Huck

That's what got me - I just don't see the need to turn down that much money for ~200 pilots. Not just to gamble for more - against the advice of virtually all the heavy hitters on both sides of the table.

But the reality is - if you have no intention of bidding a FDA, this LOA is nothing but bad for you - the chance of STV. That there's the rub.....

Magenta Line

I voted YES -- ditto what Redeye said.

FDXLAG

There is a big difference between subic and the other FDAs. It was in your financial best interest to bid SUBIC not so with the other FDAs. And subic still needed some new hire manning. But we will see.

I never suggested you change your vote just holding up my end of the gentlemen's disagreement.

Will gladly bet dinner and drinks, although my bar bill aint what it used to be. Just so we agree on the ground rules. Besides money, anything that fixes invol STV is better than what we currently have.

RedeyeAV8r

Agreed. but the Current contract already gives the Company the ability to TDY crews to either ANC LAX, or MEM under Temprary vacancies for 90 days. The LOA grants them authority to do it in CDG or HKG for 30 day involuntarily.

Albief15

ANC, LAX, and MEM ain't CDG and HKG. Apples/Oranges...

Huck

Somebody said the company wanted STV to force flex guys to go as a stop-gap measure, like they did for Subic/Anchorage last year.

If that's true they surely could generate another side letter specifying that. Would make this deal a whole lot less controversial.

Liftr

I finally made it home from my Asian Tour. It just served to solidify my vote.

NO

It's a shame it took me this long to get the VIN. I wonder if I am skewing the pollsters premonition by voting NO so late in the game?

FreightDawgyDog

"Somebody said the company wanted STV to force flex guys to go as a stop-gap measure, like they did for Subic/Anchorage last year.

If that's true they surely could generate another side letter specifying that. Would make this deal a whole lot less controversial."

The best idea is just put a black line through the whole involuntary STV section. They can build lines for voluntary STV's and then pay VLT or DFT to fill it if they needed to make it more attractive. My personal feeling is I am worth the trip rig pay I receive for TAFB and nothing less. Even DFT or VLT for BLG is a pay cut from trip rig for spending an entire bid period on the road. If I wanted to sit in CDG or HKG just for the hotel room and per diem I could PDO trips with long layovers in those places.

30 days away means 30 days of pay! Anything less is concessionary IMHO..

FDXLAG

And max of 4 bid periods beats 12 bid periods a year. And once per 14 bid periods beats once per 6 bid periods.

WhoopWhoop

Not 30 days, the full bid month. That's either 28 or 35 PLUS travel days prior and after to get you there and back PLUS any required crew rest.

Anyone who bids this with no tax benefits will get what they deserve. Your argument is someone will want to move from MEM 72 S/O to CDG 75 Capt even without this LOA. Here's how that stacks up:

Second year NB S/O: $71.81/hr
Second year NB Capt : $179.86/hr

Looks like a good deal, unless you actually consider what is going to happen to you -

French Taxes (40%) leaves : $107.92/hr
US Federal Taxes (20% nominal rate after ex-pat deduction) leaves : $102.82/hr
Loss of value on dollar ($1.4 US/Euro) leaves : $73.44/hr

Less than a $2/hour raise for the privilege of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world with no protection against the deflating dollar. Maybe you're right. Maybe there are a few morons on property who would do this, but I sure doubt that you can find 80 of them.

Using your philosophy, you married the first chick you ever had a date with, paid asking price for everything you ever bought and never sent back food not prepared correctly at a restaraunt.

I sure wish you would reconsider rather than following the MEC lemmings off the cliff.