I think the only leverage we have is trying to win a humongous government contract (Postal Contract) with unresolved labor issues. You better believe UPS and Amazon would point out that their main competitor for the postal contract has a contentious labor dispute, an overwhelming strike vote authorization, and with stale pay rates, likely an inability to fill classes should hiring need to resume.

we need that postal contract so I hope this gets resolved before the bids close otherwise it’s back to mainly night flying across most bidpacks.

 

This TA went down for reasons other than money. In 2015 we were told section 24 would give us more control over training. More than 100 of us sat for years while our “bid” for training was denied for new hires. If there’s any room for wiggle, FedEx will take it. Section 1 literally has language to allow this company to wet lease while pilots are on furlough. Is it more expensive to wet lease? Maybe. But then tell me why the company wants that language in the contract. Fool me once. I’ve never seen a sell job include bullying, but that’s what we got. Pass this contract or you’ll be furloughed. Even many yes voters concluded that we won’t see a mass exodus off the top. I don’t ever want to see communications from my union like that again. I hope all pilots are aware that we are in for a he** of a fight to make any gains in this contract. It will be hard, but I’d rather go down fighting to protect what we have instead of voting in the contract that starts this pilot group to circle the drain. I hope that gives some insight into why this contract failed and why we need new leadership. It’s not about the money. Well, it’s not just about the money.

 

schloppy1 Thank you! The numerous emails from Christopher Norman during the voting process felt aggressive tone wise towards those that dared voice any criticisms about the TA. In his email after the thing burned to the ground he quotes: “putting us against each other won’t hurt the bottom line; it’ll simply destroy our Unity” Dear Chris— you guys destroyed the Unity when you forced the TA upon us and sold it like our lives depended upon its passage!

 

This X 10000

 

A quick pension improvement? I’d argue that no improvement since 1999 is not quick. I agree that it’s industry and inflation lagging pay, QOL concessions were a huge factor and totally a smack to us,, etc —— and that the retirement changes greatly benefited the company. But the pension improvement was not quick nor was it adequate. Additionally, sunsetting the A plan for new hires and adding a new plan that we didn’t ask for —- is also something that many of us can’t support. That’s why we sent this TA back. We need to improve the entire TA, including both the A and B plan for everyone. We need to stop the “generational” sniping. We are all in this together. Let’s get scope, QOL, scheduling, pay and retirement (both A and B), etc. improved.

 

So we can agree the company had some sort of incentive to come to an agreement. And that they did. Unfortunately for us, we have set a precedent here in the past of approving concessionary agreements. So we got a concessionary agreement.

Now we voted NO. The company and the union, at this point those words are pretty interchangeable, both don’t know what to do with themselves from the shock. “They” will recalibrate. We will get some reps who represent us. And the negotiations will continue with a big ass butter knife for that peanut butter jar.

 

We have voted. That vote is over. Live with it and wake the F up. You are one of us. Do you understand that. You are trying to make management's case and you are not management so smell the coffee and wake up!

 

Which is…..?

 

I am one of us. And unfortunately, I seem to be on the side that doesn’t understand it needs to make its own case. Does anyone actually understand how negotiations work? You don’t just show up and expect the other side to give you whatever you want. I’ve repeatedly asked one simple question. What new leverage do we have going into renewed negotiations that will convince management to cough up more money? Maybe you’ll be the first to answer it.

 

Bless you Fr8Master. You’re the first to get to the heart of the matter. I agree with you. Anyone know the status of the postal contract?