It used to be! Contract 2015 set us way back. I’m hoping we can claw back some gains. But what’s the future if we are second tier, hiring second tier pilots?
Is this job worth losing sleep over, and you will lose a lifetime of quality sleep?
Is it worth seemingly endless trip revisions?
Is the A-plan worth it?
We love to boast about being recession proof, but even with the new and improved 4a2b, are we really?
I recently flew with a new hire, who firmly believes that given all we’ve been through these past 3 years that the company would do right by us, giving us an industry-leading contract. He wasn’t hearing the history of our union’s relationship with management.
I don’t know the answers, but I will say that if we aren’t up for the fight, quality will go where they are appreciated in terms of overall compensation and work rules. Saving dimes today will be costly in the long term. And when that bill comes due, the cost will come out of our careers.
My opinion. fly safe.

 

Fedex second tier, right.

 

honestly, how illiterate are some of you? no wonder we get schooled with every contract. I didn’t say we were, I’m saying it could easily happen. and fyi, it wasn’t that long ago when many believed such was the case.

 

Unhappy and arrogant, sorry that’s the case. Best wishes tho.

 

Do you work here, Crjj?

i caught the gist of what anthrax was saying pretty easily.

 

Am I being too cynical when I wonder out loud if FedEx intentionally tries to hire most of their guys and gals out of the sandbox because they have previously had exactly ZERO time in their previous lives duking it out with airline management? I do not work at FedEx, but I could imagine that being in their playbook.

Grumbling at Uncle Sam for being deployed to Bagram or Al Udeid or on the boat for the Nth time is one thing, having fought for your livelihood via multiple contracts or even been on strike (Comair) as you’ve come up the civilian ranks is another. I could imagine the “just happy to be here” factor being pretty high. Thoughts?

 

Even if he does, he came from a non union shop. That might explain it.

 

Atlas pilot here, speaking of second tier.
But I share your cynicism! This is exactly what I suspect about our own hiring practices. And for confirmation I've literally had new hires tell me, there's catering, a lav and I'm not sleeping in a tent!

Definitely "just happy to be here" is a real thing. And looking at the whole variety of lanyards being sported around these days, union affiliation and solidarity is apparently not even a consideration.

 

I could imagine the “just happy to be here” factor being pretty high. Thoughts?

This mentality is used against us, and quite frankly devalues us as a whole. happy to be here isn’t altogether a terrible mindset, so long as you understand that this allows other parties to chip away at goodwill, quality of life, pay, retirement, until all that’s left are jagged little edges.

 

You don't work here so therefore your conjecture is way off. The past 3-5 years of hiring has easily been 60/40 in favor of civilian hires, possibly even slightly higher than 60% civilian.