As posted on the B&G: "It's real simple. If our present F/O slope is worth about 80% of FedEx's, we need about a 25% or so correction in that area to reach parity. If our present retirement is worth about 50% of FedEx's, then it will require about a 100% correction to have the same result. It really is that simple."

Chuck

He was referencing a crewmember's complaint about FO pay and scheduling rules being sacrificed for the benefit of the few who will retire soon. I find it disturbing on several levels.

First, he asserts that a 25% correction in FO pay would put us in parity with FedEx! He is either lying or completly clueless. There is no way he is ignorant since it is his entire position to be informed. It would take a 60% increase to put FO pay on par with FedEx, and that is their current contract!! I am not just talking hourly pay either. I am referring to yearly income. Fact: MD-11 FO year 2 at Brown makes around 75-80K/year and an MD-11 FO year 2 at FedEx makes 120-125k! The money lost in these early years is like a snowball rolling down a mountain. Over the course of a career the 25 grand lost per year compared to FedEx grows bigger and bigger when factoring in the time value of money. Why should Chuck Patterson make more in retirement that a 5 year FO makes total?

The other thing that disturbs me is that noone else challenges his outrageous claims. From the outsite looking in a 21% raise lookds pretty good. But it would still leave us making 30k less than our peers at FedEx for flying the same equipment.

Bottom line...FO pay needs to be fixed. I for one, will be voting a big fat NO if it is not.

remove pres. and you get rid of nc chair. sec. will not make it this nov/dec.