Get this individual a 🍺 on me!

 

From another source:So, Section 1 - Scope…..



Let me spell this out. And again, someone please correct me if I am completely wrong, maybe I don’t understand the verbiage, and I will happily say I am wrong if can be proven otherwise, but I am pretty certain THIS TA REMOVES THE ONLY WET LEASE LIMITATION WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT CONTRACT!



They have red-lined all parts that included “Except for the minimum two aircraft wet leasing referred to above, during the bid periods described in this paragraph, the Company shall not wet lease more than the net gain of trunk aircraft scheduled to be added and brought into service in any calendar year.”



So, currently the company can always wet-lease two aircraft, for up to four bid periods per calendar year, without penalty. Above that they ARE LIMITED BASED ON THE NET GAIN OF TRUNK AIRCRAFT BROUGHT INTO SERVICE. So, if they cancel all future orders today, they cannot just wet-lease more than two while they park/retire current trunk airplanes and don’t bring more online. THIS IS HUGE as it protects what we have defined as Domestic and International flying.



I had to listen to the FDX ALPA Podcast multiple times as I felt I had to be hearing them incorrectly, but two different committe members said at least 2x (at minute 11:30 and minute 13) that the Comapny can wet-lease as much as they want right now. THIS IS INCORRECT INFORMATION based on the language of the contract. They can do as much as they want for outside of the “domestic and international” definitions (ie. within Europe)



They removed the limitation in the TA, and the penalty system even pays LOWER if they are REDUCING TOTAL FLEET SIZE! It is spelled out in their stated example! At minute 10 of the podcast, they state the exact opposite of what is actually written in the new blue language. These are the people telling us to vote for this.



However, if this TA is signed, what is to stop the following scenario:

-The company stops hiring indefinitely…as in never again.

-The company cancels all future orders as soon as the pilot group signs this TA.

-The company continues to retire airframes with the MD11s as currently planned, then the Airbus, then the 757 and eventually park or sell the 777 and 767 fleets. It will take several years for sure, but could easily happen with 10-15 years, perhaps much, much sooner.

-They just let the attrition of pilots leaving through retirement and ill-will slowly whittle down the crew force as they need and only keep as many aircraft in the trunk fleet as the current shrinking seniority list can staff. THEY NEVER EVEN HAVE TO FURLOUGH!

-Throughout this whole process above, they just continue to increase the wet-leasing to the lowest bidder as it is “economically necessary” under section 1.b.4.

-There will be penalty payments, but someone could use a spreadsheet to plan them all out…we basically just gave them a planned map as to how to get rid of the trunk operated aircraft and exactly how much it will cost them to do so.



And just like that, the entire FDX master seniority list is completely eroded over a block of time and FedEx moves along its merry way as all its air-freight movement is all done by contract flying….so any potential gain anywhere in the contract is eventually worthless.



ASL has confirmed orders for lots of 767s….they really don’t need those in Europe….what’s to stop them from setting up “ASL America”?



The Company has already stated publicly they want to use more non-purple tails, and it can be read on page 13 of the FedEx Investors Meeting Transcript – June 29, 2022. Link to full transcript:



https://s21.q4cdn.com/665674268/file...3-Q231rOn8YMR4 (https://s21.q4cdn.com/665674268/file...3-Q231rOn8YMR4)

 

People were worried years ago about Amazon buying us…. In that scenario, we become Amazon (air freight model)

 

By the way.. Someone else has pointed out the company made a one word change to wet lease payments... They changed credit hours to block hours, a bigger cost saving scam than international to intercontinental. So much for just culture, really highlights the company intentions when they opened the scope section and reduced the limits and penalties on wet leases. So the original intent of wet leases to cover Christmas volume has transformed into the drive to reduce purple lift and crews

 

Wow. Nice catch.

In this TA, by its own merit, I expect significant loopholes to be exploited by the company in ways we cannot even understand (retirement scheme comes to mind), that we would not even be aware of until after it's too late.

Of course this is all IF we are stupid enough to vote it in.

I want to say no way are we going to roll over so easily, but then I think of 13-1, which is quite concerning.

 

Magic rats' post #42 lays it all out exactly. I wish every current, former and future (if any exist in this scenario) FedEx pilots would read that, and see what this company's intentions are. I wish someone could get a direct response to all of that from the negotiating committee.

 

And SUB. Shouldn't exist at best. Should come with hotel and per diem at worst.

 

Hey, in other good news you also don't need a receipt under $75. Some of the domestic roach motels will qualify as receipt-free just based on their rates.

 

Age 67 may well be reality before the voting closes. It's entirely possible that it will give many of these guys an option to hold out for a legitimate contract - which is the only warped positive aspect of the change.

 

The NC chair says they cannot open scope unless we’re willing to take PBS and reduce our vacation! If we’re on the way out let’s get industry leading pay during that process. It’s going to happen the same way even if we vote in favor of this concessionary TA.