Adlerdriver

Which cargo carrier(s) that we compete with use a PBS bidding system? I'm pretty sure no one is going to buy the argument that we need PBS to stay competitive because UAL or some other pax carrier uses it.

DLax85

Only on the Chinese and Irish pilots they will hire if we don't play along

gcsass

Adler,

Just a guess on my part but I think that the NMB will need something to compare us to....... and they will compare us to other pilots. I don't think they care if we fly cargo or Pax.......

All speculation.....and admittedly an almost worst case scenario.....

Overnitefr8

Obviously the FAA cares whether we are cargo or pax, at least in regard to fatigue mitigation.

Adlerdriver

Personally, I think this worst case scenario is just that and we may be a little premature with this whole discussion.
In the interest of speculation, I'll continue to play.

I can see the NMB seeing us as "just pilots" and using other pilot groups, pax or cargo, for comparison in some circumstances. Maybe on something generic like per diem, training, hotels, etc. However, if the company's justification for aggressively pursuing PBS is staying competitive, I don't buy the NMB not considering what's in the back of the aircraft. Fedex arguing they need PBS to compete because that's what United has makes zero sense.

On another tangent, this cargo cut-out is a double-edged sword for the company. In the past, they've wanted to treat us like every other pilot group when it suits them and claim we're apples and oranges when that's more convenient. Well now, it's pretty clear we're not like them according to Fedex, Congress, the FAA and anyone else who bought off on the cut-out. Our job involves more risk, less rest and our lives are clearly less important. I can live with that, but they gotta pay me more because of it.

Busdrivr

Question. Who here remembers what happened when the company IMPOSED the optimizer?

ClutchCargo

You mean the "unionizer"?

Fly FDX

It depends how strong our "crew force" is... 1 DP in LAX, gone 1st night... Yeah, they could impose PBS.

FDXLAG

Does he wear a lanyard? Is he a good dude?

TonyC

Could FedEx Express impose a set of work rules which includes a Preferential Bidding System?


We typically think about "self help" in terms of what the Union can do, and that usually centers around our withholding of services - a strike. We also typically think of this stage of the process as something the Union wants, because the Carrier is instransigent in negotiations. The Union paints the Carrier as being unwilling to negotiate. To the NMB, that means a failure to bargain in good faith.

Under the RLA, both parties are required to bargain in good faith to achieve an agreement.

With that in mind, consider how one might use "good faith bargaining" and "non-starter" in the same sentence.

Our Carrier opened with a proposal that largely revolves around a preferential bidding system. Our Union has stated proudly and publicly that such a proposal is a non-starter. How will our Union defend those statements when our Carrier appeals to the NMB for release to self-help? That's right, the Carrier can ask for release, too. They can argue that ALPA refused to bargain in good faith, characterizing their initial proposal as a "non-starter."

What will be our defense?

What will be our response if we are released, the 30-day cooling off period expires, and the Carrier imposes its last best offer which revolves around a preferential bidding system? What will we do?



A strike would certainly be legal.

But could we?



When the optimizer/sodomizer/unionizer was implemented, we were in self-help. We were free to strike, and the Carrier was free to implement its last best offer. The optimizer didn't actually change our work rules (how we bid on lines), it only changed the way the trips were constructed.

It certainly boosted union membership, but ... what did we do?


Where are we headed today? Are we engaged and ready for battle, or are we happy and complacent with the appearance of peace? Could they impose PBS? Could we strike?



Remember, there's free face-painting and blow-up slides at the Germantown Center tomorrow.


And a time to ask questions.







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