Love the analogy. Sadly, more and more of our customers are feeling the same way and we all know what happened to WaMu. Not predicting the same, but it shouldn't be ignored.

 

What folks need to understand is that working for UPS is not like working at other aviation jobs due to it’s vastly different culture. This should be weighed by everyone who wants to work here, and weighed heavily, as money and benefits are not everything in life, especially if you are going to spend the next 20-30 years here. It will get old and tiring very quickly. Combine this unique culture that has been described with the completely eroded schedules and you have a no bueno combination.

 

I have found the people who have a good life outside of UPS don’t t even notice the UPS games…but the folks who are stressed outside of work..then UPS will increase that stress.

 

Very much this. I’ve lived on both sides of the fence and I’d take UPS any day without a second thought. Very happy here as are many I know. That said, it’s certainly not for everyone.

 

So let’s see… constantly getting shorted, unable to change schedule due to denials my scheduling, BV days pretty much worthless, always having to watch what you say outside the cockpit, scheduling constantly violating the contract, etc. it doesn’t matter if you work 10 or 30 days a month, at some point you are affected. Throw in the mix our horrific schedules (unless you are super senior and get something decent)…

Good for you guys that think everything is rosy.

FYI, married 25 years with a great life outside of work, great kids, one thing has nothing to do with the other.

There is a reason we are seeing retirements under 65 tick up, have flown with 2 in the last month and half, it ain’t because it’s all balloons and ponies. Lots of people are fed up.

 

If you think it’s all roses on the other side, you’re lacking perspective.

 

The other side as in retirement or another job?

If retirement, I don’t know a single guy who wishes he would still be here.

As in another job, fair enough, I will give you that. But, there are places that have a better working environment and show some resemblance of decency towards it’s employees.

 

Bingo. This.

 

You have no idea what you don’t know. The working conditions that you describe are perceived by you. The majority that I fly with really like the gig and feel fortunate to be here.

 

No offense, but who in the pax business hasn’t had to sweat furloughs in the last year. Some places were more blunt about it (AA) than others (UA), but all of my friends at the legacies and LCCs were making financial plans for furlough last year. Our management isn’t the friendliest, but I haven’t sweated where my next paycheck would come from since I arrived. I could really care less about their drama so long as the checks don’t bounce and I make industry leading (arguably) pay. I guess I could have gone with FedEx and traded unfriendly management for ALPA drama. Nowhere is perfect that I know of, but I fly commercially to make money, not to have my d!ck sucked. Management can do whatever they want so long as I get what I want out of the relationship. As far as early retirements go, all the guys on my fleet who are going early are focused on what they want to do next, not getting away from here. Do they look forward to never having another long night of flying? Absolutely! But don’t confuse folks who have the financial means to walk away with people so bitter they can’t wait to leave, finances be damned.