Working "100%" at FedEx??
04-20-2006, 05:08 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: C-17 Sim Pilot Inst
Posts: 182
Working "100%" at FedEx??
Hello all,
I am currently trying to get in at FedEx, I am retiring from the Air Force at the end of July. I have been reading the threads concerning the current contract negotiations and how the pilots should fly and work 100% and no more.
As a new hire (which I hope to be), the first year salary is a bit low compared to my current income (even when added to my projected retirement payment). My question is this: If I tried to fly some extra hours to make up the difference and keep our bills/ finances in as best a shape as I can, would this be viewed as a bad thing, possibly "disloyal" to the union?
I have no previous experience with a union (I've been military [read:"sheltered"] almost 24 years!) and am curioius. I do plan on joining the union if I get hired.
Opinions please...Thanks in advance.
I am currently trying to get in at FedEx, I am retiring from the Air Force at the end of July. I have been reading the threads concerning the current contract negotiations and how the pilots should fly and work 100% and no more.
As a new hire (which I hope to be), the first year salary is a bit low compared to my current income (even when added to my projected retirement payment). My question is this: If I tried to fly some extra hours to make up the difference and keep our bills/ finances in as best a shape as I can, would this be viewed as a bad thing, possibly "disloyal" to the union?
I have no previous experience with a union (I've been military [read:"sheltered"] almost 24 years!) and am curioius. I do plan on joining the union if I get hired.
Opinions please...Thanks in advance.
04-20-2006, 05:43 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: ANC-Based MD-11 FO
Posts: 328
In short, yes, working extra for any reason at this point in time is considered outrageously selfish and crosses the line. We deserve a contract that recognizes our value to the company and working more than 100% for any reason while we are in the middle of negotiations undermines our goals and undermines your long term potential benefits. Don't be short-sighted, don't do it.
We have plenty of new hires who came from regional carriers who don't have the luxury of a pension to add to their first year pay, and they seem to be making it work. I retired from the AF when I hired on, and arranged my life so I wasn't forced to work extra. I highly recommend you do the same.
We have plenty of new hires who came from regional carriers who don't have the luxury of a pension to add to their first year pay, and they seem to be making it work. I retired from the AF when I hired on, and arranged my life so I wasn't forced to work extra. I highly recommend you do the same.
Last edited by FDXFLYR; 04-20-2006 at 05:50 AM.
04-20-2006, 05:51 AM
#3
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Position: C-17 Sim Pilot Inst
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Originally Posted by FDXFLYR
In short, yes, working extra for any reason at this point in time is considered outrageously selfish and crosses the line. We deserve a contract that recognizes our value to the company and working more than 100% for any reason undermines our goals. Don't do it.
We have plenty of new hires who came from regional carriers who don't have the luxury of a pension to add to their first year pay, and they seem to be making it work. I retired from the AF when I hired on, and arranged my life so I wasn't forced to work extra. I highly recommend you do the same.
We have plenty of new hires who came from regional carriers who don't have the luxury of a pension to add to their first year pay, and they seem to be making it work. I retired from the AF when I hired on, and arranged my life so I wasn't forced to work extra. I highly recommend you do the same.
Thanks for the input. I know that we will rack up some debt in the first year, I hope to advance to the right seat of a wide body relatively quickly though. (I have over 3000 hrs in the C-141 & C-17) Like I said earlier, this union concept is new to me, I've been told to "shut up and color" my whole life, I guess I'm suffering from the Stockholm syndrome!
04-20-2006, 06:19 AM
#4
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Posts: 394
Originally Posted by DaveP2
If I tried to fly some extra hours to make up the difference and keep our bills/ finances in as best a shape as I can, would this be viewed as a bad thing, possibly "disloyal" to the union?
How could it? The union hasn't directed this action and would be breaking the law if they did (right now). This is why these individual actions aren't going to have an impact. In fact, they are probably hurting future union plans because when the union actually does direct "100%," the people that are already doing 100% are not going to be making any impact. I would argue that those currently doing "only" 100% because they feel it will help bring a contract sooner are hurting themselves and the union....but not the company.
Before you all go off on me, re-read what I said. I am not against the union. In fact, I am very much in favor of it...read what I said. I want to help them make the biggest impact possible...when they ask me to...not before.
What if some of us got together and decided we would strike now? Yes, it would have an impact, but not near as much as when the union directs it. Plus, striking on our own would hurt us and the union more than the company...just like doing 100% does now...
All of this assumes that you are doing 100% because you are trying to move negotiations along...if you are doing 100% because you like to spend time with your family...GREAT!
04-20-2006, 06:40 AM
#5
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Originally Posted by matty
How could it? The union hasn't directed this action and would be breaking the law if they did (right now). This is why these individual actions aren't going to have an impact. In fact, they are probably hurting future union plans because when the union actually does direct "100%," the people that are already doing 100% are not going to be making any impact. I would argue that those currently doing "only" 100% because they feel it will help bring a contract sooner are hurting themselves and the union....but not the company.
Before you all go off on me, re-read what I said. I am not against the union. In fact, I am very much in favor of it...read what I said. I want to help them make the biggest impact possible...when they ask me to...not before.
What if some of us got together and decided we would strike now? Yes, it would have an impact, but not near as much as when the union directs it. Plus, striking on our own would hurt us and the union more than the company...just like doing 100% does now...
All of this assumes that you are doing 100% because you are trying to move negotiations along...if you are doing 100% because you like to spend time with your family...GREAT!
Before you all go off on me, re-read what I said. I am not against the union. In fact, I am very much in favor of it...read what I said. I want to help them make the biggest impact possible...when they ask me to...not before.
What if some of us got together and decided we would strike now? Yes, it would have an impact, but not near as much as when the union directs it. Plus, striking on our own would hurt us and the union more than the company...just like doing 100% does now...
All of this assumes that you are doing 100% because you are trying to move negotiations along...if you are doing 100% because you like to spend time with your family...GREAT!
I understand the concept that the union would NEVER direct an action that would be detrimental to the company, the legal trouble of such a maneuver wouldn't be worth it. The 100% concept is not an adverse action (In my opinion) in that the requirements of the contract are being met, no more - no less. If this actually generates discomfort for the company, then that would help negotiations for the pilots. I don't think the 100% tactic hurts the union as much (if at all) in that the pilots are working at exactly the level asked of them by the company per the contract. At the end of the day, you need to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and be able to say that you played the game honestly and gave your best effort, regardless of the "percentage" involved.
My main gist in asking the "loyalty" question was more to the public opinion of the members on trying to fly above the minumums as opposed to what the union leadership was stressing in this case (whether officially or unofficially). Again, I am new to the concept of being a union member so I don't know the ins and outs of it all yet. Like I said, I hope I get hired and get a chance to learn about it (as an employee, that is!)
Last edited by DaveP2; 04-20-2006 at 06:43 AM.
04-20-2006, 07:23 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by matty
The union hasn't directed this action and would be breaking the law if they did (right now). The Union will NEVER direct a pilot not to fly extra
Before you all go off on me, re-read what I said. I am not against the union. In fact, I am very much in favor of it...read what I said. I want to help them make the biggest impact possible...when they ask me to...not before.
What if some of us got together and decided we would strike now?
Matty, that would be Illegal since we have not reached the end of the 30 day cooling off period
Yes, it would have an impact, but not near as much as when the union directs it. Plus, striking on our own would hurt us and the union more than the company. Again Matty, Striking on your own is illegal............flying 100% of you schedule is not. Flying your schedule 100% and taking ALL your vacation is simply a good thing to do because you spend more time with your family.................oh and by the way it does NOT hurt the UNION..............
I am willing to bet the negotiating committee loves to see Pilots spend as much time with their families and use up the vacation that they negotiated for you on the last contract.
All of this assumes that you are doing 100% because you are trying to move negotiations along...if you are doing 100% because you like to spend time with your family................GREAT and if you want a good contract sooner than later............Great!
Before you all go off on me, re-read what I said. I am not against the union. In fact, I am very much in favor of it...read what I said. I want to help them make the biggest impact possible...when they ask me to...not before.
What if some of us got together and decided we would strike now?
Matty, that would be Illegal since we have not reached the end of the 30 day cooling off period
Yes, it would have an impact, but not near as much as when the union directs it. Plus, striking on our own would hurt us and the union more than the company. Again Matty, Striking on your own is illegal............flying 100% of you schedule is not. Flying your schedule 100% and taking ALL your vacation is simply a good thing to do because you spend more time with your family.................oh and by the way it does NOT hurt the UNION..............
I am willing to bet the negotiating committee loves to see Pilots spend as much time with their families and use up the vacation that they negotiated for you on the last contract.
All of this assumes that you are doing 100% because you are trying to move negotiations along...if you are doing 100% because you like to spend time with your family................GREAT and if you want a good contract sooner than later............Great!
Matty read up on the ins and outs of RLA..............The ball is in the Company's court through the entire negotiating game.............Until the end of the 30 day cooling off period. The goal for us is to get the best deal possible before then..........How do you suggest it be accomplished?
Rhetorical question.......
04-20-2006, 08:02 AM
#7
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Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 980
Originally Posted by RedeyeAV8r
Matty read up on the ins and outs of RLA..............The ball is in the Company's court through the entire negotiating game.............Until the end of the 30 day cooling off period. The goal for us is to get the best deal possible before then..........How do you suggest it be accomplished?
Rhetorical question.......
Rhetorical question.......
Most of the guys calling for 100% have never given even that. Most of the guys saying don't sell vacation are not senior enough even if they wanted to. Most of the guys calling "no draft, no volunteer" never do it in the first place.
04-20-2006, 08:07 AM
#8
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Oh crap here we go again. The self appointed schedule police are at it again. If its in the contract than its legal. Fly as much or as little as you want. I never hear guys say everyone drop their schedule to show the company, yada, yada, yada. Not to mention how many times do I hear of you military guys working your schedule to do mil leave and while the rest of us have to pick up your schedule. I hope you get on with FedEx. Its a great company. Generally the 10%ers do most of the postings on this site for all companies.
04-20-2006, 08:08 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by FoxHunter
The only Matty that I know has a great deal of experience in both ALPA and contracts.
Most of the guys calling for 100% have never given even that. Most of the guys saying don't sell vacation are not senior enough even if they wanted to. Most of the guys calling "no draft, no volunteer" never do it in the first place.
Most of the guys calling for 100% have never given even that. Most of the guys saying don't sell vacation are not senior enough even if they wanted to. Most of the guys calling "no draft, no volunteer" never do it in the first place.
Amen!!!!!!!!!
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