whalesurfer

A very valid point SB. I respect your and others dissenters' opinion, I truly do, but isn't it true that some people will disparage our company no matter what others believe? It goes both ways and you know it.

I'm not a kool-aid drinker. You and I and many, many others here gave up tons of money, sick time, vloa's, rdg's, and other b.s. to prevent the furlough. ..and yet they furloughed anyways and to top it off hired scabs to replace the furloughees. ...and yes, any mgmt pilot hired during the furlough fits the definition. Think about it, line pilots getting laid off while manglers getting hired. We were not on strike BUT our brothers and sisters were being laid off. In other words they were bringing in replacement pilots and therefore the scab label for those hired during that time frame applies!

..and yet, I think it's a good place to be at. Yes, it sounds very contradictory. I'm not saying that because I believe it's a paradise on earth but because most other places are "as good as it gets." Will things be as great at the major pax carriers in 5-10 years as they're now? Maybe or maybe not. I bet on not, and it's just a bet. As an additional bonus I truly enjoy the camaraderie here and the really cool people I get to fly with. We're a unique group and the HR dept has done a great job when it comes to hiring, that's my honest opinion.

So in conclusion yes, I do think it's a good place to be at but it could be absolutely great. The only way to change it is from within. We might succeed in improving this place or we might not.

When I was looking for an interview gouge and help with getting hired here there were numerous pilots on this board who offered me their insight. They gave me all the info they had while keeping things real. They let me decide without fear mongering and scare tactics. Simply put they trusted my judgment.

I'm grateful to them and today am trying to pay it forward. I trust the potential new-hires' judgment, they've all been around the block and can decide for themselves. I won't sugarcoat it nor will I pretend this is a pilot's heaven. I firmly believe they're smart enough to decide for themselves.

Swedish Blender

It's amazing how everything at UPS is a fight. Look at the hotel in Warsaw. The contract was renewed and got worse. Before, we got free breakfast and had to pay for internet. I'm sure everyone thought with the addition of iPads, the internet would be included in the next contract. Not only did we not get free internet, they took away the free breakfast. Is it a big deal? No. It just shows how what the company thinks of us. This is just one example of many we could all give.

Hopefully whenever these contract talks end (hopefully in the next 5 years) our schedules, pay and retirement will improve. Right now, with the meteoric rise in seniority at the legacies, it would be hard for me to say come to UPS vs DAL/AA/UAL. The job security is not necessarily there at UPS like before now that the furlough has happened.

It comes down to money vs QOL which is subject to change based on contracts.

Right now here are the percentages of FOs that are bypassing captain upgrade which is the wall you will hit for QOL schedules as a FO.

SDFZ -37%
SDF MD - 33%
SDF 75 - 28%
A300 - 41%
MIA - 37%
ONT - 37%
ANC 74 - 8%
ANC MD <1%

All this being said, I do like my job. My seniority, however, is right on the edge of holding decent lines and totally sucking.

freightretriever

Well I'm gonna call BS on this one. Several people around here can attest to the fact that our paychecks didn't come at all for quite a while. So if you are coming here cause "cargo is stable" and UPS will "never furlough" you may want to rethink that.

Busflyer

I for one have never had my check show up late in my 23 years here, never heard of anyone else with that problem either. Compared to the passenger carriers, cargo is stable. We furloughed what, 3% of our pilots, what were the percentages at the legacy carriers? I feel sure it was higher.

Is UPS perfect? No. But what place is? The job is what you make of it. We have a good pilot group and I enjoy flying with them.

whalesurfer

You picked just one quote here below to prove your point.

..but I also said this where I actually agree with your point.

UPSpilott

Dream on. You'll be on the airbus flying night sort until the end of time or turning 65, whichever happens first. And cut your life short by 10 years.

UPSpilott

Never to growth. They simply frown on that nonsense.

Welcome to the most stagnant job of your career.

UPSpilott

Also the case at every other airline I've worked for..Not sure why UPS guys love to point this out?

Try to ask the 109 if their paychecks came every 2nd monday since their hire date.....all while the company raking in a cool billion every 90 days.

Viper446

Because their check is delivered by FedEx.

UPSpilott

The alarming thing? While they continue to F us....our IPA guys continue to block early!! What year of negotiation are we in?????? H E L L O !!!!!! Lots of talks about unity and fight against the evil bastards but I see very little of it on the line.

And I haven't even opened up the flying fatigued can of worms.