Originally Posted by CL300

At job fairs, the wait in line to see DL, UA and AA is six hours long. The line to see UPS and Fedex is 15 minutes.

Most people haven’t realized the best job in aviation could be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog $hit out of Hong Kong.

Originally Posted by LJ Driver

Not an employee of either currently but hoping to join your ranks soon... just curious to know why this may be the case?

Originally Posted by FXLAX

Just anecdotal but in the last few years, out of all the regional pilots I’ve talked to, the vast majority (80%) talk about going only to a passenger airline. And like the above poster, the lines are always longer at the passenger airlines compared to the cargo airlines. I contend that the pilot shortage will hit the major passenger airlines last and UPS/FDX before them with ULCCs/ACMI before that and the regionals right now.

Originally Posted by Anthrax

You keep telling yourself that, Sparky.

Originally Posted by CL300

The job fair wait lines are the truth. Sheeple gravitate to pax carriers when times are good.

Some of aren’t bitter because we fly boxes. Sorry you are.....

Originally Posted by Anthrax

I believe you about the lines, Sparky. I take issue with your smug job satisfaction. Sure, cargo is a good gig, but I would argue by default. We lagged behind until after the collapse, and then patted ourselves on the back for that which was beyond the control of the pilot group, which was bankruptcy. Aren’t we clever. We led the pack for a bit, getting more and more smug, but haven’t had the resolve to fight for any real gains, mostly because IMO the slim majority are ensconced in your smug satisfaction and/or fearful of a prolonged negotiation in which we use our legal tools for substantial gains. I’m not bitter about the job. Just you, Sparky. Just bitter about you.

Originally Posted by CL300

Well then, carry on, bitter man. My apologies for triggering you with my smugness. You have a long, miserable career ahead of you and I feel terrible for those who have to share your workspace.

I’m off to enjoy my cargo plane full of rubber dog sh!t, or your Christmas gifts, whatever is back there, because it beats flying pax, even on the worst day.

Originally Posted by FXLAX

Just anecdotal but in the last few years, out of all the regional pilots I’ve talked to, the vast majority (80%) talk about going only to a passenger airline. And like the above poster, the lines are always longer at the passenger airlines compared to the cargo airlines. I contend that the pilot shortage will hit the major passenger airlines last and UPS/FDX before them with ULCCs/ACMI before that and the regionals right now.

Originally Posted by dr k

1. About that mlb pension...

Do about 5 minutes of reading in their literature. They do not have a vb plan at all.

Their pensions benefits are composed of a monthly check that is:
85% fixed - identical to our traditional "a fund"
15% variable - able to be invested in mutual funds

reference - http://www.mlb.com/mlb/official_info...sion-print.pdf

there are no pancakes, hurdle rates, stabilization funds, or setting of share prices. It is mlb's problem to perform and does not resemble our vb fund in any way shape or form.

When i heard that a lot of "high wage earners like the mlb have this vb plan", i stuck my chest out real far and went for the bait of being compared to them.

2. I then took a look at the unions who actually have a vb plan that are noted in our vb propaganda and what their monthly pension paychecks are (master mates and pilots of baltimore, new york newspaper guild, hotel and restaurants of boston, and alaska building trades). These guys make hundreds of dollars a month for pensions - not eleven thousand a month. We will be the crown jewel for cheiron or whoever ends up managing our shell of a retirement. And we will be guinea pigs as the first actual high wage earners voluntarily taking pension risk away from their employer.

3. Cheiron is quoted in a dozen articles i read touting the benefits of the vb plan for distressed and struggling pension funds. But it is absolutely insane for us to give away a healthy pension fund. As an aside - i have no problem with them selling us on this product - it is their livelihood. But i do have a problem with us not being properly informed while spending untold sums of money on this research project turned vote.

4. If you want to feel better about the state of our pension and the gains that could be made through actual negotiations, take another 5 minutes and read our irs form 5500. It shows the number of active retired and departed participants, our life expectancies, retirement ages, funds invested in, funding percentages, and any other questions you could possible have. Read it over and see if pancakes and need-to-be-negotiated stabilization funds seem more impressive.

https://www.efast.dol.gov/portal/app...execution=e2s6 - enter "fedex corporation" in plan sponsor. Then scroll down to the pension plan ein - 621721435 pn 002.

The vb plan is fake news. Make our pension great again.
K