Busboy

I have a dream.

That if our management continues to hack away at any of the good will left in this group...That everyone wll finally get informed, involved and stand together as a real union during our upcoming negotiations. I would like our motto this time not to be, "my negotiating committee speaks for me". But,

I SPEAK FOR MY NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE!!

And then do it, with your actions!

It takes more than paying our dues and talking the talk. Action, within the RLA, unity and evidence of true resolve are what we will need. That is what will make us an effective union. Until we can do that, it doesn't matter what we want or deserve. Our Neg team will be nothing more than beggars at the table.

pipe

Whatever good will is remaining?!?? That ship has long since sailed. Let's take these abusive bastages to the woodshed.

PIPE

Gunter

I hate to spoil the party but the "I want it all" slogan will empower forces that say we ask for too much. Isn't it the company's unspoken slogan already? It doesn't paint the picture accurately and can only hurt us.

I want what the company signed up for. They costed out our contract in negotiations then proceeded to shrink those promised expenditures after implementation. Give us back the management grabs they squeezed from us that fueled bonuses in 2007 and 2008. 4a2b hasn't resulted any bonuses in 2009 but the scramble to keep it in place will undoubtedly result in some spectacular bonuses this year. I focus on that every time I consider making a sacrifice beyond what is required.

What do I want in contract 2010? A heck of a lot. Because I know some provisions will be reinterpreted after ratification in an attempt to save extra $$. So we need to put as much as we want in there and let the grievances continue. You can't change the culture around here but you can shape our role in it by improving the playbook. But we need to be careful not to lose what good provisions we already have by doing too much of a rewrite.

BTW, all the talk about the retirement being under attack may be pointless. They seem to be doing a pretty good job covering the costs. We die fairly early, on average, so payouts aren't as heinous as you think. I don't think it will come under serious attack by anyone but ourselves, if we go that direction. Be wary of rhetoric and negotiating tactics that play on fear and uncertainty.

FDXLAG

You are worried about what the company is going to say about us so you are willing to change your negotiating position? If we asked for a 20% pay cut the company's postition would be you are asking for way to much.

Gunter

That's funny. Not worried at all about what they would say. If you think I said that, you misunderstood what I wrote.

kronan

The contract survey is a way for us to provide information about the things we consider important to the negotiating committee. While it's fun to vent on APC, only a small percentage of pilots post here. So, if you haven't already, do the survey and ask the folks you're flying with to get it done as well.

I would also recommend suggesting that each crewmember get their financial lives in order and build up a personal strike fund. Typical financial advice is to have 3 months of expenses saved and I think we should consider that the minimum as we move into negotiations. Given how popular mgts perceptions are regarding 4A2B, I don't think we're going to like hearing about how overpriced our current salaries are from the mgt perspective. Taking a look at the "market price" for pilots is sobering and I am quite confident that management is going to want to regress to the mean.

Mgt's whole goal is to get to 50%+1. 90% means they gave to much (or our expectations were too low). Rather than get into specifics here and giving mgt intel on what to shoot for, I'd rather we just go with generalities. I am quite confident our ACPs peruse the ALPA website as they are entitled to as members, I just wish they would wear ALPA lanyards and consider themselves part of the union versus part of mgt. FedEx has a strange labor culture where the SCP seems to consider himself an extension of mgt versus the interface between pilots and mgt. (From the military perspective, our SCP's seem to be the careerist SO selling out the troops versus the S-XXX Screen protecting the troops while educating them as to the error of their ways. Seems as if the majority of rumors about ACP actions are that the pilot is guilty until proven guilty. It's a sad commentary that it takes someone dying to hear good things about ACP actions)
My negotiating committee speaks for me is good intel as well as the only practical way to work out the conflicting goals of 4000+ pilots.

We are a few months away from winding up on a deserted island trying to work towards a solution. We can continue to be upset about mgts actions with the bid canx which allowed the age 60 folks to bid back to window seats. Shoot, there's so many things in the past we can be upset about and allow mgt to drive a wedge into the union. And if we are, well, it was put best 150 years ago. "A house divided against iteslf cannot stand."

Another motivational speaker's philosophy is FIDO. Forget It Drive On. Let's worry about the future versus rehashing the past. We need to learn from it, but it can't be our driving focus.

buffalosoldier

If you look at your mailing from Vanguard. All of the new default investments are based on turning 65 at different times. I wonder if this is the company's way of sneaking it past us dumb pilots.

FXDX

Just took the survey. Talk about a 2 day course crammed into a week.

Like Charlie Brown I just had to take a swipe at that damn football. Based on our MEC's history of ignoring of survey input I'm afraid Lucy will pull it away and I'll be left lying flat on my back but at least you can't say I didn't try.

Only a couple of days left to complete the survey and tell the NC what your priorities are. It takes some time but like voting you need to do it if you want your voice heard.

FedupFlex

Finally got my survey completed! Took 2 beers last evening and a cup of coffe this morning.

Laughing_Jakal

I almost broke the keyboard when I saw questions about how concerned I was about scope.....I thought we already paid for the best scope in the industry with a crappy loa.