R1200RT

Why would they ever need to hire? Just have an excess bid that fills all the seats. The bottom few guys could go to HKG or quit. The music has stopped playing and I will bet you every seat will have a butt in it.

I just don't understand what prevents the company from filling the seat with existing pilots. We are over staffed, so force the junior guys with a bid. I can't find a place where the contract prevents it.

DLax85

They can't ---- read below (...pasted from another thread).

This is one saving grace to the junior pilots on property.

*************

24.C.5.b. No pilot may be assigned involuntarily to fill an FDA vacancy. If no pilot on the Master Seniority List expresses a preference by standing bid for an FDA vacancy, the Company may hire a pilot to fill that vacancy.

24.C.6.b. If an excessed pilot cannot be awarded a crew position due to insufficient preferences on his standing bid, the Company shall assign him to a permanent crew position with a base in the United States with the highest pay rate to which he is entitled by his seniority.

*************

If it was that easy the LOA could have been even worse and they would have pulled this trigger many months ago....especially with the large overmanning in the back of the Boeing.

Albief15

The interview work is a hoot, but a lot of the success is the quality of the individuals that are smart enough to know they are GOOD at something but can always do better with help. (My analogy: Even Tiger Woods has a golf coach).

The union work is hard slugging. The biggest issue isn't what you might think...its not other union reps or MEC leadership. I think we agree on about everything that has come up since I have joined in March. The tough part is whenever things get bad or interesting the membership wants something done NOW. They need facts right this minute! And sometimes I'm along for the ride with the rest of you and it takes a while! Anything we do involves working with the company--and look how fast and smooth ops have been lately on that front. There are a lot of folks over in flight management working hard, but a glimpse at all the turnover the last two years in the various offices should give you a glimpse that there are a lot of moving parts, and I'm not sure if anyone really has all the push buttons available for all the machinery. I wish things would move faster. I can only say I ask for your patience and I'll do my best to keep you posted.

I've finally (I think) got the comm channels on the official email chain figured out--look for an intro letter next week and more to follow regularly.

And--you won't believe the stress I cause folks by posting here--I want to be here enough so you know I'm available but not make this a policy or discussion forum. So--I'll be here to say "hi", shoot the breeze, and let you know where and when I'll be around for lunches. I'll refrain from too many comments on policy but invite you to call or write anytime and we'll chat.

Right now--to be honest--I'm as in the dark as anyone on Friday's letter. My speculation on causes was just based on regurgitated stuff I have heard from tech sources--probably worthless. May be need an "ask boycaptain" for the latest bus gossip. If I learn more than I can share next week I'll pass it on with official channels. I'll be chillin' on the other posts for a while...except to rib viper guys and whine about not gettin' the right mini-snak.

DLax85

...but you can always lurk!

...and while I think many folks are always looking to hear/learn more from the Union leadership, they also, and just importantly, want the Union leadership to listen!

...this forum allows many folks, who for whatever reason, wouldn't raise their hand to ask a question or talk in a formal face-to-face union meeting, to ask some hard questions....and at times, provides some sound analysis, expertise and viewpoints that may not be heard or considered otherwise.

I thank you for keeping your eyes and ears on this forum, even if you must be a bit constrained in your inputs.

Toccata

Albie - communication, and direct at that, is nice. I, and I think many, had really reached our limit with the spin coming from the guys who are suppose to be our own reps., and suppose to be working for our mutual benefit. It truely seems at times that ALPA has a class on the best and most effective ways of putting makeup on the pig.

The truth and straight-talk works wonders for the type of individual that makes up our pilot force.

Any chance of those not in your block getting on your official email chain? The system may not allow it, but thought I'd ask. Would enjoy hearing updates from someone who has generated a great deal of trust and respect, simply based on the content and quality of posts here, and the effort being taken to engage the crewforce.

FDXLAG

While there may be too many request for getting things done right now there is also a lot of inertia at ALPA. Some sounds of life from the union would be nice. How long did the union sit on Fox hosing us on accepted fares and canceling ground transportation. My guess we are working on that now but guess what it has become accepted practice and we are stuck.

Gunter

I don't think accepted fares have any chance of getting un-fu$#$#. We are in cost cutting mode and that fix has a price tag on it for no perceived benefit for the company.

I've been tipped toward wanting to fly as scheduled. No protections when deviating. Beside the well advertised protection on the front for price and ability to get into position we are also protected for late flights and cancellations on the back end. If your back end is late or canceled you get extra pay and hotel services you wouldn't otherwise get. If you deviate a canceled flight shows blocking in on time, end of story, even if you are still there trying to get home. The blue line stops.

Why don't we get a new ticket or hotel if we are deviating and often saving the company money? Because it saves the company even more money to pretend we made it home o.k. You are even considered in a legal rest period for the next pairing.

Now back to reality....Avoid the hassle and operate as scheduled. You may increase your pay doing so.

captexpress

Not to get off the point of this thread...although it can be argued that this may have already occurred, but I gather from previous posts that the primary reason for Albie's support was a promise of "straight talk" without the imprimatur of the MEC Officers or the "official line" being promulgated by the MEC on that particular day? IMHO, what the membership (me) doesn't need is more of the same rhetoric along the lines portrayed in the old WHO song......."Meet the old boss, same as the old boss". As you fine folks on this site have already noted, .... a little straight talk from our MEC leadership goes a long way. I expect spin from my Company and it's managers....but I find it distasteful when it comes from my Union. Nuff said.
On another note, (now I will change the subject somewhat) what I find particularly frustrating is the ever apparent lack of "real" cooperation on the part of our company (FedEx) with our Union on significant issues and the absence of indignation on the part of our leadership when it happens. Does anyone out there really believe that they came to this conclusion concerning the CDG domicile overnight? The fact that the MEC received the news of the FDA changes via the company website (or did they?) along with the rest of us makes it pretty clear to me the nature of their relationship. Keeping the union on the defensive and always in the reactionary mode does have it's strategic benefits I suppose, especially when viewed in the light of future negotiations over 777 pay rates, the definition of normal retirement age and overall expectations in our next contract, but I would expect that at some point, we would want to .......no demand.......a change in the way we do business. There appears to be a bigger issue here. We need to stop acting and behaving like second class citizens. We are an integral part of what makes this corporation function and deserving of respect and the fact that this is often only recognized with lip service, especially when the company wants something, I find disappointing.

Micro

This is why I think junior guys WILL be forced into HKG. Yes the company can't FORCE them to go there but if it's all they can hold when excessed, where else can they go. If a junior guys SENIORITY can't hold anything in the US what then?? Another reading of this section may mean that they get assigned to a base and aircraft in the US but get PAID at the rate they could hold. IE. F/O on some A/C but paid as a S/O. Would be nice to have our ALPA legal dept get something out through our MEC on what this actually means, but then why should we get any useful comm from our union.

R1200RT

What if there are insufficient seats? This just addresses what would happen if a guy doesn't have enough selections on his standing bid. If the only seats left are in an FDA what then. Quit be furloughed since they can't force you to an FDA? I don't think the company has to create openings it doesn't have... well, unless you are over 60.