FDX - hub meeting?
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: MD11 FO
Posts: 1,109
The company was hedging their bets because they think we may have nationalized healthcare by then. And they didn't want to create the bridge for everyone if it was not going to be used. IE they didn't want to make the committment too early if it was not going to be a factor.
***And just a point of clarification... VEBA is for everyone not just those under 53.
Or something to that effect was the answer DW gave.
***And just a point of clarification... VEBA is for everyone not just those under 53.
Or something to that effect was the answer DW gave.
- initial seed money for VEBA was $43.2 mil - it's lower now as it was in stocks at a much higher DOW. Pilots give about $500/yr each. The current payout is only $1300/yr for each a qualified spouse and pilot. It's not that much money. I suspect it'll change at some point but right now it's not losing money.
- the money can be used for many different things. Even the Tricare for Life guys should have an opportunity to use it. Medicare part B enrollment, etc - there are lots of options
- I do think there will be some sort of nationalized health care in the next 10 years or so but even with that there will still be costs associated and I suspect VEBA will help out that. The program is modeled on VEBAs used at many other large institutions.
- HRA - appears to be a true giveaway to the 53+ age crowd - regardless of years in the company ($25K to a 53 yr old military retiree who has been working here for less than 10 years and nothing to the 52 year old with 20 years here - go figure). It does have an intention to hopefully "encourage" guys to retire at pre-65 as they'll have some help with health costs. Supposedly the NC looked at having it be "use or lose" money - if the guy doesn't use it by age 60 he loses it as opposed to the way it is....but the company said if the pilot loses it then it goes back in the company coffers - no win there so you might as well give it the crowd
- it can be argued whether the money spent on VEBA and HRA ($43.2 mil+ $25k/pilot over 53) was actual negotiating capital that the rest of the crew force could have used for pay in other places or whether it was above and beyond that and would ONLY be used for VEBA/HRA (as the NC and R&I guys say).
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 121
Here are some of the topics that were discussed at the Hub Turn Meeting
Age 60
DW also commented [blah, blah, blah.] DW claims there are only about 100 guys that by hanging around are adding to the problem of the regression in seats and in the grand scheme of a pilot group of over 4500 that is not the main crux of the problem.
Age 60
DW also commented [blah, blah, blah.] DW claims there are only about 100 guys that by hanging around are adding to the problem of the regression in seats and in the grand scheme of a pilot group of over 4500 that is not the main crux of the problem.
Look at the # of excessed Capts. 30 on the Boeing, roughly 40 on the Bus and 40 on the MD (DC10 excesses don't count, they are included in the Bus and MD)
About 110 excessed Capts (pretty close to 100, and I bet DW was low-balling the #).
They of course excess to lower seats, causing excesses there, and so on until you are at the bottom. A nice set of dominos from DW. If affects ALOT more than 100 folks as DW apparently implied.
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: leaning to the left
Posts: 4,184
Spur,
He's saying that "only about 100 guys" are helping cause the pain. I would argue that number is low. Especially when we include those that haven't and won't retire when reaching age 60, since December.
You are correct in that there are many more than that, feeling the pain.
He's saying that "only about 100 guys" are helping cause the pain. I would argue that number is low. Especially when we include those that haven't and won't retire when reaching age 60, since December.
You are correct in that there are many more than that, feeling the pain.
#14
I attended the big NC roadshow shortly before the vote on the contract. I asked BC if I understood this provision correctly (that as an under 53 yr old at the time), that I was being left hanging in the wind in relation to this provision to be negotiated at some later date. HE said I understood correctly! ... Thanks for that ALPA and BC. Thanks a lot!
#16
I attended the big NC roadshow shortly before the vote on the contract. I asked BC if I understood this provision correctly (that as an under 53 yr old at the time), that I was being left hanging in the wind in relation to this provision to be negotiated at some later date. HE said I understood correctly! ... Thanks for that ALPA and BC. Thanks a lot!
#17
I voted yes, as I agreed with the MEC that it was the best we could expect to get. It was in fact, a significant improvement from the old contract in many areas ... (just for the record, I voted NO on the FDA LOA as I DID NOT believe it was, or is for that matter, the best we can get!)
#18
I voted yes, as I agreed with the MEC that it was the best we could expect to get. It was in fact, a significant improvement from the old contract in many areas ... (just for the record, I voted NO on the FDA LOA as I DID NOT believe it was, or is for that matter, the best we can get!)
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 121
Spur,
He's saying that "only about 100 guys" are helping cause the pain. I would argue that number is low. Especially when we include those that haven't and won't retire when reaching age 60, since December.
You are correct in that there are many more than that, feeling the pain.
He's saying that "only about 100 guys" are helping cause the pain. I would argue that number is low. Especially when we include those that haven't and won't retire when reaching age 60, since December.
You are correct in that there are many more than that, feeling the pain.
Agree.
What I am incredulous about is DW trying to put the 100ish number in the context of 4500 pilots. Essentially saying that his actions are only responsible for 1/45th of the problem. That is absurd. We are currently only 500 pilots overmanned. DWs 100+ buddies are 1/5 of this. At least 20+% of the problem is due to retro. When you account for the 100 pilots the Company wants to keep fat in the WBs the overmanned # drops to 400. This means the "100 guys ... adding to the problem" are actually at least 25% of the problem.
I would say that it is about as much the "crux of the problem" as the economy, non retirements, and 3 to 2 seat conversions.
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