I think we are having the wrong conversation
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,820
I disagree. You're describing the idea how it would work in a purely academic setting - like in a book - fantasy land. It's never worked that way here - NEVER. The system is the problem. You think you can get 15 guys to agree to a proposal? You think it's easy when a block rep hears from 20 constituents (most never call or write or email EVER and most don't even know who their rep is) and out of those 20, 8 say they want it one way, 4 a complete different way and another 8 say something different. Does he do a straw poll of those 20? What about the other 280 that never signaled an opinion but do have an opinion? So he's carrying your thoughts and combining them with his myriad additional experience and knowledge (by nature - who else has time to listen to 30 hours of lectures and discussions?) and making the best decision that he BELIEVES his block would want him to make. That's the way a rep system works - everywhere. Else we could just do straight up crew voting for every position and learn to love the decade it would take to negotiate anything. You think the MEC Chair just massages the way forward? He gets no say in it or doesn't influence people's opinion? Seriously? Ever attended a meeting? They are open - there's one in January - you should try to attend just for a few hours.
It's far from a perfect system and that system alone is probably our biggest impediment. I don't know of a fix that would be amiable to the crew force in general. Maybe take a look at the UPS system that only has a few full time reps - they are on full time flight pay loss, they represent a greater amount of people but by being available and always engaged they can get action done quickly and don't face the kind of turnover or high numbers in the room issue that we have. Of course they aren't ALPA and appear to be able to get a lot done (best pay rates and retirement in industry - not best work rules) under that situation. Maybe worth a look. Our system hamstrings us - I promise you we will get LESS than we should purely because of the system - even if everybody does everything else they possibly can and the wind remains at our back, we will get LESS than we deserve just because of our MEC system.
It's far from a perfect system and that system alone is probably our biggest impediment. I don't know of a fix that would be amiable to the crew force in general. Maybe take a look at the UPS system that only has a few full time reps - they are on full time flight pay loss, they represent a greater amount of people but by being available and always engaged they can get action done quickly and don't face the kind of turnover or high numbers in the room issue that we have. Of course they aren't ALPA and appear to be able to get a lot done (best pay rates and retirement in industry - not best work rules) under that situation. Maybe worth a look. Our system hamstrings us - I promise you we will get LESS than we should purely because of the system - even if everybody does everything else they possibly can and the wind remains at our back, we will get LESS than we deserve just because of our MEC system.
Edit... BrianH covered most of what I was saying in his reply. I agree that we aren't far apart in our thinking.
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
You made accusations of the NC chair, the MEC chair, and the reps. As for public communications, I read the resolution passed unanimously by the MEC on the goals for this negotiations. I haven’t read anything that says anything about your indictments of them.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,820
Yes, that resolution says everything you need to know. Now just follow along until they sell, I mean bring you a TA.
#24
And that is the problem!!!
There is no "sort of agreeing." The MEC reps are the only individuals who are elected by the membership. The MEC reps are suppose to represent their blocks. If there is overwhelming support for a position, that rep should support that position regardless of how they feel. This idea that the rep knows what is best and can do whatever they want is one of the problems. This is only further perpetuated by the difficulty in getting a recall on the ballot. Once elected, whether it be by 100 votes or 600 votes, it is almost impossible to recall a rep who isn't doing their job.
The second problem is this idea that the MEC officers, MEC reps, and NC chairman must agree. The MEC sets our goals and positions. It is the job of the MEC chairman to guide the different committees to accomplish those goals and to lead the pilot group in supporting those goals. The NC chairman is charged with negotiating those goals. Whether the MEC votes 15-0 for a position or 8-7 for a position, it is the duty of the MEC chair to follow that position and the job of the NC chairman to negotiate that position to the best of their ability, PERIOD!!! It is not the job of the NC chairman to set goals or tell the MEC what they will support when it comes to negotiations. Either the NC chairman attempts to accomplish the stated goals of the MEC or they don't. If that individual doesn't agree with the MEC, then they can either get on board, or they can resign or be fired.
Right now, we have the NC chairman with his hand on the rudder, telling the MEC where they want to go. The MEC is complicit, willing to allow this to happen and unwilling to ask a plain and simple question, how do the members want us to improve retirement? Yes, there are a lot of opinions on that topic, but shouldn't the majority rule? If there is no majority, then it is the duty of the MEC and MEC chairman to lead us down the path they think is best, telling us what they are doing and why they think that is best, not giving the NC chairman carte blanche to do as they please on a subject. Presently, we have an MEC that is hiding behind executive session and NDA's. They won't answer questions about retirement, yet can laud the new ability to sell back all of your vacation. This, at a time when it seems the company can't hire pilots fast enough. So, what is more expensive to the company, buying back vacation, or hiring another pilot to fill the gap? That new pilot gets vacation, retirement, health care, and sick time and is another cost for the company while that pilot that they bought all of the vacation from doesn't incur any additional benefit costs, those are already set. This isn't a cost neutral benefit for the company, this is a cost savings for the company that is being sold as an improvement for us, you can work more at straight time and collect your money at the end of the year.
So, to wrap this up, Tuck, I don't think it is the system that is the problem, I think that it's that the system isn't being run as intended. The tail is wagging the dog.
A fly on the wall could not have given a more accurate description of the present state of our "leadership."
I fully endorse the last paragraph.
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#25
But do tell us again which FedEx ALPA volunteer position you have held. (Participation in a former airline's Student Council or your little sister's PTA or your Daddy's HOA don't count.)
.
#26
I disagree. You're describing the idea how it would work in a purely academic setting - like in a book - fantasy land. It's never worked that way here - NEVER. The system is the problem. You think you can get 15 guys to agree to a proposal? You think it's easy when a block rep hears from 20 constituents (most never call or write or email EVER and most don't even know who their rep is) and out of those 20, 8 say they want it one way, 4 a complete different way and another 8 say something different. Does he do a straw poll of those 20? What about the other 280 that never signaled an opinion but do have an opinion? So he's carrying your thoughts and combining them with his myriad additional experience and knowledge (by nature - who else has time to listen to 30 hours of lectures and discussions?) and making the best decision that he BELIEVES his block would want him to make. That's the way a rep system works - everywhere. Else we could just do straight up crew voting for every position and learn to love the decade it would take to negotiate anything. You think the MEC Chair just massages the way forward? He gets no say in it or doesn't influence people's opinion? Seriously? Ever attended a meeting? They are open - there's one in January - you should try to attend just for a few hours.
It's far from a perfect system and that system alone is probably our biggest impediment. I don't know of a fix that would be amiable to the crew force in general. Maybe take a look at the UPS system that only has a few full time reps - they are on full time flight pay loss, they represent a greater amount of people but by being available and always engaged they can get action done quickly and don't face the kind of turnover or high numbers in the room issue that we have. Of course they aren't ALPA and appear to be able to get a lot done (best pay rates and retirement in industry - not best work rules) under that situation. Maybe worth a look. Our system hamstrings us - I promise you we will get LESS than we should purely because of the system - even if everybody does everything else they possibly can and the wind remains at our back, we will get LESS than we deserve just because of our MEC system.
Representative participation in decision-making and direction of the union should not be just academic, but it requires work. That work requires much more than just the time spent on phone calls or video conferences or in-petson meetings. That time takes a considerable commitment, to be sure, but it is wasted unless the Representatives spend time beforehand preparing for the discussion, the debate, and the decision that needs to be made. There are a few Reps who take their responsibilities seriously and do the homework, but they aren't the majority. They enter the discussion cold and look to the MEC Chair for direction. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "What document is that? I don't think I got that. Oh, you're saying it was in my e-mail 3 weeks ago? Oh, here it is. I didn't see it before" as we attempt to begin a meaningful discussion about an issue of great importance to our pilots. Worse still is when the MEC is handed a document just moments before a discussion about it begins and a vote is expected immediately, sometimes because "The Company needs an answer right away."
The system isn't perfect, but I haven't heard of one that is. What our system lacks right now is a full slate of Representatives who take their jobs seriously, who receive input from their constituents, and who understand their obligation to lead.
When they fail to lead, they are led.
.
#28
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,838
Im sure none. He is a known troll. Accusing everyone of nefarious intentions when he himself fits that bill. I have been told who he is and he is a known character. He knows better than anyone. Just ask him and he will tell you such.
#29
Seriously? I believe it's dimensional - as in multi dimensions. It's means it is. There is no apostrophe in the possessive of its. You give the Company way too much credit - talk to anyone that has worked opposite them at the desk and you will discover that they are the least qualified at that table - they bring the least amount of knowledge and skill. Now we have a lot of reasons where we might fail - chiefly a system that has 15 reps and 3 officer and a NC Chairman that are all trying to sort of agree and that's tough...for anyone. We never seem to let an error go by so I'm not hopeful but it's not because the Company is playing chess. Please.
Do not construe this to mean I think Fedex pilots should rollover to the company, far from it. I do think, pilots on this board setting a bar that only improving the limit to the high 5 calculation for determining the A plan pay out, have and are putting the union in a possibly no win position for real improvement. As I said in my previous post, the company would be very happy leaving the A plan as it is. We "Won" that right on the last contract. If you can offer solutions the would get the company to agree to improving the high 5, please share with the union leadership. My guess is this has been bannered about forever. Unity will be the greater part of the solution, but we are at the mercy of the independent contractor mindset, and the laws and courts that have bent heavily towards industry at the expense of labor.
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