whitekeys

I see a lot of speculation on why anyone would want to leave FedEx for a legacy. Most of the speculation is focused on the nuts and bolts of analyzing the pay, benefits, and working conditions of the job in relation to alternatives. I know of one such individual who is looking to leave FedEx. The reason is the management culture. People don’t want to work for managers who will lie to them and betray them for the sake of their own careers. That’s what all the “just culture” discussion is about.

I’m told that management has been having some informal discussions with people to try and figure out why there is an atmosphere of mistrust. It is both astounding and illuminating management can’t easily come to terms with the answer. They have massive blind spots.

There’s no panacea in the industry. The “grass is always greener” mindset is dangerous. I think it’s better to do whatever one can to improve the culture and work environment at one’s present place of employment than to cut and run.

Gunter

Let's dispel the myth that management is dumb. They know they lie and hide information.

What they really want to know is how did we become so aware of it and why do we take it so personally. They're trying to figure out a way to desensitize us to it.

Sideshow Bob

Over at UPS we have always viewed management in a light similar to the Taliban. We always assume we are being lied to or thrown under one of several buses for a myriad of often twisted reasons. Part of this is a business culture over 100 years old, and part is our managers are pure management with no seniority number unlike yours. The old saying that management philosophy starts at the top leads me to believe that things are changing in MEM at the highest levels and filtering their way through to fellow line pilots that left to their own devices would always favor a fellow line guy.

Perhaps you too will develop "Expectation Zero" (a fast growing cereal box religion at UPS) WRT your "management"...it helps alleviate the frustration over things you have no control over.

CloudSailor

Therein lies the conundrum: we choose to not move to Memphis, for many reasons. So, for commuters (65% of our pilots?), guys in my seniority group are looking at night hub-turning on the 757 for X years. Is X = 2, 4, or 6 years? The guys who I know are thinking about bailing, all have less than 5 years here. I don't think this discussion would apply to anyone here more than 5.

Now, if you're junior and living in MEM, CGN or HKG, it's obviously a huge improvement in QOL. Although even if based in CGN, there is still very little daytime flying. I agree with you in that MEM RB while living in domicile, or I would add HKG flying, are the best options for the very junior.

CloudSailor

I didn't say I wasn't grateful to be here. I love it here. I worked very hard, like the vast majority of guys and gals here, to get this job, and feel very fortunate to have landed it. However, the industry has changed in many ways, and there has also been a significant shift in the air cargo market. In any event, I am just gathering information from different perspectives. I am not wanting to bail because I do like the night cargo flying, and particularly here, but I also understand guys slightly senior to me, but mostly junior, who are getting their apps ready for the legacies. It's a major shift in career mindset from the last 15 years.

BTW, I did the flying you're talking about at the legacies. The red-eyes and "black-eyes". Sorry, but those trips are relatively quite easy when compared to night hub turning with 3-4 legs per night, 4-5 nights. Also, I think UA/DL pay starts at $65-ish an hour, going up to over $100 on year 2.

CompetentFool

"compared to night hub turning with 3-4 legs per night, 4-5 nights"

You really need to get FxCal and start trip trading. I drop every trip I have with more than 2 legs a night (one in and one out).

MaxKts

Ain't that sweet - someone with 25+ years bragging about his schedule

Laughing_Jakal

Well….though I don't think it would be a good move now….a majority may decide its worth the move rather than staying under a contract we can't live with. The best option is a contract that recognizes our contributions….the other option is NOT to ratify a contract that is substandard and live with the contract we have until something better (Contract or opportunity outside of FedEx)comes along….The third is to let our feet do the talking if we ultimately don't like the deal we've got.

I'm not advocating Anarchy by any stretch, but I refuse to tell anyone (especially those that sit across from our negotiators) I'd stay at FedEx no matter what. If I could get equal or better remuneration and satisfaction elsewhere than I could expect in the future at Purple, it would make sense to consider it. FedEx does what it does for max profit….so do I. My "service before self" ended with my privileges at the Commissary.

Guys are negotiating on our behalf and have asked very little of us. Lets not let our antagonists distort this thread into a "see…you have the best job in the industry now argument". Nor should we be so easily divided on seniority, equipment, or domicile. We may be in TN sometimes, doesn't mean we have to react as predictably as a Large Mouth bass to a spinner bait.….Wear your lanyard. If you don't have one, find a p2p guy and he can get you one on the spot in AOC.

busdriver12

But open time is the great equalizer. Anyone who wants to make the effort can enhance their schedule through trip trading and sick pickup. The most junior guy can beat out anyone, if he has the fastest fingers. Unfortunately, you have to be neurotic about it, but you can make your life better, even if you're the bottom guy.

busdriver12

That's a very useful philosophy, Bob. Maybe it is one we should consider having at FedEx. It's hard to give up all hope, as most of us have known (or even still know) people in management that we've trusted, but the way it's heading lately, "Expectation Zero" might be the proper mindset for our peace of mind. Thanks for your perspective.