Considering jumping ship
08-03-2020, 03:57 AM
#182
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: BE-20, LR35
Posts: 266
Originally Posted by champ42272
A parting word:
I've been at FedEx for over 25 years, retiring in October. Wife (#1 and only) has been a Delta Pilot for over 23 years (she started at Pan Am in Berlin before the Wall came down).
Fedex is the best career on the planet, do we have irritants- yes. Is our contract perfect - no. But to the OP, don’t leave FedEx.
When I started we had 165 B-727 aircraft, 600 in each seat and over 400 published lines every month, lots of DDHs. I flew the backside for over 6 years straight, and thought I was going to die due to the fatigue, stress and circadian rhythm disruptions. The USPS completely changed the face of the company.
After 9/11, we were the only airline hiring (the USPS paid for the hiring and training costs). We not only survived, we thrived, life got better, more day flying, better QOL.
Now were flying 777/767/767 airplanes, most off the factory floor, largest wide body fleet in the world.
just finished CQ so I can fly the last three months, best training experience in my career (I’ve heard all the trick questions!).
I have lots of friends in my demographic and they all say if they had to do it over again, they’d go cargo, preferably FedEx.
It was a great ride, you’ll get over these bad times. Keep the faith. If Fred ever figures out how to push a football through a telephone line, then you can worry. Don’t let Bezos buy the company.
Best of luck, THE BOXES DONT B!TCH.
Champ42272
I've been at FedEx for over 25 years, retiring in October. Wife (#1 and only) has been a Delta Pilot for over 23 years (she started at Pan Am in Berlin before the Wall came down).
Fedex is the best career on the planet, do we have irritants- yes. Is our contract perfect - no. But to the OP, don’t leave FedEx.
When I started we had 165 B-727 aircraft, 600 in each seat and over 400 published lines every month, lots of DDHs. I flew the backside for over 6 years straight, and thought I was going to die due to the fatigue, stress and circadian rhythm disruptions. The USPS completely changed the face of the company.
After 9/11, we were the only airline hiring (the USPS paid for the hiring and training costs). We not only survived, we thrived, life got better, more day flying, better QOL.
Now were flying 777/767/767 airplanes, most off the factory floor, largest wide body fleet in the world.
just finished CQ so I can fly the last three months, best training experience in my career (I’ve heard all the trick questions!).
I have lots of friends in my demographic and they all say if they had to do it over again, they’d go cargo, preferably FedEx.
It was a great ride, you’ll get over these bad times. Keep the faith. If Fred ever figures out how to push a football through a telephone line, then you can worry. Don’t let Bezos buy the company.
Best of luck, THE BOXES DONT B!TCH.
Champ42272
Continuing along the post office line...I can vouch for that contract being a crucial part of our growth and our increased quality of life.
The USPS is under attack for political purposes. I urge all of us FedEx pilots to contact your senators and your congressman and let them know how important the USPS is for you (us) and for the citizens across the United States.
Is it a government agency...yes. But, it is not funded by your tax dollars. It’s funded through the sale of postage. They are in a precarious situation due to the congressionally mandated need to fund their pension and health benefits further out into the future than any other entity in the United States (75 years into the future). Please show your support for the USPS. If it goes away so does a chunk of our business and you can expect to get your new postage from Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos.
Not wanting to discuss politics, just want us FedEx pilots to support the USPS so I can keep flying during the day and not stagnate in seniority for a decade or so!
08-03-2020, 09:24 AM
#183
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
Considering jumping ship
Originally Posted by Fr8Master
Very well said!
Continuing along the post office line...I can vouch for that contract being a crucial part of our growth and our increased quality of life.
The USPS is under attack for political purposes. I urge all of us FedEx pilots to contact your senators and your congressman and let them know how important the USPS is for you (us) and for the citizens across the United States.
Is it a government agency...yes. But, it is not funded by your tax dollars. It’s funded through the sale of postage. They are in a precarious situation due to the congressionally mandated need to fund their pension and health benefits further out into the future than any other entity in the United States (75 years into the future). Please show your support for the USPS. If it goes away so does a chunk of our business and you can expect to get your new postage from Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos.
Not wanting to discuss politics, just want us FedEx pilots to support the USPS so I can keep flying during the day and not stagnate in seniority for a decade or so!
Continuing along the post office line...I can vouch for that contract being a crucial part of our growth and our increased quality of life.
The USPS is under attack for political purposes. I urge all of us FedEx pilots to contact your senators and your congressman and let them know how important the USPS is for you (us) and for the citizens across the United States.
Is it a government agency...yes. But, it is not funded by your tax dollars. It’s funded through the sale of postage. They are in a precarious situation due to the congressionally mandated need to fund their pension and health benefits further out into the future than any other entity in the United States (75 years into the future). Please show your support for the USPS. If it goes away so does a chunk of our business and you can expect to get your new postage from Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos.
Not wanting to discuss politics, just want us FedEx pilots to support the USPS so I can keep flying during the day and not stagnate in seniority for a decade or so!
I haven’t heard of anyone wanting to get rid of the post office. I’ve only heard of people wanting to completely privatize it. I’ll admit that I don’t keep up with all the chatter about the USPS. Either way, people will still want a postal service. The demand won’t go away if the post office goes away.
08-04-2020, 08:25 AM
#184
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: No Hats No Jackets No PAX
Posts: 1,504
Originally Posted by FXLAX
I haven’t heard of anyone wanting to get rid of the post office. I’ve only heard of people wanting to completely privatize it. I’ll admit that I don’t keep up with all the chatter about the USPS. Either way, people will still want a postal service. The demand won’t go away if the post office goes away.
08-04-2020, 10:03 AM
#185
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by C17B74
Very true, the name may change but the service will be picked up by you or another entity(s) in some form or fashion just like the pax carriers chasing down market shares. Granted it probably will become the cheapest endeavor. Wouldn’t worry too much, both Bezos and Musk are too busy in their space race at the moment. Uber, Ubereats, Doordash, Ubermail, Doormail who knows... but something will be in place.
08-04-2020, 11:06 AM
#186
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: No Hats No Jackets No PAX
Posts: 1,504
Originally Posted by abides
if FedEx wanted to change owners to avoid funding your pension, you would be singing a different tune.
Last edited by C17B74; 08-04-2020 at 11:18 AM.
08-06-2020, 01:14 PM
#188
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: 757 Capt
Posts: 2,418
FedEx changing owners doesn't change existing contractual requirements, or the legal requirement to fund our pension.
Delta and NW merged, and yet somehow Delta is still required to fund NW pilots pensions, admittedly benefits are frozen
Delta and NW merged, and yet somehow Delta is still required to fund NW pilots pensions, admittedly benefits are frozen
08-06-2020, 06:56 PM
#189
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: No Hats No Jackets No PAX
Posts: 1,504
Originally Posted by kronan
FedEx changing owners doesn't change existing contractual requirements, or the legal requirement to fund our pension.
Delta and NW merged, and yet somehow Delta is still required to fund NW pilots pensions, admittedly benefits are frozen
Delta and NW merged, and yet somehow Delta is still required to fund NW pilots pensions, admittedly benefits are frozen
*So get into a company which has such pure pension traits if you have a fair amount of working years remaining = otherwise the company/country has or will eventually fall into self-funded retirements as most have.
It’s just the way it is, even the USAF (and others) changed to the “Blended Retirement Plan”, while still pension heavier, the 401K portion with some matching coin is the beginning of chipping the purely company/government funded pension safety net away. CSRS vs FERS is a good example of other gov flips.
Current and former employees have/will be grandfathered in, it’s the new hires in the future that will start to have some skin in the game which is probably years down the road - I have no idea, just viewing the historical data of most companies having done the flip the switch. Direct Contribution is not the same, but at least the clams are being dumped in your account on a monthly basis. I like the pension thang, but nothing in life is guaranteed. At least Kodak‘s pensions seems to be covered as they were teetering if not headed out to pasture if not for the recent pharmaceutical contract for the gov. Not quite having the Billions required to fund the overall Billions needed for their pensions, it is still impressive that they are fairly close so that is a better example of being responsible/accountable. Glad for them. (Glad is a word and not just a trash bag).
08-07-2020, 05:41 PM
#190
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,838
Originally Posted by C17B74
It was more possible to change ownership, liquidate or close the doors and drop pensions decades ago, but now with the protections and regulations safeguarding current pensions, etc and requirements to have funding in place to substantially provide for retirees freeze or no freeze (good point). Laws have made it more costly as a legal standpoint/punitive damages then just fund the dang pension already. Pension plans are headed the way of the Dodo... so you’re going to see employers freeze their current plan and implement creative savings opportunities for new hires.” - Business Mag
*So get into a company which has such pure pension traits if you have a fair amount of working years remaining = otherwise the company/country has or will eventually fall into self-funded retirements as most have.
It’s just the way it is, even the USAF (and others) changed to the “Blended Retirement Plan”, while still pension heavier, the 401K portion with some matching coin is the beginning of chipping the purely company/government funded pension safety net away. CSRS vs FERS is a good example of other gov flips.
Current and former employees have/will be grandfathered in, it’s the new hires in the future that will start to have some skin in the game which is probably years down the road - I have no idea, just viewing the historical data of most companies having done the flip the switch. Direct Contribution is not the same, but at least the clams are being dumped in your account on a monthly basis. I like the pension thang, but nothing in life is guaranteed. At least Kodak‘s pensions seems to be covered as they were teetering if not headed out to pasture if not for the recent pharmaceutical contract for the gov. Not quite having the Billions required to fund the overall Billions needed for their pensions, it is still impressive that they are fairly close so that is a better example of being responsible/accountable. Glad for them. (Glad is a word and not just a trash bag).
*So get into a company which has such pure pension traits if you have a fair amount of working years remaining = otherwise the company/country has or will eventually fall into self-funded retirements as most have.
It’s just the way it is, even the USAF (and others) changed to the “Blended Retirement Plan”, while still pension heavier, the 401K portion with some matching coin is the beginning of chipping the purely company/government funded pension safety net away. CSRS vs FERS is a good example of other gov flips.
Current and former employees have/will be grandfathered in, it’s the new hires in the future that will start to have some skin in the game which is probably years down the road - I have no idea, just viewing the historical data of most companies having done the flip the switch. Direct Contribution is not the same, but at least the clams are being dumped in your account on a monthly basis. I like the pension thang, but nothing in life is guaranteed. At least Kodak‘s pensions seems to be covered as they were teetering if not headed out to pasture if not for the recent pharmaceutical contract for the gov. Not quite having the Billions required to fund the overall Billions needed for their pensions, it is still impressive that they are fairly close so that is a better example of being responsible/accountable. Glad for them. (Glad is a word and not just a trash bag).
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