If you want folks to listen to you and follow your direction in the heat in the battle….you have to earn their respect…not a whole lot of that going on these days on the ole B&G….will be interesting for sure.

My anecdotal observations of pilot psychology, based on my own interactions, mirror my anecdotal observations of society as a larger whole:

A fairly small percentage of people actually attempt persuasion in discussion. While the persuasion may come from knowledge, beliefs or both, these people tend to avoid appeals to emotion and attempt to see the position others have in an effort to understand and speak to their concerns.

A larger percentage practices some level of avoidant behavior to potential conflict . Obviously most adults attempt to avoid actual physical conflict, but an increasing amount are avoidant of even direct interpersonal communication (they have anxiety in direct interpersonal communication such as face-to-face or on the telephone).

An equal or larger percentage applies brute force in apparent believe that their depth of conviction and righteousness of position will prevail over those who disagree. These people are full of emotion, but project the emotion they feel onto their "opposition". I think the rise of 24/7 infotainment "news" and social media has substantially increased this group in the last 10-20 years.

I think we'd collectively (pilots and society at large) be better off if we did more listening/reading, had more curiousity, participated in more discussion, and acted upon less assumption. I'm certainly not perfect in that regard, but it is always my intent.

I love to discuss and debate, but I'm not gonna argue in a circular manner with people. Not because I'm avoidant or incapable, but because once I determine somebody is unwilling to change their position I decide my time isn't worth wasting. Instead, I pivot in an attempt to inform and educate others, who read but don't actively participate. By actively contributing signal to the situation, hoping to diminish the noise and increase overall value.

I'm glad the B&G exists, it keeps (most) our dirty laundry off public forums such as this. But again, if folks really want a "block" feature, it'd probably be best to skip posting about that on APC or B&G and communicate it directly to the IT Committee and EB.

So...about retirement again? :D

To get back on discussion, I’m hoping for a large initial bump in the multiplier, for purely personal reasons, with a step raise to the multplier later on in the contract. As far as the Bar & Grill, it’s pretty easy to deduce what are the political threads and non-political ones. I find it’s a great resource for information, operationally and other UPS related issues. Just don’t read the political stuff.l.

Even the informational ones just last a couple dayz before the same children blow it up again. Sometimes the juice just isnt worth the squeeze....sad but true....the inmates are running asylum...and they think they are doing a good job. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Gonna be humerous to see these same peeps try to "lead" us against UPS "when the time comes"

I dont think folks are “afraid” to participate. I think folks (like myself) don’t want to spend time sifting through the toxic drivel to find useful information. The B&G is actually one of the last places I would look for helpful information, sad to say. I turn to WhatsApp groups I’m a part of, or direct contact with pilots I know personally. I actually wouldn’t mind seeing the B&G shut down and have my dues money fund something more productive than a sounding board for self righteous idjits to argue with each other. It has outlived its usefulness and strayed too far away from its purpose.

I have been hearing alot of this exact sentiment lately.

For the finance gurus….any disadvantages going from a 1.0 to 1.5 multiplier?

You mean FAE percentage?

If so, YES, a MASSIVE amount of "pie" devoted to the defined benefit such that other areas with cost-driving needs (ie. Scheduling) will get crumbs if anything.

As somebody who has at least two more contracts to work under - no thanks. Bump the FDA, give it modest annual increase (like the extensions), bump the DC a bit, add CoC with preferably a tax-advantaged vehicle for spill to go into and move on to the article everybody says they want big improvements to...

You have 2 more contracts to work under? With your knowledge, I figured you were really old, nearing retirement and/or death. 😁

Is there any kind of inflationary adjustments either the UPS pension (ie a COLA style adjustment akin to mil retirements)?