PicklePausePull

As I, and many others, have posted before: Let's hire a professional law firm to negotiate on our behalf, and let the pilots go back to doing what they do well: fly airplanes.

frozenboxhauler

Completely agree!
fbh

gderek

I couldn't agree more. We won't have a chance until we have professional attorneys doing the negotiating. I don't care how good or well intentioned our pilot negotiators are they don't stand a chance against what the company has across the table. The pros should negotiate and the pilots should be the experts so to speak.

I once explained how we negotiated to a few of my friends who are successful lawyers and they just couldn't believe it. I believe the comment was you pilots think you're so smart.

Busboy

A contract by early 2013? Does anyone know...Do our MEC officers get drug tested?

On the one hand we are told that our "interim talks" are progressing as planned. On the other hand, we are told how the NMB looks at negotiations.

Does our Chairman really think that our "interim talks" are going to end in a worthy TA?

Does he think failing that, we will open Sec 6 negotiations on Feb 01, 2013, immediately petition the NMB and they will in turn, immediately release us? And, then what? 30 days later we'll have a contract?

Can somebody please tell me why we're going to get a worthy contract out these"discussions"? When has this company's management ever given us something out of pure benevolence? Do any of you remember how they handled 4A2b? Do any of you remember them negotiating A380 rates, when they knew we were not getting that aircraft? Do any of you remember how the company unilaterally changed how accepted fares are handled? I could go on and on...I've been told by management that the "reasonable man theory" doesn't matter. It's not written that way in the contract. So, they don't have to. Go to the FDX ALPA website and read the history of trying to deal with this management.FDX Pilot labor history

You guys need to be careful what you wish for, regarding our MEC and its officers.

Busboy

Really? Is that how Delta and United got their contracts pre 9/11?

We have "professional attorney" negotiators. What we need is a labor union!! The best negotiator in the world can't negotiate without leverage. And newsflash...We are the leverage!

frozenboxhauler

Bus, I really don't care how Delta or United did it. Our last couple of negotiators (BC especially) have turned out to not be as smart they "know" they are.
Solution: Have an experienced pilot sit next to an experienced negotiations attorney while HE (the attorney) does the talking and "WE" wisper into his ear.
I completely agree with you that "we" are the leverage.
fraternally,
fbh

CAVU

Well here’s a reason: The current struggle playing out in our union is a clash between those wanting to pioneer a business relationship with the Company and a new and innovative approach to collective bargaining, versus the traditional trade unionist approach. Therefore, I would argue the onus is on the Company to ensure the new path is successful. But what do I know...

PicklePausePull

This is precisely why I thought it was a mistake to take the 3% in lieu of pushing forward with active, section 6 negotiations. Another year's delay in real improvements; improvements that could very well net far greater than a one year 3% gross pay increase.

PicklePausePull

Our "labor union" is fractured. Nor does our "union" have the professional training or time to effectively negotiate. Our in house lawyers are also not professionally experienced to conduct hard nosed labor negotiations. They are staff attorneys who perform routine small grievance issues, and I dare say not well at that!

We should take our $13M dollars a year in dues payments and hire a professional labor negotiating law firm. The company will react completely differently to a known labor law firm than a group of pilots and their staff attorneys.

This has to be the only industry in America where a collective bargaining entity refuses to utilize the legal resources available to it, thus routinely achieving mediocrity.

Busboy

Pioneering a business relationship with the company? We've tried that, with the FPA. Only we called it, interest based bargaining. And, we found that the only thing management was interested in was, not bargaining.

Of course, the onus is on the company to ensure this works. And, our labor relations history should all the proof anyone here should need, to know that the only thing this company wants to ensure is that they can drag out negotiations as long as possible.

I would argue that a traditional trade unionist approach has never really been attempted here at FDX. Because, this membership has yet to acknowledge and respond like a true labor union. Good grief, we were in "self-help" for over 3 years!! And, then made the infamous "parking lot deal". We haven't come close to "self help" since.

But, I'm sure if we can just foster a business relationship with management or hire "professional lawyers" as negotiators...We'll have a contract by early 2013.

I'll give odds that UPS/IPA sign a real contract before we do.