PBS at FedEx...
 

Question for all you Fedex pilots who DON'T want PBS.... I'm new to it myself and am just curious why? What's the good, the bad and the ugly?

not that I would not want to share my thoughts on this topic, it really will not do us (FDX) any favors to openly debate this topic. Safe to say it is a long complicated discussion to have , but in the end we have the same answer: no thanks. Giving up "good" things about PBS could only lead to giving it credibility as an option.

However I will leave the board with one question that is relevant in my view: Name any major airline that switched from traditional line bidding to PBS by "choice" and not under duress or a bankruptcy era CBA ?

I am fairly certain that Northwest Airlines switched to PBS with the contract they gained after the 1998 strike. I believe the major issue that they struck for was regarding SCOPE and the role of RJs. I have no idea what role PBS played during their entire negotiations, pre/post strike.

(In no way am I endorsing PBS, just answering the question.)

My dad worked under PBS at NWA.

It was run 100% by the union.

Good idea and good answer :D

At this time at FEDEX we have pilots that are members of the SIG (Scheduling Improvement Group) building lines. They create some quality of schedule for line holders. The company schedulers build monthly schedules for those that are awarded a VTO (Vacation Training Other). If the VTO schedules built are at all representative of what we would be assigned under PBS we don't want anything to do with it. Secondly, a PBS system would provide even more of a benefit to the most senior pilots. In my opinion we already give enough priority based upon seniority.

IMO, PBS would severely negatively affect senior pilots on many levels, but one area in particular: VACATION. I find it very good that the senior guy would be as affected, or even more so, than the junior guy (more weeks vacation). Having the senior guys dislike something that affects the entire pilot group, gives me a good feeling about PBS not having a too much of a chance.

10-15% of pilots laid off immediately.

possibly make more per month except if you are laid off or been down graded due to PBS. Stagnation for 15 years and any hopes of a descent life are over.

Work more and will more than likely contemplate a career change if you don't have at least 10 or more years in at the company.

All of this happened at UAL and other places....just ask around

PBS has worked at other airlines when the union controlled it AND, most importantly, most pax airlines have somewhat homogeneous schedules -- if you're on the MD at AAL in ORD, you're pretty much going to do the same thing month to month. Seniority will determine what and how many weekends you have off.

If you look at our bid packs, specifically the MD, the schedules are all over the place; out-and-backs, single departure international, week on - week off hub turns, etc.

PBS would ruin the Maddog bid pack IMHO.

Simply stated............. "NO!"

I thought this was going to be about a documentary show about Fedex on the Public Broadcasting System. :o