all freightdawgs should ban together. Have everyone join (Fed, Brown, Atlas, Kalitta, Southern, ABX, etc). JMHO, but I think ALPA is way more interested in their "bus" drivers, than the "truck" drivers. :D

Now we just get our MEC going against 78% of it's members because it is the right thing to do

So I gather Albie just got "read-in"

The problem is with our union leadership... not the union.

Our MEC needs to do a better job in many respects, including using the expertise at ALPA national, and not being a suk-up to them.

However, I reserve my right to change my opinion if ALPA decides that Hillary or Obama is the best candidate for president for me.

Hillary or Obama probably are the best candidate for me, the working stiff. The Man is keepin me down whilst drawin some big a## bonuses and stock options

Doesn't mean they're the best for my country. And as a citizen, I shouldn't just be voting for whomever is going to give me a free lunch. Sure don't want my country to windup in the same position Michigan is in.

No hate mail please, I do have friends in Michigan.....and the economy there isn't what it was years ago

No...I was trying to send a PM and goofed. I ended up putting a PM on the board for about 9.5 seconds.

I didn't think anyone else wanted to see the naked pictures of the MEC in the hot tub, so I deleted it...:D

My actions speak for how I feel about ALPA verses an independent union. I complained about some issues--then sought folks to run and get involved--then got involved myself. So...I'm in. I'm here. And I want our union to work. I am confident that it will.

The problem is with the membership, not the "leaders." We're the ones that keep the LEC officers in office and don't insist on the recall of LEC officers and MEC officers when they make bonehead decision after decision.

As to ALPA endorsing Hillary or Obama, ALPA looks only at their labor and airline positions. It's up to you to decide if other things need consideration in your vote. Keep in mind though, that as strong as your feelings might be about the two Democratic front runners, there are just as many who have the exact same strong feelings about the top Republican candidates.

That's why you're the poster child for the solution in my opinion.

If we think real hard we might come up with a solution where neither side is pis$ed at their Union (at least when it comes to endorsements).

Stop the calls, we have a winner!

On the surface the idea does have its virtues. Imagine IF one of the groups actually managed to get released from mediation AND made it through the 30 day cooling off AND got released into self-help without a PEB, AND a large majority of the other group didn't show up for work either. In other words, while it sounds good the planets would likely never align. The other downside is that UPS and Fed Ex combined have a huge percentage of the GDP in their systems at any given time and that would increase the likelihood that the government (regardless of which party has the executive branch) would shut down anything resembling a legitimate (never mind maverick) job action, perhaps even doing a Hoffa on the leadership.

Beyond that, we are (beyond the basic class and craft) very different pilot groups with very different luggage. I've been a member of four different pilot unions over the years, and they all had their warts. All things considered, IPA has overall had the best combination of unity, leadership and effectiveness for me as compared to the others (including ALPA). But as someone pointed out, it has more to do with the leadership than the stationary.

I fail to see just what is this "expertise from ALPA." They didn't research many of the quality of life issues on our behalf in this contract, nor did they use their "expertise" to research FDA issues.

The union membership is the problem when they repeatedly accept substandard results at premium rates!

Why would you say that? The MEC and negotiating committee knew exactly what was in store, as far as our scheduling section goes. They actually directed the SIG group(by letter) to not hold up bid packs for issues such as: city-purity, D/H commonality and turning up the optimizer.

I guess the idea was...That we still had the SIG's dispute process. The only problem is, we don't have a pilot group that stands behind the SIG's efforts. So, changing the name of our union is going to solve our problem? I don't think so. And, I'm also sure that just changing our leadership will not solve our problems.

Why? Because we'll have the same membership. We can't change that. But, we sure as hell better change our behavior, if we expect to get anything out of our next contract negotiations.

Finally, we really have a winner! From a 2004 article I wrote for the FedEx pilots:

Labor remains in a death spiral, and its house needs a top-to-bottom overhaul if it's going to survive.*

*"Can This Man Save Labor," Business Week , Sep. 13, 2004, pg. 80

These are the words of Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's largest and fastest-growing union.

There are a lot of very good people working on behalf of their fellow pilots at FedEx and other carriers. However, while they are doing their work, ALPA is in a strategic free-fall right along with other traditional unions. By all reasonable standards, the money that is being spent on dues is prolonging the suffering. In my opinion, not only are pilots not getting what they pay for, they are contributing to the decline.

There should be no mistake about it, "ALPA" is merely a convenient whipping boy term for me; more directly, our problems are the product of poor leaders who love their positions more than principle, and poor followers who fear embarrassing themselves by breaking with the poor leaders.

Hey gang, the goofiness that you have seen at FedEx recently has been going on long before your time at every carrier. It has accelerated in the last 10 years as pilots have, along with Labor in general, lost nearly all leverage as a result of relying on "tradition" for solutions.

ALPA was not able to protect even one pension from substantial damage. Does anyone seriously think it will be able to protect your pension when its your turn in the barrel just because one of your bulletin board friends got elected to LEC? Come on, you just gave away some of your most important work rules for no visible reason. What are you thinking and what does this tell you? This is starting to get humorous. You should be abandoning the ALPA "mentality" like rats off a sinking ship, yet you are sitting around moaning about someone flying a disputed pairing. The reasonable man would have to say that you got bigger fish to fry.

Per Mr. Stern's comment above, Labor's problems, including those of the pilots, are strategic and the system requires massive, bone-crunching reengineering before things will get better. May the overhaul begin...and begin soon.

Bob

OK...Who farted?

For Runner and those that might like this at face value....

Talk with some of the UPS guys about problems they had during their negotiations. It wasn't all great with the MEC type guys, the negotiators, and the crew force.....

IPA is exactly who the UPS guys voted in. Not anything else...Oh, other than their resolve!

Of which ours was pretty good till recently!

Past...

Then what difference does it make what Union is on the property?

That and their 210,000+ UPS union brothers, called the Teamsters.

Might want to check your facts on that one. :confused: