MD10PLT

When I went to the ANC road show the hard sell motivation was pretty clear. The logic was this; If we don't do the flying the company will outsource it to foreign pilots. When the union takes them to court on it (due to our outstanding scope language in the CBA), we would probably lose. The reason we would lose is because the company would argue they not only offered us the flying but also offered an enhanced package and we turned down the flying. Therefore we would have given the company a green light to out source our future flying.

The real question should have been, are we willing to call their bluff. Or was it a bluff.

Overnitefr8

Wow, they put it out before 1700L.

kronan

I've been unable to find a Gibberish translator. What country is that? Are the natives called Gibberians or Gibberesians?

I've also been having a heck of a time finding a place that speaks Austrian.

Skimmology

Thanks... Needed the laugh

DLax85

This line of reasoning has been flawed from the beginning and should have been challenged publicly when put forth.

The company and the union could agree on what percentage (X) the company would fund up to a maximum of $Y per family.

Thus, the company could easily calculate the maximum cost per pilot and still discourage those large families with "a passel" of children from bidding the FDAs.

It would also incentivise pilots to choose schools wisely because they would be funding a portion of the costs....but, not all of it.

There's always a middle ground.

Unfortunately, I don't think the company needs to meet us there under the current circumstances.

....perhaps down the road, when the FDAs grow much larger and they need to expand beyond the current demographic they're currently seeking (i.e.single pilots, empty nestors, those with zero children)

FR8Hauler

I have been doing some research on schools around Paris and it is outrageous how much the tuition is. HKG schools around DB are affordable $10,000+ per kid...CDG English speaking schools are all around 20,000 euros per kid! At least that is what I am finding. This is just not doable unless FedEx ponies up some tuition assistance money. At least not with the number of people they are looking at sending over there on this bid.

MEMA300

The guy that usually pushes that button at 501 pm elvis had to coach his kids soccer game at his private school. Had to leave a little early.

MEMA300

Anybody know if you can put your kids in public school in paris or its suburbs (aka villages). Poly Vu France' Its gotta be better than the public schools in memphis.

oweeo

From the previous bid we were going to live in central Paris and were going to use public school for our pre-K boy. Easy to do when they hardly even speak English. The taxes the company pays for you allow you to use public schools there.

FR8Hauler

The answer is yes. However, it will be full on French immersion. It is a great way to go for young children but can be very frustrating for them if you don't make a commitment to keep them in for at least six months or more. The stuff I have read says 6 months is the min and you probably need a couple years for them to become completely fluent. Big commitment for the parents too if you don't speak French when it comes time to help them do their homework!