From yesterday's FDX MEC Fastread:
Since they acknowledge the monthly bid is open, and they certainly want to have maximum participation in the event they decide to have another event, why aren't we being told what day to plan for, and potentially bid around? Why the secret? I can guarantee The Company knows when they are conducting important meetings, and I'd bet a steak dinner that the second FDX SPSC files an application to assemble with the proper authorities in Memphis (required 15 business days in advance, so about 3 weeks), that The Company knows. So the only people being kept in the dark are us -- the pilots who are bidding for our September schedules. (OK, full disclosure, I'm currently in Pay Only status, so I'm available any and every day, but that's not the case for the vast majority of us.)

Worse, though, why are we waiting until LATE September when the rest of the 60,000 pilots in ALPA are going to be picketing on September 1st? Why did we decline to join the "ALL ALPA PILOTS" effort?
While acknowledging the tremendous value of standing shoulder to shoulder in support of shared goals, our MEC has declined to picket on September 1st. It's hard for me to understand how we can beg for One Level of Safety with the passenger carriers and choose to separate ourselves from such an important and symbolic effort. Our absence will not go unnoticed, neither by The Company, nor by the other members of the BOD whose votes we will be soliciting to elect one of our own pilots to the ALPA First Vice President position during the October BOD meeting.

Even if we do get a TA before the end of August (I'm not holding my breath), we could cancel the Sep 1 picketing event, and no harm would be done. We've cancelled a picketing event within hours of it starting before.
I'm sorry, but this doesn't inspire pride. It evokes embarrassment. I guess those of us living in Memphis won't be getting that additional mailed reminder.


So, anyway -- anybody bidding to have "late September" off?






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I know why they didn’t give a date. Seems like a valid reason to me. What did your rep say?

 

She said it's a secret for now.


(Did you really want to know what she said, or did you want to catch me talking about it here before I talked to my Block Rep?)








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This failure of leadership IS what I have been begging pilots to notice. Bids close this week. I have built my bid, without knowing when to bid off, I can only guess. Most pilots will not bother. Others will bid for trips at the "end of Sept" just to be able to say they are flying.

It dos not matter what you call me, its what the MEC is not doing that matters. They are abdicating their duties. And we are allowing that to happen. I know who is laughing and toasting themselves right now. Hint, they are not on Kirby.


Ignorance can be corrected...

 

Do what you want. I’m just saying that there is a simple valid reason for not giving a date. I think you wouldn’t have posted this thread if you knew. The answer can be found by talking to your rep or one of the MEC officers. I don’t believe the reason is too secret.

 

If it's not a secret and it is a good reason, why not just post it instead of saying call your rep. Did you suggest to your rep to publish the reason in the Positive Rate weekly letter? That would save the reps from having to answer 500+ calls, or the MEC chairman from having to answer 5000+ calls.

Saying I know the answer, and it is a good answer, but you need to call your rep comes off as patronizing and doesn't answer the question of how to bid to attend a rally when they won't tell you the date/dates they are trying to secure.

 

What is it with calling your rep?

Although it’s not a secret for FedEx pilots, maybe it’s something that, once told, maybe those of us who have called our reps decided that they’re not comfortable posting on a public message board.

Why do you harp on those of us say “it’s a valid reason” to post the reason. Why don’t you implore people who know and don’t think it’s a valid reason (TonyC, BrianH) to post the reason? Have them post it. Or how about you call your rep and post what they tell you on here. That way you can be the hero of APC.

 

Because people like you try to answer a legitimate question by saying "I know the answer, call your rep." Why do you feel the need to post that instead of privately DM'ing the poster the information you have instead of posting "call your rep?" Most likely, you never did contact your rep. You attempt to discredit the questions by floating a false narrative.

I am a believer in contacting the reps. My rep has told me that they receive less than a half dozen calls/emails a month. They also said that is common for most reps. Simply addressing a concern by stating that you called your rep and what they told you makes sense doesn't add any value to the discussion.

 

Oh. So you talked to your rep. Awesome. Why don’t you let us know about September, that way those of us lying about contacting their reps can be informed.

 

Did I say I contacted my rep about September?

So you want others to do things that you say you aren't comfortable doing. Hmm. I wonder why???

Again, what purpose does it serve to post that you contacted your rep and are happy with the response when someone posts a concern, but then fail to state the response. Is it just to argue? Is it an attempt to diminish the concern? Posts like that are as good as no post at all!

If I do contact my rep about this, I will let you know what they say. Since my bid closes in less than 24 hours and I don't feel like redoing my bid, I probably won't make the call.