aircum

In Aoc the other day... Over heard about 7 to 8 guys say they were on Draft. When's it going to stop. Please look to the future Fedex pilots, instead of the present. They are more than likely selling off vacation too!!

Myboyblue

I'm guessing draft is like picking up open time, during negotiations I'm guessing this is a big no-no.

dckozak

Well it would help the cause if nobody flew extra, but if no one did extra, the company would probably go to court and say the union is doing an illegal job action and hose us.

Ranger

There are actually two kind of seperate systems. What you describe as "picking up open time" we call volunteer. The pilot institutes it. Our computer system has an option that the pilot can use to volunteer for trips that crew scheds can't cover with reserves. You can even input restrictions, i.e., no out and backs, no night flying, etc. Obviously, you can only volunteer on days off.

Draft is company instituted. If they can't cover a trip with reserves or volunteers, they start the draft process. They're supposed to go down the seat seniority list and start calling offering the draft trip(s). In reality they pretty much know who does and doesn't fly draft and who lives close enough to actually be able to fly a trip. It seems to me that the same people get the calls most of the time. I rarely get called because I rarely do draft. I almost never volunteer.

By the way, both pay 150%. That puts us at right about what we should be making in the first place.

MD11driver

Pay-wise, it can be a lot of money, but it doesn't help our cause during negotiations. In fact it HURTS our cause..the company can come back and say, "Look at how much our pilots make...we don't need to pay them more...", or "We don't need to hire more pilots...we are filling our trips with the pilots we have...", etc., etc...

If every pilot INDIVIDUALLY decides (as opposed to an official statement from the union) to not fly draft or volunteer, it can't be considered an illegal work action...

But...money can be a powerful motivator, which is why we have guys agreeing to take draft and volunteer trips. Consider a $206/hr captain taking a 72 hour draft trip...108 extra pay hours for 2 weeks of extra "pain"...that can help pay that 3rd marraige alimony...

There is also a flip-side (isn't there always??). We can't maximize our High-5 pay calculation WITHOUT extra flying...which is SAD! That is a serious problem that needs to be fixed during this contract cycle...

Now, I think guys taking MAKE-UP open-time trips is a different situation...because those are hours you have already been awarded, but decided not to fly. Well, they are still YOUR hours, and YOU took the paycut when you decided to drop/trade trips, so why not be able to make the hours up later? However, I do agree that if you can afford not to, then you shouldn't fly make-up during negotiations either...

ultradrvr

it probably would be considered a illegal action by the union to not pick up open flying. The company counts on you guys doing extra flying to cover trips...if your pilot group is like our pilot group (ABX AIR) they will continue to pick up open flying and selling vacation despite the fact that it helps the company and not the cause...and in our case despite the fact that we still have people on furlough....because like I was told "senoirity is everything son" man this kind of sounds like I have a burr under my saddle doesnt it??

Browntail

At least one of the *hores ( Woodson ) retired and another one ( Fathead ) retires soon!

RedeyeAV8r

It would be illegal for the Union suggest that Pilots do not do fly extra........................

Contractually all Extra flying is on a "volunteer" basis if they can't cover it with available reserves.

If all the pilots decided on their own...........that it is in their best interests to spend their scheduled days off with their family and friends..................there is nothing illegal about that!

FDXFLYR

I recently learned that our negotiating committee has been doing all their work at straight time. If they can do their job at straight time, then so can I. No draft, no volunteer, and I'm taking my vacation.

The company will never come to the table until it's in their economic best interest to do so, and as long as pilots continue to work extra and sell back vacation for the company, then we'll continue getting stonewalled at the negotiating table.

The union will not indicate when we should as a group, begin a job action until we enter the 30-day cooling off period; by then it's too late. We need to individually, take action NOW!

One other thing: if our captains would stop giving FOs landings, the company would grind to a halt in 90 days. Don't get me wrong, I love to fly and land the jet, but I'm really frustrated at getting jerked around by the company.

Myboyblue

If this question is inappropriate regarding negotiations let me know,

what is the main concern in the new contract that Fedex pilots are after, I know in general from reading these boards that it is not more money as much as work rules.

What sort of work rules are being sought out.

Work rules regarding quality of life, ie vacation, more days off.

Or Work rules than can bring up your w2 other than hourly rates.

I'm guessing its both, just curious.