Seniority Question
 

Let’s say I got a job as a package handler part time tomorrow. Would my seniority at the company as a package handler transfer over to seniority among the pilot seniority list once I become a pilot for Fedex?

No.........

Why? I would technically have more time at the company than a pilot who got hired a year later. Why would I not get put into the list respective to my hire date?

Also, that is how it works in every other position at FedEx Express if you switch positions within the company, so I was just curious if it was the same for pilots. Thanks for the response.

So you think throwing boxes part time at FedEx should put you ahead of a full time pilot that got hired a month after you started throwing boxes? That same pilot who worked as a pilot at FedEx while you got your qualifications and time built at other companies? That time throwing boxes means you should be a captain before the pilot who worked as a FedEx pilot? Wow! You have a lot to learn about the aviation industry.

Actually yes I do. Not necessarily the upgrade part, but seniority yes. If that guy throwing boxes got a job at FedEx Express before the other guy did. Also, the guy throwing boxes is working his ass off flying the line at some other company. Let’s put this into a different perspective for you. Let’s say someone who has been throwing boxes part time for Fedex for 10 years wants to become a pilot and has earned all his qualifications to finally apply. Do you think that person should be behind a guy who just started yesterday on the seniority list? Meanwhile the guy throwing boxes worked two jobs and put in the sweat equity for the company for 10. I’m not trying to be a smart ass, just trying to figure it out. Also, I assume you work there correct?

Company seniority =/= seniority list. They are two wholly different concepts and for good reason, literally everything in your career will be determined by your seniority list position, allowing shortcuts on the list is an abrogation of the entire concept.

Yes I do. The point is the guy who got hired as a pilot before you had the qualifications had done other things as well and worked their butt off. You didn't have the qualifications. If you think you should have a right to be a captain ahead of a pilot that got hired 8 years before you did just because you threw boxes at FedEx for 10 years, you have ZERO idea how seniority works in the airline industry.

I don't need perspective. I can already see that you feel entitled.

You get to keep your lower employee number at least!

Pinseeker for the win!

Ok so I’m entitle because I want to put in sweat equity to earn my spot? Sounds like I’m really entitled... I thought FedEx likes to hire from within? I was being polite and **** earlier saying thanks for the response, then you go calling me entitled. Just trying to figure it out man, just like I’m sure at one point in your life you were too. Have a good day. Personally I would hire a guy who worked his ass off for the company for ten years and flew for another company(working two jobs) over a guy who just worked one job and has more hours. Just my opinion.

This has to be trolling. If not, it would make for a great addition to the millennial oddity thread. “New FO tells CA he threw boxes for 10 yrs and should have been senior to the CA because he was hired at Fedex first.” :D

Or at the very least, he’d make for an epic “why I left the industry” YouTube video. “Can you believe they didn’t give me 10 yrs pilot seniority for all the sweat equity hard labor I put in as a part time package handler?” :eek:

No, you are entitled because you think that throwing boxes part time should put you ahead of a pilot who was qualified and hired as a FedEx pilot before you were qualified for the job.

You didn't just simply thank me for my response, you *****ed about it not being fair. You also imply that you are working your a$$ off and the pilot hired before you didn't.

Bring that attitude to a job interview at FedEx and see what happens. But hey, you can still have that part time job throwing boxes, working your a$$ off.:rolleyes::eek:

And to bring you back to your original question, it wasn't about getting hired or an interview from within, it was about jumping over someone in seniority just because you threw boxes part time. If you don't understand the difference, you have a lot to learn. Most, if not all of the pilots working at FedEx made sacrifices to get here. That is why you come across as entitled.

Not ****ed at all. Totally understand that everyone makes sacrafices. You are spot on with all the answeres you gave me I was just trying to figure it out. I want the most qualified person for the job to get the job first. I’m not trying to cheat any system or cut in line. I get that the company seniority is not the same as pilot seniority. I assume your vacation and sick time would go by when you were hired at the company correct?

Vacation bidding (just like anything schedule related) is based on your seniority as a pilot.

Every pilots sick time is the same.

Just about everything to do with Pilot employment is governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Sick Pay Vacation and Seniority in particular. The rules are different than they are for box tossers.

Don't listen to these guys telling you that you don't get to keep your seniority. When you interview for a pilot position, just tell them that you expect to keep your seniority, and you want to go ahead and be a Captain because after all, you have earned it! If you tell the interviewer that, he or she has to honor your wishes. (insert extreme sarcasm emoji here)

Longevity with the Company is different than Pilot Senority.

Wait so if I want to be the next CEO I just need to start throwing boxes and wait until my number is up?

Shouldn't be a big deal...he'll be senior to the interview guys.

Throwing boxes will give you a leg up. It will give you an FDX employee number which your interviewer will see and you can talk about. A current or former employee shows loyalty and a good work record. There have been times in the past when the only hiring going on was internal hires. So the box throwing job lets you understand the company and see what the behind the scenes business looks like.

You might get a leg up when trying to get an interview. You might be an earlier interview than those that were on the outside waiting for years to be called. If you get through your interview and are hired, you start over at the back of the line. Maybe you received a benefit from throwing boxes maybe not. If you did, then it was for the best. If not, then you will have to decide if throwing boxes was a better gig than what alternative job you might have been doing waiting to be called.

this is hilarious!

Instead of tossing boxes you should join one of the FedEx Feeders. You get to fly an aircraft with a FedEx paintjob. You’ll have a shot at mainline if you qualify for the Purple Runway program and keep your nose clean.

Honestly, you have your sights set too low. Stay in that box throwing job a couple more years, and move into a senior VP position. Isn't that the very same logic you want to apply to the pilot group?

A 15 year ramp worker who gets an accounting degree, doesn't move to the head of the accounting department if they get hired there. They are new to the department, and go to the end of the line.

Everyone here was a captain of his ship before they were here, but the majority of us spent a little while plumbing when we got here.

Ha ha ha!!!

With your seniority I’ll bet you could move on over and be chief package handler. Although you might not want to put that on a business card.

Everybody is giving crap, I get it. I’m going to assume he’s not a troll and was curious. Many other union/seniority based jobs (union plumbers, pipe fitters, electricians, etc.) have portable seniority.

To the OP, the airline industry doesn’t work like that. Your position on the pilot seniority list (separate than company seniority) is determined when you start Basic Indoc as a pilot.

But, to everyone else who is giving him grief... does he have such a bad idea? Not in the way he thinks, but as a new-hire I wouldn’t have been opposed to people who previously worked at the company having higher seniority in their new-hire class. The way we do it now is random anyhow. Last 4 of your SSN. If I had a guy or gal in my class with a 2XXX last four, but he threw boxes for 10 years here at Express, I wouldn’t have blinked an eye if they put him ahead of everyone else that had no previous time with the company. Now that I think of it, I like my idea. If I was king of BI, I’d determine seniority within a BI class as:
1) Previous full-time employees based on time with company
2) Previous part-time employees based on time with company
3) Everyone else based on last 4 of SSN.

That would reward people like Pros, corporate guys, box throwers who hitched their wagon to this company before they were pilots here.

It used to be that way in the early to mid 70's but later the policy was changed and only counted for vacation and retirement accrual. That policy was discontinued with the CBA of 2006.(I think it was 2006)
If you are a FedEx employee you can apply "internally" for a Crewmember position.
Good luck to you
fbh

Get used to it bud. Seniority is everything in this gig and the only way you get is by being on a specific airlines PILOT Seniority List.

This will dictate everything in you career:

Aircraft Assignments
Seat Assignments
Monthly Schedule Award
Vacation Award
Promotions/Demotions
Keeping a Job/Being Furloughed
Etc, etc, etc.

I went to the line in 2000 after my three years in the Training Department and I got credit for three years for retirement but started at zero for vacation. The guys just ahead of me got full credit for their time for vacation longevity. Timing is everything!!

I heard if you work as a baggage handler for UAL that counts as your hire date once you make the switch to the 747

What would a 37 yr old new hire be projected to retire at in terms of overall seniority?

We don’t have the ability to plug that in but I would suspect top 5-10% based on the avg new hire age and the amount of hiring we have done. Just a WAG.

-UA

Thanks. Got an invite to interview but currently at AA and projected to be 3% at retirement.

Understood. The big difference in seniority comparisons isn’t completely where you finish up, though that should be a part of your analysis. At Purple we have widebody CA’s who are about 70% currently. We have 777 CA’s at 40+%. For me the earning ability during the mid part of my career was far greater at Purple than anywhere else simply due to fleet makeup.

Food for thought.

-UA

Okay, if you're making your decision (assuming you have a choice) based upon ending up at 3%, 5% or whatever after 30+ years at an airline, that's funny right there!:D

Think about it. All the minutiae of figuring out exactly where you will end up, exactly how much you'll make, when you'll upgrade....does anyone know the future? Sure, it's good to take an overall look at things, but I guarantee you, the American Airlines pilots that were on furlough FOR OVER TEN YEARS stopped thinking about those minor details.

You don't even know how long you'll stay at an airline. Will you retire early, medical out, company go bankrupt (again), merge. Everything changes. I have to wonder if anyone who figured out how their life would be down to the gnat's ass 30 years ago is in the situation they predicted, or even close.

I think the crystal ball on the MEC website would give a swag.. Problem is I it’s ALPA number specific. So if you could find a new hire that is 37, you could approximate.

Yup. Just checked and it’s specific to me.

How does someone apply internally now? It looks like the company has transitioned to Workday and I have not seen an ad for crew member since.

I was in the Aug, 1999 class, along with 7 other internal hires. We were the first new hire class after the first CBA took effect. We got credited time for retirement, but no credit for vacation. The Mar ‘99 class, which was after the CBA passed, but before the start date, got vacation credit.
Later, after the the majority of the company lost the DB retirement, internal hires no longer got credited for retirement time before being placed on the seniority list.

I’m retiring at the end of the year so you can just slide right in to my spot. I’m sure the 4800 plus pilots below me won’t mind a bit. After all you did work your ass off throwing boxes.