RedeyeAV8r,

Thanks for your post and insight. We intend to do just what you have mentioned. If our group would have been treated with respect, no references made to our seniority (or lack thereof), questions answered, and made the negotiated resolution of 1/10/07 available to those affected....there would be no need to open this blog up. The MEC vice chairman sent me a very stern email which I responded to with a request for a meeting or phone call. After numerous phone calls and another email, I have had ZERO response. I call that disrespect in light of the gravity of this situation. We all just want to know why this grievance was negotiated without our knowledge, and what the future ramifications are? But no answer to either as of today. The disrespectful phone calls were recently refered to in an ALPA email as "Fireside Chat" and our *****ing as nothing other than our group not hearing "what we want to hear". Both are acquisations towards JR. ALPA members who cannot get an answer let alone the answer we want.....how about a respectful timely answer?

Call this a lame ***** but ALPA, by not letting us in the loop for decisions then withholding the information virtually ties our hands. It should be evident to all that this situation will no just go away as many ALPA members have suggested.

Come on RedEye?

"Hint: *****ing about it isn't the answer.......
__________________
RedEyE"

Did you read all the emails at the beginning of this thread? I mean word 4 word? Numerous pilots (20+) have been pushing a rope for two weeks with ALPA. I am tired of hearing how someone was on the panel for 5 years, how I havent been at FedEx long enough to understand, and berating phone conversations with hired help at ALPA. I pay dues just like the guy who holds seniority #1 and my vote counts just as much as his. To truly answer your questions we have notified at least 15 MEC, LEC, and block reps of this situation and no one will answer.

We are waiting for answers to our questions in order to make an educated decision to grieve or not. Prudent dont you think? It is sad that this small JR group is treated with so much disrespect. As far as *****ing, call it what you want but this situation has finally migrated away from the FedEx company email and into somewhere else, for that I am very glad.

I grew up in this business, and I remember the guys that did 10 years on the panel (my dad did 8). Thing, is, they were hired in their late 20's too.

Most guys here, they may have 5 years on the panel, but they got 20 in the business. This is my third airline, and I flew corporate before that. And I was one of the younger ones in the class....

Thank You very much
 

I truly believe educated members make wiser decisions. Our group of JR pilots are trying to educate ourselves. But for now we cannot find out why we were not informed, we cannot get the wording of the 1/10/07 negotiated agreement, and no explanation to why the union negotiated anything affecting a members pay retroactively. It has also been brought to our attention that the item has been removed from the Feb 20th agenda, but like most of our questions we cannot get confirmation.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pass this forum to every FedEx pilot you know. As one response to this thread explained, this has major ramifications for everyone on future bids let alone our small group of junior pilots.

Honestly, what is the relevance in this situation. Guys have done many years on the panel before and guys this past summer went to the right seat of a wide body day 1. Irrelevant to this situation. The company admittingly trained someone out of seniority order, we all held the same bid as the jr pilot, and it delayed our training. Right out of Ch 24 of the old contract. No wording of how long you must be a plumber or how you must pay your dues. We have all paid our dues in some form or the other.

We just want to know the rationale for negotiating this "intervening award" decision which has the potential to impact a lot of pilots at FedEx.

And someone please tell my why ALPA has an outstanding grievance from 2002, is 5 years normal?

Coffee *****:
I fought a similar battle several years ago over vacation longivety for internal hires. The offical answer was you are too small a group to worry about. What they ment was ( IT doesn't effect wide body captains ) That is really what they are telling you. Keep up the fight see you at the meeting on the 20th.

I just received a ruling on one I filed over 5 years ago(not FDX), and have ones from longer ago at a different place that still have not been acted upon.

While I think the treatment by the union officials and staff of the complaint may be lacking, I personally don't see why the guys think they are eligible for passover pay. If you want widebody pay the quickest way possible you should bid ANC. It is that simple. Those guys who did bid it and went there for however long were willing to go there in order to make widebody pay at the earliest opportunity.

Although it seems unfair, the contract is pretty clear about same seat, same domicile, same bid. The fact that the pilot later did a lateral to Mem is not really an issue.

I do have to say that I would definitely grieve this situation if I was in it no matter what the union reps say. And if we need to stand on a few toes at the next meeting I will gladly stand with you and do so. Getting shabby treatment from those elected to represent us and the staff we pay with our dues is unacceptable.

I also read Wally's letter with disgust. Makes me sick to realize just how bad the union that I am a proud member of has sold me out in the past several months. It may be time for a recall of our MEC and the big boys in Herndon.

Thanks for your input SNAFU
 

Remember that the JR pilot HAD NOT STARTED training for his ANC bid. He had a July 06 class date for that bid. Once bid 06-02 came out, some lost their bid from 05-03 but this person did not. (Many Many precidents have been set previously, i.e. your new bid negates your previous bid if you haven't begun training). The JR pilot did lose his July 06 class date, the company moved it to Nov 30, 2006 to make way for all the Nuggets and began paying him passover pay in Sept. According to the company, they made a mistake and did not remove him from the previous bid. Therefore we all had the same bid, same seat, same aircraft, and same domicile. At best it is a gray area and not Cut & Dried as it seems the union decided. We still await a reason to why this negotiated "intervening award" phraseology (is that a word?) was even considered. Why didnt the union take this gray area and press for a resolution that benefits the members in a situation when the company admitted a mistake?

Coffee*****,

I have had pretty much the same treatment as you have. I bid MD-11FO/MEM in bid 5-03. I was told one month prior to my training that my training was moved to October. I called the union and was told that I would not be payed passover. I didn't think the intent of the contract was to delay our training four months and put new hires in our classes, even though they were going to be based at ANC.

I have also heard from the union that the senior guys would think my gripe was weak since I didn't work the panel for 5 years before getting a window seat. I asked him if these guys have all been furloughed for 3+ years or spent 20 years in the military? I know that many have experienced much worse, but my point was we have all paid our dues to get into this job, although some of us have done it at other places. And besides, we pay our dues just like anyone else and expect representation when we experience a monetary shortfall or a quality of life issue. I'll bet a senior captain would gripe if he felt his W-2 was 20k less due to a contract loophole. Oh, and by the way, my bonus check was going to paid at S/O rates since I hadn't activated as a FO.

SNAFU,

I do appreciate your support, but not too sure about the ANC comment. I was awarded MEM in bid 05-03 (I believe Sep 05). I considered changing my bid to DC-10 in bid 06-02 (my training date was in Jul 06). I decided against it since I thought I had a training date and wasn't sure when I would have trained in the DC-10. I had no idea that the company was going to delay our training four months or I would have changed my bid. If you were in my shoes, what would you have done?

I am planning on attending the Feb 20 meeting. I believe our representation was lacking. Oh, and by the way, I also thought that the contract enforcement staff paralegal was condescending and not helpful.