L/Dmax

I am a lurker with a couple of points to make. Please read them slowly, step away from your computer for 5 minutes to ponder then reply if you are inclined.

I am imploring my fellow crewmembers to stop the bickering about the past and FOCUS on the present.

Stop looking back at the 60 to 65 change.
Stop looking back at the Hong Kong/Paris LOA.
Stop focusing on the individuals who cry "Furlough the junior guys" and "Over 60 guys need to retire"
Stop trying to ASSIGN BLAME!

If we all could agree on who or what is to blame for the current situation then SO WHAT? It would not fix anything. All the bellyaching and blaming of the past 18 months has done nothing to alter the course of events that led to yesterday's FCIF.

What goes on in these forums is akin to standing in the AOC and having a shouting match. EVERYONE sees and hears what is going on and we are perceived as shameful, irrational, and divided.

This is a fine company, run by competent individuals. Make no mistake about it.

Our union is a fine organization run by competent individuals, too. After all, WE PUT THEM THERE. We need to sit back and trust BOTH SIDES to do their jobs... and we have an interest in both sides: The company for our jobs and the union for our quality of life.

When OUR Negotiating Team is at the table with FedEx's Labor Relations Attorneys and negotiators they will NEED US BEHIND THEM! The company's team knows that they have the support of whom they represent.

OUR TEAM NEEDS OUR SUPPORT!

Management can walk all over our team--and us-- if they are backed by a fragmented group that openly bickers, blames, and can't unify over the simplest of goals: PROTECTION OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR BENEFITS, AND OUR STATUS AS A PROFESSION.

This is OUR CHANCE TO SHINE as a pilot group. It is time to move on TOGETHER. Let's start by treating each other with respect, acting dignified, and SUPPORTING each other AS A GROUP THAT IS 4600+ STRONG!

Just like in the cockpit, focusing on what has led us here is as useless as the runway behind your aircraft. PLEASE, take a deep breath. Sit back and focus on what you can control---your own actions. If you don't like the current state of affairs with your job, THEN QUIT. If you are staying, then be a part of the solution and quit expecting someone else to retire or get furloughed to make it right for you.

Take action on your own: FORGIVE and MOVE ON. It is time to UNITE. Stop waiting for the other guy to do it first!

onetime

Good post. Focus on the solution, not the problem. However, never forget what created the problem lest you will create similar problems in the future.

Serenity, Courage and Wisdom.

tennesseeflyboy

LD/MAX I commend your sense of "moving on", but how long have you been here ? Just because something is Legal does not make it Safe, neither does Competency beget correct and prudent decisions at all times. My Brothers and Sisters on this forum and myself included, are beginning to see something starting here that has not been thought possible at any time, loss of jobs and mass reductions of payscales. So as it goes, those in positions of making Decisions and Policy are going to be very suspect and looked over more than once. I don't blame my Brothers and Sisters for feeling bad about all of the above, and I sure don't want to see anyone of them or myself included, out on the streets because of faulty or callous decisions. I am willing to take the paycuts to keep those Junior Pilots here in the fold where they belong, I am not a selfish nor self serving moron just because I happen to have Seniority. So when you talk of supporting each other, that is going to be my support to those Junior to me ....................

Gunter

Hey look Emmit, another one of those "If you don't like your job, Quit" fellas.

Brilliant.

FR8Hauler

I am somewhat encouraged by the show of leadership that our union is FINALLY starting to exhibit. The only way we are not going to get screwed in this deal is unless we stick together. I see this as another red letter or as when they implemented the optimizer. This is an issue that can turn us into a very unified group or it can rip us apart. We are taking the biggest hit in the company and we supposedly operate under a contract. I have not said this in a long time, but we need to stand behind our ALPA leadership and demand that they represent our best interests.

FDXLAG

I have no problem with forgive and move on. But that does not mean you forget and move on. Part of our current problem is contract 2006. But if you listen to the current leadership you will not hear that. In order to keep from making the same mistakes in the future let us admit we made them in the past. Does anybody know how many bodies training on a day off has saved the company? If not why not?

LivingInMEM

Between the 2 statements "I am imploring my fellow crewmembers to stop the bickering about the past and FOCUS on the present." and "those who don't learn history are bound to repeat it", I'd go with the latter.

While we are at it, let's stop investigating accidents, also. After all, there is nothing to be gained by assigning blame.

TheBaron

Do you really think that is why we investigate accidents? You must be miserable going through life as such a huge cynic.

L/Dmax

Why compare those two statements? One has nothing to do with the other. Go back and read my post. At no point does accepting the past and focusing on the present imply that you forget the past and do not learn from it. I agree with you regarding the importance history has on the future and regret that you inferred otherwise.

As to your insight on accident investigations...I'll let that one speak for itself.

MoonF18

I agree you mellon farmer, it is time to move on, and get as united as we can. The previous actions are in the past, there is no productive time nor energy that should be devoted to past events. Shoot the bigest and closest alligator to the boat, and credit hour reduction and furlough is that bigest and closest alligator.
So lets pour a nice beer (or Makers Mark) and get unified, be professional, and fly and drive safe.