Gremlin, Buggs, SaltyDog, 1800RVR, UPSFO4LIFE, SideshowBob, 757upspilot, most of the other UPS pilots on this board, et. al,
The following quote from Buggs sums up the class that most of you have shown regarding the UPS/DHL "deal":
buggs
"Would my UPS coworkers please shut up and stop putting salt in the wound. These guys are getting screwed. We are lucky to be at UPS at this moment. It could be us, and it has been me in the past. Now, just leave it be, and stop making us look so bad."....
This type of post shows both respect and reverence for fellow pilot groups in jeopardy and is in keeping with what the IPA stands for and the highest standards of this pilot profession. The few that continue to salt the wounds stand out on this board like a sore thumb.
Until recently, none of the UPSers would respond to my assertion that, if the situations were reversed, the UPS pilots, the IPA, and KY legislators, would be doing exactly the same thing in order to survive: If they didn't they wouldn't be doing their jobs. Tell me this is not the case and that UPS, IPA, and KY would just roll over and accept the "inevitable" if the situation was reversed. I guarantee you that IPA pilots would be picketing DHL headquarters just the same... And MOST of the Astar/ABX pilots would understand and even silently cheer you on. Go ahead, Ned, J, Lil', B, R... Tell me with a straight face that I'm wrong and that you all would just lay down and die and get your resumes together like a few of you recommend the Astar/ABX pilots to do. Let's see... Orion pilots, Interstate pilots, Challenge pilots, Emery pilots.... Yeah, the Astar/ABX pilots have a great chance of getting picked up by UPS if they "play right" and die quietly. Historically, they have a better chance of being struck by lightning..
I will laugh my a55 off if the stink that these pilots are kicking up, (and that stink is being heard in D.C. ..temporarily, if nothing else), results in a delay of this deal for even one month.. After being furloughed twice and unemployed for 10 months collectively, I know the difference that even one more paycheck can make.. It can mean the difference between keeping and losing your house, car, etc. That delaying action can make a great difference in their lives.
So good luck, Astar and ABX pilots. If your daring actions halt or even delay this deal for a pay period, you guys faced Goliath and WON! You are really fighting for all of us, which many UPS pilots here realize that it could just as easily could have been them. And thank you again UPS pilots for showing respect, compassion, and comraderie for for the Astar/ABX pilots under threat of losing their careers: You represent the IPA, and all other pilots, with honor!
OK, vocal, unsympathetic, UPS minority (just a handful, really)... Fire away!
In Unity,
B727DRVR
P.S. - My apologies to any of you UPS pilots that I forgot to mention directly. The wheel of justice, do unto others, show sympathy .... YOU guys get it! And thanks to those UPS pilots who have had the class to keep their glee to themselves. Very classy and in keeping with the highest standards of this profession! "IPA 100 percent, good day" (The end of the IPA IBT strike hotline - August 1997)