Scope Discussion
 

Admittedly, I’m a novice when it comes to this subject. However, in light of recent events, I believe this is the headline issue of the forthcoming contract. I just wanted to hear everyone’s thoughts on what should be primary considerations when it comes to this subject. I have my focus areas which I will now list, but I would like others to highlight some blind spots for me if you could.

Here’s my top four scope items:

1. International Scope

• All international flights conducted by FEDEX ALPA from represented crewmembers will continue to be flown by such crewmembers. The Company will
  continually pursue additional route authority on a good faith basis. As the Company secures additional international route authority, it will take all reasonable steps to assure that such routes are flown by FEDEX ALPA crewmembers in accordance with this Agreement within two (2) bid periods of the date the route authority was granted. If the Company’s use of a subcontractor exceeds the two (2) bid periods under circumstances cited in this paragraph, the Company will meet with the Association to discuss the reason(s) for the delay. In no event will the Company take more than twelve (12) months to transition the new flying to the IPA, unless the parties mutually agree otherwise. The Company will report all use of subcontractors pursuant to this Section to the Association.
• The above is copy and pasted from the UPS SCOPE section. This is a non-negotiable item for me. If it’s not in there, it’s a line in the sand. I understand some may disagree, but I didn’t come to FedEx for a domestic only airline.
  
• In addition to this scope, I would include an aircraft size restriction that all international flying that utilizes aircraft that have FedEx pay rates in our contract must utilize FedEx pilots.
  
• I realize this may not be enforceable or may face legal challenges. I don’t care. Get it in there.
  

2. Crew Compliment

• All FedEx flights must have a minimum of two FedEx pilots.
  
• Delta has this. I want it.
  

3. Future Pilot Operations

• If future Pilot operations should no longer require an RFO Pilot in the aircraft and they move that position to the ground, that ground pilot must be a FedEx seniority list Pilot.
  

4. Third Party Freight

• All FedEx freight that is flown between cities that are served by FedEx trunk aircraft both international and domestic must be flown by FedEx pilots.
  
• Example - The company cannot utilize United airlines direct from SFO-LHR.
• The company may utilize third party aircraft between cities that do not warrant trunk aircraft on that route, but once payload averages exceed 75,000 pounds per week, FedEx aircraft must be utilized.
  
• For domestic operations, no more than ten cans can be shipped third party from an origin city per week. Beyond this, a significant penalty will be levied.
  

I realize I’m throwing myself to the wolves, but things are clearly getting out of hand. The crew force I believe has little knowledge of the ramifications of scope. And we are heading in a bad way. Would love a critique on my opinions. Would also like to see what other thoughts are out there in regards to scope. Have at it.

I like the ideas. If we listen to management then the company is making moves to move freight either like UPS or like DHL Both scenarios mean a crew force reduction. Option A can only happen if we enhance scope. Option B looks increasingly possible in the future if we don’t significantly improve Scope. Without scope we could have pay rates of $1000/hour and it wouldn’t matter if they shrink the crew force into obscurity.

Management could be bluffing to scare us into accepting a lousy contract which based on online chatter is mostly making pilots mad, not scared.

The company plans could be legit, but if so then they played their hand too soon as long as we actually pay attention and demand scope be enhanced.

That ship has sailed. Scope as of today is untouched.

UPS scope. Copy and paste. We don't always have to reinvent the wheel.

What do you mean? I know FDX Scope was touched this time round.

The company opened it, so I'm sure its better... Best case the way we get paid is improved. Which btw where's my 2022 check? It needs to be opened and completely overhauled. We need real concrete scope, not just language that costs the bean counters pennies on the dollar for them railroading us domestically. They get to do it for free internationally.

Only if we let it. The sails are up, the wind is blowing, but the mooring lines are still connected. It’s not too late to get this contract right. We don’t have to vote yes if the TA we get has terrible scope. We COULD re-open the section because of changes that have occurred since it was completed. It might look bad but so does this bid and the public and private statements that the company has made. They are threatening our jobs and we need to stand unified and fix our scope. Otherwise, we will get out sourced into non-existence.

If we are legally allowed to fly the route, only pilots on the FedEx seniority list can operate those aircraft, period. It’s that simple.

They don’t necessarily get to do it for free internationally. Any route traditionally flown by FedEx pilots incurs a scope penalty if that route is wet leased to another airline. The penalty is double the 15 year pay rate for a wide body Captain, FO and FE, multiplied by the block hours flown.

It would be nice if the union would release the TA'd scope language so we can read it and ask questions about it ourselves.

Cool. So we can expect another check for all the flying ASL is taking from us soon? Sweet!

If we can’t hammer down scope can we at least get an automatic flow agreement to ASL?

In all seriousness, the company stated the CGN FDA costs have increased to a level that is no longer sustainable? The exchange rate between the Euro and the Dollar is roughly 30% better TODAY than when they opened the domicile so I don’t buy that statement. Just six months ago they were plugging new hires into CGN….apparently in the last six months it just got way too expensive…..

It got way too expensive compared to subcontracting out 737s. It’s pretty obvious what’s going on, the new BOD and McKinsey are squeezing out every drop and the gaping hole in our scope clause was the first place they went.

Glad everyone has come down from their covid high. And opened their eyes to how terrible our scope is and how the company will leverage it every day to make you fear for your jobs and further divide this pilot group. Now, let’s all do one thing together. Since this is clearly become a very important topic. We need to draft a letter to the NC and MEC representing all the pilots. Sort of like a petition. Demanding we see the scope section now. Legally they have no reason not to let us read the language. If it sucks…. I am certain it does. It will only fuel the fire to get this fixed.

Our MEC and NC have one goal, retirement gains at all costs, even your job. This group is divided because of ALPA’s failed “targeted approach.” It’s past time for Scope to be taken seriously. I have personally provided data, contract language from other properties, etc. The response from my reps, “there are negative implications to reopening already TA’d sections.” Well, there are negative implications to being unemployed.

Thank you and glad did. If the response is not what you desire. We push harder until it is.

Please attend the joint council meeting on Tuesday April 18 and make that motion at the appropriate time during your local council meeting. The details of the meeting should be in your email. Get others to make the same motion in their respective councils. If a majority of council members in each local council agree that scope is important enough to be shown or re-opened, then the MEC and NC will be more likely to act. Otherwise they’ll only focus on getting over the finish line and sending us the TA. I can guarantee the multi year plans take into account what we agreed to in negotiations. We haven’t seen it but it’s a near certainty that the executives, attorneys, and planners know what it says and what they can get away with. We need to close the gaps NOW!

Nah, we're not getting a check for that.

Yes. For our Industry Leading CBA to mean anything at all Scope has to be tightened. This time around. A strike vote is the beginning of leverage in the right direction.

Respectfully, we are at the NMB. We can not change our wants at this time. Doing so greatly jeopardizes our TA going forward.

If you want more scope provisions, you'll need to vote down any TA and then lobby for change to get it into debate with the company.

dude I stopped reading after I saw how long you ramble. Gotta learn brevity

If that’s what it takes so be it!

Respectfully, when the process takes this long (intentionally) at the hands of the company, and the landscape completely changes, then that's exactly what has to happen.

Don't give me a peek at what happens at the end of the slaughterhouse chute and think I'm just gonna keep strolling down the chute.

Do you think management ever watches the bull*hit LMS they require us to watch? How's that "purple promise" , integrity and ethics coming along? Wasn't it Raj who was spouting off on how "ethical" FEDEX is? I guess a double standard is better than no standard at all 😏 I VOTED............................YES! We need "I voted" stickers from the Association that we can put on our uniforms.............better yet pins!

don’t forget de shaw making its way to steal more $weat from us to drive us out while Raj does nothing but make 5 million a year. Association (MEC and NC) wont make those pins because it would hurt their management jobs waiting for them. It is up to us.

No concessions, fix the scope, and leading pay.

Raj cashed in 2.5 million in stock just last week. Still holds 10 million worth. The 5 million a year is the least of it.

On another note, why are they scared of unions and at the same time aspire to be UPS while being outperformed by UPS - a fully unionized Teamsters operation who doesn't contract everything?

Is the problem the line workers or the management?

He said teamsters, not ipa, So it’s safe to assume he meant outsourcing of their drivers like we do. As for wet leasing, just because IPA allows it, doesn’t mean it’s a good thing or that we should do the same.

You do realize that not all 5000+ pilots were at the meeting, I have no idea what they said. And I won’t take your word for it, that’s for sure, I’ll be in contact my rep soon.

We UPS pilots would love to know what they said about wet leasing and belly freight. We have some very limited provisions in our scope clause but it is policed and we have been awarded damages from prior violations.

While you’re on here: is your international flying protected? Ours is pretty much not unless it touches the Lower 48.

Nothing is protected!

”Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, the Company may continue to interline, co-load, code-share, part charter and en- ter into block space agreements with other carriers to move freight and service in International (outside the contiguous 48 states) markets as required.
Within the Domestic system (the contiguous 48 United States) the use of the above shall be done only: (1) when necessary to expedite or (2) when economically necessary, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.”

I was asking the UPS pilot about theirs.

YES, Our International flying is protected.

Yo, oncewasNoWork, what do you say to that?

We need to strengthen Scope, international and domestic, period. Without doing so the rest of the CBA gains are pointless when we lose our jobs to pilots paid less than us.

It’s happening already! Our 757 EUR flying is going away because our pilots are being replaced by ASL pilots. We are already losing flying, TODAY. Should we wait to see what the company’s plans are for Asia flying, and leave Scope for 5-7 years from now? Fck no!!! (Obviously, I’d love for the TA’d section 1 to address all of this, but I bet it’s not).

OncewasNowork! 😆. That’s funny! (Spot on also; he has to be, in an even more inane and aggressive incarnation)

This could not be further from the truth, regarding belly freight and wet leasing. Outside of peak as allowed by our CBA and the now terminated temporary agreement between CGN and HKG, UPS moves all their packages. Nothing else moves outside the UPS system.

Now if you are talking about freight, we sold that division in the last 18 months. I believe it is still UPS branded for a bit longer. Also some, not all of our non air packages get placed in UPS travel trailers/containers and moved by rail, depending on distance and economics.

If your group is being told this, it is outright incorrect.

Go back through the Unions and company’s history of rubbing each others back and. Ow we have de Shaw. How was the last contract that barely passed viewed now and I believe tagged to it a lawsuit that is under a gag order. Lots of history we do not know about. Read everything you are sold and analyze everything you are not told.

I will make my mind up when I see the TA….which at this rate will be in two
more years.

No concessions, fix the scope and leading industry pay rates.