I posted on the B/G that this will be a war of attrition (the furloughs and the upcoming contract negotiations). I was told to shove it.

Very discouraging.

I really, really hope I'm wrong, but we have to fight this furlough aggressively, like the virus that it is. This is our first furlough at UPS, but furloughs have been in this industry for at least 40 years (I'm sure longer, I just can't sit down and read books due to my ADHD). There are ways to fight with a company based on our predessor's actions at other airlines.

I'm not comfortable posting ideas as such on a public forum-(refer to the APA's $45 million dollar judgment against as a result of their sickout during the integration of the Reno Air pilots). However, there are ways to be a burr in their saddle.

The response I received...we don't want to hurt the golden goose....be lucky you have a job, stop whinning about the furlough.

All were very charming response and actually I felt a little frisky afterwards.

FF

Oink Oink

 

I noticed the crap storm you generated, I'll leave it at that.

Much better to converse about over beverages.

 

That's just *&() pathetic!

 

Ah, well, obviously you aren't one of the kool-aid kids constantly saying things like "Thanks ____! Now that's change we can all believe in!"

The first people totalitarians destroy or silence are men of ideas and free minds.

 

The reality is that once/if UPS gets all the pilots trained on the airplanes where they need them the open time ban will become ineffective. Why, because with what they can build the lines to and the reserves staffed based on the projected need there won't be any open time. AM's numbers that the union published are friendlier than the numbers the company may use. The company maintains they could do it with 500+/- fewer pilots. The union will no doubt continue the opentime/JA position, it just won't matter. As far as the FQS situation the IPA took a vote of the membership before they started the card program so arguing lack of representation might make you feel good its just unlikely to accomplish anythng accept to absorb staff attorneys time. We will do the best to get you back as soon as possible, just remember UPS is the one in control and UPS is laying you off not the IPA.

 

How does the IPA define an "effective" OT ban? Is it effective now from the viewpoint of UPS?

 

Yes it is effective...

1. UPS itself said the OT/JA ban was worth 200 positions.
2. MEF flying this past quarter was double from last year in the same time frame even with less sorties flown...Easy to look up now with the MEF tracker.
3. Managers were pulled out of the GOC to be available to fly MEF...managers have lost planned vacations and have broken into crewmember hotel rooms in desperation to find bodies to fly.
4. SWA and Fedex folks look with envy at the solidarity we are displaying as a group for our furloughees. When they come back to the line, they'll be an adamant and loyal force for our union since most of us held the line.

I bet others can come up with more reasons why it's effective. The goal is not to shut down the company, but to get the furloughees back sooner rather than later. Just wait until peak, when every night is crisis management...then you'll see just how effective this OT/JA ban will be. It won't shut'em down, but the pain will be palpable.

B2P

 

Everything b2pilot186 said and more if there were 100% participation !

 

It has been pointed out that the OT/JA is keeping about 200 people on the property as per UPS, they are afraid to cut to to close to the bone. The effectiveness can be seen in the line builds and how they disperse the crew members. Difficult to prove what didn't or won't happen as a result of an action. In this case we do have some numbers possible 300 on the street opposed to 500 the company thinks they could put on the street. It will get quiet compared to now as they get people trained for the positions.

 

I am sure you understand that not one FQS has lost their job, while we have 92 "union" pilots on furlough. How many IPA pilots have been downgraded? How many FQS's (besides KA) have been downgraded to FO ( just a little bit of a pay cut). The IPA exists to represent its membership. That is all members. Over 60, on medical, safety issues, flight violations, furloughed......There seems to be a disconnect with the furlough process, in regards to representation to the furloughed. I think we are headed in the wrong direction . This sit down and shut up attitude is getting old.

AM numbers make some pretty big assumptions. No doubt he is very good at number analysis. But you cannot simply take block hours and divide them by numbers of crews, with out taking vacation, sick calls, conflict bidding....etc....etc into account. With 500 pilots over manned our staffing models would have UPS with few pilots per airplane than Southwest Airlines (who is the most efficient at pilot utilization). So with UPS numbers we go from an average utilization of pilots to something that is not even close to practical.

And the IPA did not vote on the FQS until after the cards had been sent out. This was not thought out at all. You need momentum for a campaign like that. A miss in my book. The only chance the IPA has is this Peak. If it does not happen then, its simply not going to happen. So if it does not happen and the union takes another avenue about the FQS's, then it will be pretty obvious we are doing that because we did not get the numbers we wanted. The labor lawyers I am working with told me exactly that. The courts in KY would toss it in a heart beat.

UPS does not care about their employees. I think we can agree on that. The company cares about the package business. Shareholders. Future expansion and opportunity. IPA members must rely on the union to fill this void. We rely on them to negotiate contracts, schedules, training issues, safety factors, hotels, pay......insurance, medical, dental......UPS does not care about any of how this is taken care of. That is what the union is for.