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FDX - Reserve improvements next contract

Old 03-07-2008, 02:42 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Busboy View Post
We don't need more lawyers...We need leadership. Leadership that can mold this group into a real union. And ,members that can help educate those that just can't seem to get it.
I agree in principle with your entire point of our role as a pilot group in the negotiating process. It's true we aren't nearly up to the task as a group, and I see no improvement in that area given our current trio in the MEC front office. But do you really believe BC came away from the FDA LOA table with the best the company was willing to give at that point? There's a bridge over sheet river in Olongapo for which my yard guy can obtain the deed if you are interested.

How do we get our collective act together? New MEC Chair, Vice and SEC/TREAS. We already have a new NC, so that helps. Throw in a ringer pro negotiator and C-O-M-M-U-N-I-C-A-T-E with the membership.

Our only hope to establish any semblence of unity is to clean house up top and bring in a ringer and hope that acts as a catalyst for us to get together as a group. Status quo leadership will equal status quo crew force lack-of-faith/apathy.
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Old 03-07-2008, 02:57 PM
  #22  
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I guess you haven't either been here long or really reviewed the reserve section of the contract. Line guys getting raped??? Reserve guys have it GREAT because their only getting called out twice a month???

Here's a few problems with reserves:
1. Floating R-day (schedules option....ANY line guys have a MOVEABLE day??)
2. No protection jumpseating into MEM for reserve (Oh line guys already have that!!)
3. A+ and B+ periods (we got paid if moved before)
4. Show pay now only counts towards RLG not leveling (Changed in THIS contract)
5. No disruption pay for reserves (flew the same trip as the other guys in the cockpit but less pay).
6. No SIG input into R lines.

Shall I keep going??? Yeah guys are not getting called PRESENTLY because of company manning levels NOT because reserve is so great!!
It's your choice to bid reserve. You have to deal with this a couple times a month when you fly. I deal with the sodomizer every pairing I fly on now. Yes reserve took a hit on this contract too, but for Pete's sake, cry me a frickin river. When you start getting called out as much as a line pilot flies, then you will get sympathy. Manning levels aren't going to change anytime soon, enjoy your time at home while we get gang raped by the sodomizer. I think we beat this to death.
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Old 03-07-2008, 03:18 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by purpledog View Post
It's your choice to bid reserve. You have to deal with this a couple times a month when you fly. I deal with the sodomizer every pairing I fly on now. Yes reserve took a hit on this contract too, but for Pete's sake, cry me a frickin river. When you start getting called out as much as a line pilot flies, then you will get sympathy. Manning levels aren't going to change anytime soon, enjoy your time at home while we get gang raped by the sodomizer. I think we beat this to death.
Except you post as if everyone lives in MEM. Obviously we don't and not getting used on reserve sure doesn't mean we're "enjoying our time at home".
Many of us also don't bid reserve by choice. It's all we can hold. If flying the line is so tough for you, bid reserve (since it's such a cake walk). Maybe you have the choice.
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Old 03-07-2008, 03:21 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by purpledog View Post
It's your choice to bid reserve. You have to deal with this a couple times a month when you fly. I deal with the sodomizer every pairing I fly on now. Yes reserve took a hit on this contract too, but for Pete's sake, cry me a frickin river. When you start getting called out as much as a line pilot flies, then you will get sympathy. Manning levels aren't going to change anytime soon, enjoy your time at home while we get gang raped by the sodomizer. I think we beat this to death.
It's your choice to bid a line? You can't bid reserve? You want people to cry you a river because you're a "line guy," as if that means something? This is not an either/or thing, so why are you trying to make it one? This is about the pilot group as a whole, not about who bids reserve or who bids a line. So you'd rather stick it to the reserve line holders so you can get yours? How about we do what's right for everyone in the pilot group, not specific segments of it (like international MD-10 guys...).
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Old 03-07-2008, 03:25 PM
  #25  
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Why is that everybody is so worried about who is getting the better deal... (Reserve vs Line vs VTO or MD vs Bus pay rates being the same).. How about we work towards everybody getting a better deal!
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Old 03-07-2008, 03:30 PM
  #26  
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Purple,

If reserve is so great, then bid it. Now cry me a frickin river.

There are some easy no or low cost ways to improve reserve. Why not improve them? I think we all agree that we need to improve our work rules. I am not just talking reserve guys, but all of us. The only way we will get a decent contract is unity. We have our nonmember losers and we can't do a lot about that, but we need to get the rest of us in line. If you don't think it can be done, look at ANC disputed pairings. They are doing a pretty decent job policing their own, and if all of us in Memphis can get as unified, we can get rid of some of these crappy pairings. Our negotiations could be successful as well if we hold the line when the time comes......
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Old 03-07-2008, 03:40 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by BrownGirls YUM View Post
...But do you really believe BC came away from the FDA LOA table with the best the company was willing to give at that point? ...
Let me put it this way...I don't think that was the best that this company could afford. I don't think it was the best that we deserve. I didn't vote for it.

However, 68% of the less than educated individuals at this place did. And, THAT is what is important to the management negotiators. What's the cheapest way to do this. And sadly, they've got a pretty good reading on the pulse of what a bunch of weak-dichs we are.
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Old 03-07-2008, 05:03 PM
  #28  
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Good discussions...

A former block rep, CK, once told a guy who was complaining it was hard to drop R days for trips "...you only have to be junior once....after that it is a choice..." Kind of funny to watch that guy seethe, because where you sit on the seniority position for that seat determines your thoughts on the issue.

A senior guy's perfect world is reserve holders cannot touch an open time trip--that is for LINE HOLDERS to work their schedule.

A bottom feeder's perfect world is any trip is up for grabs, and picking up trips while on reserve should be fair game. First come, first served...

Now you are seeing how tweaking one section of the contract can severely irritate other pilots. I'm not trying to get preachy...but pleasing everyone is a b1tch. Adler is at least pointing out some ideas...and I'm enjoying the discourse. Had an ACP once mention that moving to Memphis was how to make this job great, and if you couldn't swing that then don't complain...(and this is wickedly paraphrased...) A commuter might want to take a swing at someone for that attitude, but the Collierville crowd would respond "dude--do you think we moved here for the Lake?"

So...with that "it ain't always perfect for ME" mentality addressed, I'll throw out just a couple of random thoughts...for discussion...

The improvements in the last contract on duty rig probably don't help the Memphis crowd--out and backs and hub turns out of MEM still pay 6 hours. On the other hand, the improved rig helps even little old 727 FO me...as I bid 2,3, or 5 days trips as a commuter when I can hold them. I AM getting more money per day under the new rules...even though I am not a widebody guy. This typically means an extra day for me at home per month. So--did we screw the Collierville crowd, or throw commuters a bone on this one?

When I got here after the postal contract was signed I heard complaints about the weekend flying and lack of weekend layovers. Now, with DH tickets more costly, I see more and more W/E layovers...with an extra hour or so of pay due to the trip rig. What do you want for domestic pairings? Week on/week off DDH or a layover for 60-85 hours?

Next--does anything think "domestic solve" would have gone easier on us with another contract? If you think our previous NC which has been so heavily scoffed for getting outfoxed by the optimizer boned it, what parameters do YOU proposed to protect your quality of life on the trips? GPEs and trip rigs were two tools used--what else do you suggest? Min layover times with financial penalities for shortening? What do YOU have up your sleeve?

Next...if you want our work rules fixed to protect our quality of life, who do you think would be the very best person to present those arguments? Now...I don't mean you say "some high priced lawyer..." I mean, I want to hear "John XXX from XXX and XXX, who negotiatied the awesome contract at XXX airlines in 1998". Its easy to sit around and wish for a super hero. Do your research, and give us NAMES. I personally think a guy with lots of SIG experience would be about ideal, especially with some experienced aviation and labor attorneys in his camp...but I am interested in your SPECIFIC recommendations.

Finally--I voted for the last contract. So did 94% of you. If you think that was a failure, then look in the mirror and ask what you are going to do differently this time. I didn't think the last contract was a failure then, and I certainly do not now. I eat my mini snak, enjoy the trip rig, and occassionaly even get a good deal on substituion. My position on issues subsequent to the contract are well known...and when things didn't go MY way I got ****ed enough to dive into the fray. So brothers...what are YOUR ideas and what are YOU going to do? I certainly can't do it all, and cannot do a thing alone...
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Old 03-07-2008, 06:33 PM
  #29  
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Default Not all guys on Reserve live in MEM

The current Reserve rules affect those who live in MEM and those who don't.

One great change that I would like to see is protecting guys who commute into an R day. I have heard different opinions from management/schedulers of their opinion on this. The contract is vague about our protection as a commuter. As a guy with an RA period, can I take the PM jumpseat from my hometown or do I have to waste an entire day in MEM by taking the morning jumpseat before my RA period? I have gotten two different answers from ACPs and Senior Schedulers. Some say you have to commute in the previous morning and some say the night before is fine. The most important part of the argument is whether or not the jumpseat time counts as part of the max 13:30 duty time.

This should be clearly laid out in the next contract so it is not up to the interpretation of some ACP or scheduler.

Also, when the schedule goes crazy with delays, FAR extensions..... why do the line guys start collecting the extra pay but the reserve guys see no gains?

-Speed
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Old 03-07-2008, 06:42 PM
  #30  
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Default Purpledog ,Your THE role model for MEM FedEx Pilots

Originally Posted by purpledog View Post
It's your choice to bid reserve. You have to deal with this a couple times a month when you fly. I deal with the sodomizer every pairing I fly on now. Yes reserve took a hit on this contract too, but for Pete's sake, cry me a frickin river. When you start getting called out as much as a line pilot flies, then you will get sympathy. Manning levels aren't going to change anytime soon, enjoy your time at home while we get gang raped by the sodomizer. I think we beat this to death.
A guy has some good ideas for improving our quailty of life and you come come back with this? How about you post a well thought out minimal cost 3 page post on slowing the sodomizer? Most guys here would (unlike you)offer support.
"Cry me a frikin river" lacks originality and isn't as classic as "I've got mine" . And, I don't like it as much as "Pull up the ladder". But keep workin on it, your headed in the right direction for a new slogan for all of the "'one ways" like yourself.
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