I continue to hear pilots talk about JP's missive on the crew bus --- so I reread it today, and wanted to share a few thoughts...

While JP is about to become a "bystander" in the negotiating process, I assure you the crew force will not.

They are even more focused & engaged after reading his post.

Negotiations are best done unemotionally, and professionally --- this posting is neither.

The crew force agrees --- it's best JP step aside.

Each & every rejection of managements concessionary proposals (...think PBS, A Fund Freeze, Decreased Medical Benefits) have been the direct result of countless hours of preparation, thought and hard work by our ALPA Negotiating Committee.

Thanks guys --- you continue to speak LOUD & CLEAR for the crew force!!

We fully understand what impact management's negotiating team wants to have on the crew force, so let us reiterate:

- NO PBS
- NO Change in Retirement
- NO Change in Medical

....especially, in a time of decreasing fuel costs, increased efficiency, record profits and a soaring stock price!

In Unity,

DLax

JP's missives and (no offense here DLax), DLax's response are exemplary of what has me concerned. In short, we are playing defense. Overdue contract, excellent economy, record profits, lagging behind industry wages, and our time is being spent playing defense.

It looks to me as if we are being outmaneuvered. It should be the company attempting to swat away dozens of improvements on our side of the ledger.

I hope I'm wrong.

Pipe

Good point.

When you look at the Company openers one sees proposed concessions in almost every section. A very bold stance when you consider the improvements on other properties, the economic situation and company success. They must think we only play sudoku and watch Netlfix on layovers.

When you look at our openers you see some no change areas and some improvements in others. Nothing big. It's a no brainer to realize who is being wildly unrealistic. But as time goes on the management propaganda is having an effect. Many crewmembers only speak in terms of No givebacks. This IS ALSO a concession as inflation kills us.

As current events reveal the folly of management claims we are still getting bombarded with management blogs crying that the union request for anything more is soooo unrealistic. No mention of how unrealistic or even ridiculous the company's position is. JP should have moved on a year ago. Maybe that's the result of answering endless e-mails and attending mind numbing meetings. I can only assume they can't think for themselves.

Timeline -

Pre 2002 - management vehemently clung to the notion that you can't compare FDX to passenger airlines. Our pilots advance quick and we are growing. You'll be a Captain in 4-5 years and widebody CA in 10. You don't need industry standard pay. Your upgrade is a pay raise.

2002-2013 - management now says we need to move toward industry standard. PBS, Retirement, pay. All our business is shifting to ground so you should feel lucky anyone wants to send an express package anymore. FDA is a great adventure most company employees only dream of! You'll be too junior to hold it.

2015 and beyond - Guess what they will argue to the mediator. Yep. We have a different business model. We can't possibly pay them as much as AA and DL pilots. It will put all the executives into the lower upper class, stockholders will scream bloody murder and the company will die. We'll find someone who is hungry enough to leave the regionals and go into debt in an FDA. We hope a Chinese/Bulgarian loan shark doesn't make them disappear.


I've read enough management blogs to realize they aren't speaking the same language. Mediator? We need a translator. Most pilots talk to share information and explain logical arguments. They speak to try and convince others that an alternate reality actually exists. Those without that skill set need not apply.

Hit the nail on the head. I agree w/ previous poster. Let's get off defense and grab the bull by the b@lls

I hear discussion of AA senior Capt rates at $318 as of 2018 in their contract that is getting voted on now.

If we aren't in a position of "no givebacks" coupled with improvements in retirement/work rules/etc and at least exceeding that pay rate with a % increase yearly beyond when we get a TA then this whole process has been a massive failure.

I also hope we r smart enough to insert a continuing/escalating pay raise trigger when the next TA amenable date arrives so as to limit stalling the next time around

I don't think you're giving the crew force enough credit. We started off wanting a good contract, now we are starting to want a great contract, if they keep it up, we will want an exceptional contract...I'm not sure the company realizes that most of us don't think our negotiating committee is asking for nearly enough. We don't just want a contract...we want a great contract and anything less will get voted down...and the longer it takes the better it's gonna need to be to get ratified

And it will be handed to the pilots (if it is even handed out) for a vote by an MEC that is much more aggressive, sour, and cynical that the group that originally ratified the bridge idea. "Moderate" or "pro business" reps probably won't be the guys carrying the day in the future. The company had a chance to work with a group who really wanted to give them a chance to do the right thing. The company blew it. Any future reps, as well as the majority of the crew force, are now going to be quite cynical and skeptical of anything the company ever says or does.

And...I don't want to "keep" my retirement. Inflation is destroying it. I want it improved. PBS or a status quo on retirement is a no vote. Retirement cuts are a strike issue.

I agree totally. We need some offense. Gay billboards that no one can see and yellow lanyards (with communist union logo that we have to block out) don't count.

Another thing that I don't see get mentioned very often is that a good contract is needed to ensure we continue to attract quality pilots in the future. With pax compensation and upward mobility on the rise, we're not going to be getting the best and brightest. Throw in reduced training cycles and it doesn't give me a warm fuzzy.

IMHO, they blew it unleashing PC and JP on us. With "industry standard" rapidly moving skyward it's going to cost them more. Much more.

The playbook said "Stall and Delay" but this strategy has allowed the landscape to turn into a minefield.

No one thinks about this until later but it's important. What kind of FOs do you want to fly with? Those who will be getting hired at AA and DL or FDX and UPS?

I'm not sure why we adjusted hiring to accept only those who went to the right schools. That is surely going out the window in 2015.

"Bid what you want to fly, with whom you want to fly and the schedule you can handle in the domicile that is workable."

That's the long version of managements plea during bids.