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-   -   Pension increase (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fedex/128472-pension-increase.html)

JB130 03-25-2020 10:11 AM


Originally Posted by dckozak (Post 3011215)

The A plan WAS the crown jewel of our contract in the past. Favorable governance at the federal level has allowed industries in general and Fedex in particular to decimate various safeguards, pay protections and other negotiated "good deals" of organized labor contracts. Fedex's beancounters have seen the annuity based retirement we (uniquely within Fedex) have and seen to it that if we won't negotiate it away, time and inflation will do their job for them. We thought (naively) that we could avoid an A scale, B scale retirement within our pilot force and instead of protecting the pilots on the property with an improvement in our current plan; we have settled for a withering A plan for all pilots, old and new at Fedex.

Yes we did it to ourselves, those of you in the 50% + who voted for it (and would bet many would not admit to it). We all love draft, VAC buytback and many other goodies that are a good deal for the individual, but hamstring the collective. We are our own worse enemies, and Fedex thanks you for it.


So true! The clock is working against us and the Company knows it.

So long as we don't make improving the A Plan the crown jewel of our CBA openers, it won't be restored to the crown jewel of our retirement package. Until the guys and gals that actually move the freight show their collective resolve on this, first by contacting our union reps and second by holding firm in negotiations, it makes it easier for the Company to say "No" and just let the clock run. This Variable Stability (pick your nom du jour) scheme is just distracting many in our ranks with glitter and promises....and the Company knows that too.

FXLAX 03-25-2020 02:37 PM


Originally Posted by Noworkallplay (Post 3010572)
And you answered the biggest question of why do we need to look at other formulas. Our current plan is not common anymore bc the rules changed in 2006 Pension Protection Act. Those who didn’t have their pension whipped out by bankruptcy are now left with a pension that is massively expensive and the fundamentals were not built around the new regulations. It’s massively expensive to raise the benefit. You want to fight that fight again and loose be my guest. Oh and guess what no arbitration is ever going to rule in your favor to increase it if it gets to that point. It’s a ticking time bomb about to blow up and leave a bunch of pilots holding the bag going “but they promised me”. Just ask your buddies who lost theirs. Change the equation or loose it bottom line.


Just to correct one thing, there are no arbitrations in section 6 unless both parties agree to it. And I don’t believe management would ever agree to arbitrate anything to do with A plan negotiations. The A plan becomes less and less expensive to fund each year.

FXLAX 03-25-2020 02:44 PM


Originally Posted by SaltyDog (Post 3010666)
We started with a 1% DBP, retroactive for 10 years when we started. By law, this required a substantial payment for funding. Retro is very expensive. Thus, unable to reach a 2% as FedEx. So ALPA FedEX pilots have a 2% "whole Life" DB and IPA UPS pilots have a 1% "Whole life" DB.
The workaround? A Flat dollar "Term insurance" plus up that extends beyond the amendable date and captures each group of older pilots. We have don this each successive CBA. Again on this next TA. I can assure you, no IPA pilot as they age will ratify a TA that does not continually increase the DB plan through the flat dollar increase of "term insurance" on top of the "whole life" DB plan.
You appear to think this is band aid approach is a failure. Not sure why ALPA FedEx does not consider this model for you all. It is all on UPS shoulders. I use a B plan for my own retirement risks. Even the "band aid " is absolutely known, even if go out on LTD. No different than current "whole life" DB.
You may think we are the dumb ones, but we have increased it every contract we have since its inception, and by its nature, it will be a required element of increase to pass any TA.
Cheers from a band aid guy.


Does the new TA flat dollar plan equate to or surpass FedEx’s $130k/yr after 25 YOS for all pilots? I’m wondering if you have been successful in increasing the flat dollar amount in each new contract, if it is now ahead of FedEx’s?

BoilerUP 03-25-2020 03:12 PM


Originally Posted by FXLAX (Post 3011665)
Does the new TA flat dollar plan equate to or surpass FedEx’s $130k/yr after 25 YOS for all pilots?

No, it does not in 25 YOS; a UPS Captain (for one revenue leg) would need all 30 years of service to exceed the current capped FDX DB max benefit of $130k...in 2023.


I’m wondering if you have been successful in increasing the flat dollar amount in each new contract, if it is now ahead of FedEx’s?
We were way behind FDX’s DB plan, and if the extension is passed we’ll be on pace to slightly exceed it in value (admittedly after 5 more years of service).

There’s also the difference in defined contribution percentage, but that’s not explicitly pertinent to a defined benefit discussion.

USMCFDX 03-25-2020 04:14 PM


Originally Posted by BoilerUP (Post 3011715)
No, it does not in 25 YOS; a UPS Captain (for one revenue leg) would need all 30 years of service to exceed the current capped FDX DB max benefit of $130k...in 2023.



We were way behind FDX’s DB plan, and if the extension is passed we’ll be on pace to slightly exceed it in value (admittedly after 5 more years of service).

There’s also the difference in defined contribution percentage, but that’s not explicitly pertinent to a defined benefit discussion.

Can you also confirm that your B plan is 12% - which is higher than ours at FedEx. I would say that with the two combined your retirement package is now higher than ours for a Captain at 30 yeas of service, and maybe at 25 YOS due to the higher B fund.

tnkrdrvr 03-25-2020 04:49 PM


Originally Posted by USMCFDX (Post 3011796)
Can you also confirm that your B plan is 12% - which is higher than ours at FedEx. I would say that with the two combined your retirement package is now higher than ours for a Captain at 30 yeas of service, and maybe at 25 YOS due to the higher B fund.

It is 12%. DC contributions begin with 2d year pay.

Noworkallplay 03-25-2020 05:27 PM


Originally Posted by tnkrdrvr (Post 3011844)
It is 12%. DC contributions begin with 2d year pay.

Is your B plan capped?

FXLAX 03-25-2020 05:49 PM

Pension increase
 

Originally Posted by BoilerUP (Post 3011715)
No, it does not in 25 YOS; a UPS Captain (for one revenue leg) would need all 30 years of service to exceed the current capped FDX DB max benefit of $130k...in 2023.



We were way behind FDX’s DB plan, and if the extension is passed we’ll be on pace to slightly exceed it in value (admittedly after 5 more years of service).

There’s also the difference in defined contribution percentage, but that’s not explicitly pertinent to a defined benefit discussion.


Thanks for that. So in essence, your flat dollar pension takes 5 years longer to equate FDX’s but you get 3% ($8400?) more per year in B plan contributions.

NotMrNiceGuy 03-25-2020 05:58 PM


Originally Posted by Noworkallplay (Post 3011895)
Is your B plan capped?

It is capped at the $280K IRS limits.

BLOB 03-25-2020 06:28 PM


Originally Posted by Noworkallplay (Post 3010310)
Another thing I found funny is the people who are posting in opposition to the VB Pension. They have been around FDX for 8-30 years. They had 0 success in the past moving the bar on our current pension. They only got band aid fixes for small portions of the group much like what UPS just did. Yet they thump their chest that they will hold the line. Heck they were part of the group that didn't hold the line the last 2-3 contracts. Do you have confidence in this portion of our group again? Heck these are the same guys who over the past 2 months flew the trips the union encouraged them to take a second look at. Yeh, ive got all the confidence in the world with that group holding the line hahahaha

I guess it’s good we have you to save us. But before you talk more smack a few facts are in order. The 2006 contract did not raise the pension limit since at that point most FEDEX pilots did not make a high 5 of 260k. The bridge contract was when the economy was in the toilet. Retirement wasn’t a discussion then and it wasn’t a full contract. 2015 was the first time in a real contract that raising the cap made sense. Why we failed to gain more than 2% to our b fund is the result of numerous issues. And most agree our team missed the mark in 2015. 2-3 contracts failing to improve retirement....that statement just illustrates your lack of awareness on yet another issue. And what contract out there would you rather work under right now? The airline you left? Look at the contract in its entirety. Good bad and ugly.

At 3 years on the property you haven’t seen it all. You don’t know it all. New guy opinions are great and welcome but don’t be a condescending loud mouth. A little humility goes a long way.


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