Originally Posted by penguin22

Not too familiar with the FDX/ Kitty Hawk story, but based on what you’re saying, I’d agree this deal is, on principle anyway, not that different.

What is different is a) the size and scale of job losses, and b) it’s an election year, (for another couple months anyway) so we may be able to influence the outcome.

That's what many here (although not too eloquently at times) are saying. The premise for hearings and DOJ involvement; that it's anti-trust and other such chicanery is a smoke screen/two-step. If it's just Kitty Hawk, oh well, just a bunch of lowly non-schedders and only a few hundred jobs. But when it's Abex/DHL even though it's the same kind of deal it's not OK. Hey...if I were you I'd pull that out and trot out real families with medical bills to boot, but IMO your only edge is the number of jobs and where they are (a swing state)....not the deal itself. So if emotion not law rules the day, you may be onto something, but don't confuse the two.

Wait, OK, one more difference. Just a few years ago there was FDX, UPS, DHL, Airborne, Emery, etc. Now we’re looking at a FDX and UPS duopoly. Duopoly is a bad word around Washington.

Considering the NWA/DAL merge, and the likely upcoming deals I'd say it's not that bad of a word.

No. We think if the DHL/UPS thing does not go thru, they’re NOT going to pull out of the US, despite their posturing to the contrary. So they’ll still have to hire somebody to fly their stuff.

Originally Posted by Sideshow Bob

So what if they sub out to Kalitta (ironic), and the myriad of other, cheaper non-union lift? After all, all your drivers are non-union, so why not be consistent? Have you guys been supportive of organizing efforts for the DHL drivers? It's not unlike how Fed Ex guys aren't all that hot to see their drivers become Teamsters because they know it will affect the company bottom line, and by extension their share of the pot.

Or...this may well just be an end-run to get wage concessions out of you guys. At the eleventh hour they serve up a comprehensive and slick concession package and promise to keep Wilmington open. If you guys don't take it, none of you would get out of Wilmington alive. Sounds like something the D.D. would love to pull.

Originally Posted by penguin22

Wait, OK, one more difference. Just a few years ago there was FDX, UPS, DHL, Airborne, Emery, etc. Now we’re looking at a FDX and UPS duopoly. Duopoly is a bad word around Washington.

Originally Posted by Sideshow Bob

It's not unlike how Fed Ex guys aren't all that hot to see their drivers become Teamsters because they know it will affect the company bottom line, and by extension their share of the pot.

Originally Posted by hvydriver

Sideshow, I've been with/loosely associated with DHL for 20 years. Save for the 747 operating for DHL (which replaced me, by the way) on the JFK/BRU/BAH run, I don't recall any large scale involvement of DHL with Kalitta. Can you enlighten me? BTW, Kalitta is Teamsters now.

Originally Posted by Sideshow Bob

I flew out of CVG in a Kalitta B727 for months '95-'95, doing STL-ORD-CVG (Sort) CVG-ATL-STL two weeks on, two weeks off weekend in a real fleabag overlooking Lambert. .

Originally Posted by AerisArmis

In my time at Purple,I haven't heard that said one time. Not once. Made it up didn't you?

Originally Posted by penguin22

Sideshow,

I think you stuck part of your answer in the middle of quoting me.
No big deal.

Anyway.

Yes, Teamsters have been very active organizing at DHL. And I doubt it's all a big ploy just to get pay concessions. DHL's real problems dwarf any overpaid employee problem.

Besides, we at ABX know that if we're to survive once DHL's gone, those of us that are left are going to have to take some concessions to compete in the ACMI world.

Originally Posted by AerisArmis

It's not that. Huck just wants to pay an additional 20% of his overall income in taxes to help those people who have been getting all the bad breaks their whole life. I say, higher income taxes, higher capital gains tax, no FICA tax cap, higher gas tax, windfall taxes on anybody who makes a profit, tax my SUV some more, TAX THOSE NASTY RICH PEOPLE making over 46K, tax the internet, carbon tax, luxury tax, a 5% tax on all taxes. GO HUCK!!!

Originally Posted by fedupbusdriver

Sign me up for some of that!
Maybe you could also require me to learn the Koran, in Farsi.....