Lindy

Thorough, well articulated post.

Thought about putting this at JetFlyers??

Unknown Rider

Are you talking about Albie or Magic Rat?

Ricky

Gentlemen, et al:
May I propose we are a guild, not a true union. FDX/ALPA defends common interest, in general, and that is the extent of unity. When we stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, and focus on the interest of the many, at the sacrifice of a few, we will then become a true union. Unfortunately we do the opposite.
It is a leadership issue; so goes the head, so goes the rest of the body.
So I ponder, who is our center of gravity to counter management's center of gravity? Answer this question and you will have the leverage you seek.
I hope the New Year brings all good things to us.
Ricky

CAVU

Spot on, and a great historical recap. One could go all the way back to the rejection of the first ALPA contract (pre-FPA) and reach the same conclusion regarding flawed decision making and missed opportunities.

FLMD11CAPT

Well done Albie. As is manifest; I totally agree, lets take the 3% and let our reps know indisputably that this is what we want......

Albief15

I also use this argument frequently with my bride as I propose we better "knock one out..." every chance we can. I gather she isn't nearly as afraid of the apocalypse as I think she should be....

KnightFlyer

China's Jade Cargo grounds planes on weak demand

China's Jade Cargo International Company Ltd. said Saturday that it had temporarily grounded its fleet of six Boeing 747 freighter planes because of weak demand.

The joint venture between a unit of carrier Air China Ltd. and Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the latest victim of the slowdown in air cargo traffic from China as customers pare orders because of the wider uncertainty over the global economy.

Jade said in a statement on its website that the move would provide an opportunity to "continue with the restructuring of the company's financial structure".

The company was set up in 2004 by Shenzhen Airlines -- now a unit of Air China -- Lufthansa and a German development bank.

Jade's future has been in question since Air China acquired Shenzhen. The Chinese flag carrier has a fast-growing cargo joint venture with Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (CPCAY, 0293.HK).

Cathay is among a number of carriers to forecast weaker cargo demand next year, scaling back expansion plans for 2012 and delaying the arrival of new aircraft.

Gunter

Your perspective is worth a lot. Thanks. Aggressive leadership does not always equal more gains.

Sometimes we thought we had more leverage than we did.

Other times we some but didn't know(care?) - First FDA LOA.

The EU is forecast to contract further. Germany, the big growth engine, is finally slowing. Does that make it a bad time to go to section 6? Don't know. Just another data point for those who've told me otherwise. The good news is the domestic economy is forecast to grow.

NoHaz

I don't think the decision makers on the company side are ready to make any deals or decisions until they have a better handle on world economic growth and post 2012 election business climate. So, I think our choices are
1. take 3% and work towards a new contract in a few years
2. refuse the 3%, company negotiaters stall and we get a new contract in a few years

ANCFRTDG

Great post by Albie and Magic Rat!
Without unity we have no leverage!
767 lanyards seen already! Well that about sums it up!
Guys STILL *****ing about the over 65 year old retirement.
WE HAVE NO UNITY AS A PILOT GROUP thus NO LEVERAGE.
Take the 3% and try and to work on some of the non essential sections of our contract.
Maybe one day something will come along to unify us?