BrownGirls YUM

It's actually within 100 miles of HKG, since that's where the base is. CAN is still within that circle.

CobraSubic

I was jumpseating to ANC with a future Captain at HKG who, with others, got a briefing last Friday. I might have heard wrong, but I thought that he told me that every time we worked out of CAN FedEx was going to have to pay a taxes for that pilot. The taxes would be based on the number of days he actually worked in China outside of HK. Even if a pilot did not live in CAN that FedEx had a tax obligation. Please correct me if this was not what was briefed. I don't think FedEx knew this prior to the LOA and isn't happy that their "people" didn't do their homework on it. Does anyone else have any information about this?

FDXLAG

And they still haven't answered the STV income tax question I'll betcha. Hong Kong has a 30 day limit on working and not paying income taxes. Who knows what the chicomm limit is. I sure wouldn't want to be the first 90 day guinea pig. Thanks ALPA.

Albief15

IRA, Fecav8rs, or another Subic guy...

Anyone know why the move out of Subic was proposed anyway? What was "broke" that needed fixing? This isn't an attempt to cry over spilt milk...just wanting a little more background info... Have we outgrown the facilites there?

subicpilot

Two reasons I'm fairly certain of....

1. We outgrew Subic and there was no more room to expand.
2. The "hub" in the "hub and spoke" system was not in the center of the wheel. The company needed to establish physical presence in mainland China. Not to mention that due to location and runway considerations, the company was severely limited in it's ability to launch long range heavies out of Subic. The MD-11 crowd would know much more about this.

There are probably dozens of other reasons, but those are probably the two biggest I can think of. Fecav8r probably has more insight here...but I haven't seen him in a few weeks...I think he swore off this board for a while.

There were lots of good reasons to stay in Subic, too...but apparently not good enough. As always, us pilots are missing a large piece of the puzzle...

AFW_MD11

Hate to rain on this parade - I am 100% in favor of us having options if we've now decided we have second thoughts.......but........

What about this - when you change your standing bid to include anything in HKG or CDG, the following page pops up PRIOR to officially changing your standing bid:

You've entered a bid for CDG and/or HKG Foreign Domicile Assignment

I wish to be awarded a permanent vacancy in either CDG or HKG in accordance with the preferences stated in my Standing Bid and will sign a CDG/HKG FDA Agreement in the event that I am awarded a vacancy at CDG or HKG.

__ I agree
__ I decline

Note: If you decline, you must remove any bids you have for CDG or HKG from your Standing Bid.

Copied directly from the VIPS page.

The only "out" that I still see is that by checking "I agree" here, you haven't actually signed on the dotted line - you have just indicated you "intend to sign"

Any jailhouse lawyers out there wiling to rule on this?

iarapilot

That all sounds logical, not sure if it was/is true. The Company would have to pay the tax. A moot point for us. But, was that the original agreement, if any, that FedEx had with the Chinese? If it is the case that FedEx didnt know about this "arrangement" until recently (if true, mind you!), the games are just beginning!! I would place bets on who the winner would be also.

iarapilot

I would think that they would like a longer runway to go direct to MEM with an MD or 777.

But personally, I feel that they are just prostituting themselves, like so many US companies, just to be in China. It is the latest fad it seems. I realize that for some companies it = major $$. Example is Google. They move in and make $$ being in China. But they prostitute themselves by blocking websites and giving out personal info that they would be sued for doing in the US. Ever been to PVG and tried to surf Google news? Good luck. There are ways around it, but that is not the point. That is just one example. But for FedEx, not sure. As of now, the routes/cities served will be the same. FedEx gets Subic for a very cheap cost.

FR8Hauler

The Fedex Pilots Wive's Club had it shut down is what I heard.

skypine27

Why did the Union include this language in the LOA?

b. Absent extenuating circumstances, if a pilot later fails or refuses to sign the agreement in the required time frame, he shall be frozen in his current crew position for two years, as if his failure to sign the agreement had been a down/lateral bid covered by Section 24.E.1.c. Such freeze shall not result in any passover pay.

This isn't a Vietnam POW camp. You don't have to sign it.