sailingfun

What part of the fact he was never going to fly again because Fedex management has refused to allow that are you missing. If he is never flying again what difference does it make?

notEnuf

The "how and why" is what bothers me. Has any president returned to the line? I don't know but I suspect the norm is not to. The fact that he is not a part of the labor class he represents and the fact that he had to explain his actions in a letter less than a month into his presidency gives me pause. He may turn out to overachieve to regain his credibility. I hope so because at this point there is no alternative. Honestly, I think these political and executive positions are for ladder climbers not the proletariat anyway so all I ever can do is hope.

FL370esq

I think the angry and dysfunctional (as well as irrational) crowd is seated at the table now. Bartells and crew were the dysfunctional "just say no" for no reason group (virtual bases and SILs come to mind) and "gzsg" has been a strong Bartells disciple from the start. Of course, his guy was completely unelectable at the national level and maybe he is angry over that, I don't know and I don't care. Delta had "two in a row" sit atop ALPA National and it was time for a fresh perspective. I have no heartburn with that...other than acknowledging several senior guys are now on the seniority list that would have be sitting in nice offices in Herndon. 😁

I do not expect the ALPA president to be a line pilot during his/her tenure. I also do not expect an ALPA president to return to the line after the end of his/her tenure. However, I do expect an ALPA president to have integrity and this whole kerfuffle makes me question his merely from the point that it took him one month to publish his letter explaining why he did what he did. Why not give a simple explanation in his first letter back on Jan 1 when he took office? It's always the "cover-up" that makes you look guilty.

Procedurally, DePete is availing himself of a permitted practice. Don't like the practice? Change the rule. I do note that DePete in his Jan 1 letter stated that, "we mark the beginning of a new, leaner, more responsive ALPA." Does that mean he is foregoing his $50k oil portrait? 😁

Hillbilly

I agree.

It's funny how the $50k oil portrait still comes up from time to time. Lee Moak changed that to be a digital print during his tenure. Prater was the last oil painting. Maybe DePete is just going to take a selfie with his iPhone.

FL370esq

Maybe he could just frame his FedEx ID? Not like he's using it anymore.....too soon? 😁

deadseal

Doesn’t the fact that these guys need a pic of themselves on a wall not kinda say all that there needs to be said? They are all weasels

GogglesPisano

I would think this would suffice.

Scoop

You give our MEC too much credit. For a smear campaign to be effective they would have to be unified, but it appears they are fighting amongst themselves.



For the last few years our MEC has been totally dysfunctional but from what I hear we have bottomed out and things are getting better.



As was mentioned, DAL had the last two guys so it is time for someone else to lead ALPA.



Scoop

JamesBond

One thing that is interesting in looking at all this is the difference in the types of 'retirements' that the different carriers have and how the president is affected by them. DAL has no retirement other than the DC contribution, whereas FDX has a DB. I got accused of sour grapes or some other crap over on the UAL board for posing the question that started all this, but what it did make me do was to look a little harder at the pay and bennies of the upper echelon ALPA guys. 100 hours at the highest blended rate of the biggest carriers. Damn. And 5% per year retirement to boot. Seems excessive to me, but I didn't negotiate it and had no say.

Anyway,

By NOT granting a LOA to DePete, has FDX changed the paradigm of ALL carriers going forward? If I were DAL management, I would certainly not grant an LOA anymore. Why would you? Now you have a non-employee running the airlines largest union. While it is true that very few if any former heads have returned to the line, by forcing his retirement you have now assured that he has no vested interest anymore. So he is little more than a hired gun. I hear the argument every contract negotiations that we need professional negotiators. Well.... does that apply here?

busdriver12

After 31 years of working for FedEx, Joe has chosen one of the retirement options that are available to ALL FedEx pilots. Retire and take your pension, or defer taking it until a later time (at a higher benefit). Nobody gets a lump sum of their pension, but everyone who retires gets their earned vacation and some of their sick time bought back (with a few conditions). We all can do this. And then we can work another job, collect a military retirement, do whatever we want.

I would love to have Delta's profit sharing. I'm sure many pilots for other carriers would like to have our pension. We can all work towards getting the benefits that other carriers have, but it comes across poorly to be resentful of this.

Joe DePete is one of the good ones. He is one of us, not someone who has tried to be in management all of his career. I find it offensive that some are trying to stir up discontent and jealousy.