Quote:
Originally Posted by FDXLAG
Now add the LAX and ANC numbers.
Read the E Mail from the SIG chairman, the number is close to 12K for all seats in Feb. That is 176 lines.
Just curious do you think it is OK for some to have 100 hour lines when others are < 60? Duh.
Question #1. I read the email.
Question #2. No, everybody is equal and everybody should make exactly the same amount of money. We should furlough from the top down. Anyone over 60 should be terminated by the government. Senior guys should give up all they have worked for so that junior guys will be better off. I voted for Obama because I am a socialist. I enjoy paying huge taxes so that people who don't work or pay any taxes can get a refund. NOT EXACTLY!
SERIOUSLY! I think that the extra hours that "can" be flown by those "senior" enough to pull it off "would" have been flown by someone on a VTO anyway. I don't believe guys flying or protecting carryover is going to or has had a causal effect on the reduction of hours in the lines......Unless..
....The Union can negotiate that carryover be minimized to the extent possible and converted into additional lines and lines that pay the MBLG. They tried that and it didn't work. The company is the villan here--not your fellow pilots who may or may not use their seniority to mitigate financial hardship. The company has used a clause in the contract to build lines below our MBLG and only pay us the reduced amount. They have no intention of furloughing and I seriously doubt they are that overmanned, especially in the MD-11 (at least the numbers previously discussed seem to indicate that).
Guys have been flying carryover and protecting it for as long as I have been here and guys have been complaining about those that do. If you don't want to do it or can't because you aren't senior enough, then pay your dues and get senior enough or don't do it if you don't want to. Better yet, lobby your union to eliminate as much of it as possible in our next contract.
I just hate it when I here guys generalize, stereotype, and judge others. Everyone's circumstances are different. I have met the enemy and they ain't us.
I really don't care if someone flys all they can because what they do isn't making my situation any worse (in this current situation) and I don't know what their personal or financial situation is, i.e., one or more children in college, care givers for elderly parents, spouse with cancer/other, catastopic loss, etc., etc.
Me personally--I haven't flown but one 15 day trip since early Oct. I used a Nov carryover trip to knock out the whole month of Dec. I took a pretty good hit in pay but know I can make it up. Now after putting 80+ hours back into the system for Dec, I am going to be called a jerk for flying extra. My next two trips are RFO trips because they are real good trips with minimum legs, long layovers, and DHs. Are you mad at me because my seniority allows me to fly those trips too. And, one more thing. I may fly some extra to get my landings because I don't want to go non current.
I passed up widebody captain pay about 4 years ago so that I could get real senior in my seat, fly good trips, when I want to fly them, get my vacation when I want it, take as much as a month off without using vacation by knocking trips out with carryover, flying extra and doubling up in some months to make up the difference, or stuff my 401K, or pay tuition, etc. The alternative for me was being junior, making 50 bucks an hour more, but having to have a crash pad and a car in Memphis, fly crappy trips at crappy times, and basically have no control. I'm going at 60 too!!
I planned for this. I was junior. I've had a crash pad and an airport car. I voted against every contract. I haven't ever flown a disputed paring but know those who have. I haven't flown a draft or volunteer trip in at least 5 years (I can't remember) but know those who have. I didn't fly make-up or sell back vacation during contract negotiations but know those who have.
Everyone should tighten their belts. Everyone should provide for their families as best they can. This isn't fair. Life isn't fair. Some are more fortunate than others. Some have better timing than others. Some are older that others. Some are senior to others. We are lucky morter forkers to have these jobs. We don't need to start calling everyone out and using class warfare among ourselves.
Bottom line--We ain't that overmanned. They ain't gonna furlough.