From yesterday's IPNN:

Based on the problems crewmembers are encountering with Crew Scheduling interpretations of the new contract, the Executive Board feels we need to make an avenue available to the UPS management pilots to get accurate information. “We are not holding any Flight Qualified Supervisors accountable and we realize the information they are receiving from UPS may not be accurate,” said IPA President Bob Miller. He also invites any Flight Qualified Supervisor “to please contact the Association about the contract… or any other issues they would like to discuss at [email protected].”

The key word is "any" issue. Need I say more?

I hope this is not the opening shot in the battle to bring the current manglers into the IPA. Talk about letting the fox into the hen house! I agree that all future management positions should come from the seniority list and remain on the senioritylist, but to let the current group of managers into the union would be the WORST possible move ever. Their loyalties will always be to the company and they will do their best to divide and destroy us. JMHO

TH1

Be careful what you ask for. Here at FedEx all our flight managers are on the seniority list. It's good because before they went to management, they had (usually, anyway) flown the line, and as such could identify with the problems and issues that we, as crew members have. However, I believe the downside is that once they get enticed by the management (dark) side, and realize all the money that can be made there, their allegiances change. But, initially anyway, we still see them as our old buddies whom we flew with. A very bad thing. At least you guys know who the enemy is. Once they're amongst you, you'll never know where their priorities lie. At FedEx, most guys who get into management, at any level, usually spend their entire career bouncing in and out at different levels. It's the real "good ole boys" network.

Point taken!

We have a different situation than you. I don't have the exact numbers, but there are approximately 200 flight qualified manglers on property and their numbers continue to grow. This is an airline within an airline. They are here for one purpose - strike breakers. We need to find a way to stop this. If we don't, the entire airline may be management one day.

The number of managers has not really grown that much compared with the growth of the line pilots. There is no way they could fly like they did during the teamsters strike in '98.

JMO

Pilot7576

Good luck with this situation. I just can't imagine the animosity that you line guys feel for those guys. As a side issue (inquiring minds want to know), do these manglers actually fly, and if so, do they fly on a regular basis, and if so, how are their trips compared to a normal line holders?

Ups managers fly but they cherry pick the trips. Under an LOA, they are allowed to fly only by displacement unless emergency (no rsvs/ja) flying. They tend to take the same cake trips so we have some pilots that bid those lines and really don't work a whole lot due to displacements.

Pilot7576

BM told us that he will try to organize the flight qual. supervisors. This will be interesting.

Sounds like although they fly, they are still cludo. We've got a few management types who have been here for over 20 years with less than 1000 hours in their FedEx log. Maybe they are all related?