a300fr8dog

"Further complicating the issue was the decision by the entire group of 757 Flex/LCAs to not bid the 757 in either MEM or CDG and management’s contention that this decision was somehow an orchestrated maneuver by the union to extract leverage for further FDA LOA enhancements."

So, I suppose this is an example of the new & improved "business relationship" we have with the company? To begin with, I think there is much more member support for a slightly more adversarial stance toward the regime. Hopefully, DW & crew will be insulted enough by the company's preposterous "contetion" to wake up to that fact, and quit being so cozy. We should all feel insulted when the process of negotiation isn't respected. Otherwise, why be collective at all?

FR8Hauler

They made their bed when they sided with the company on the FDA LOA in the first place and then sold it to the crew force as a "good deal." Now that it is not working out for them because it is such a pos they are whining about how the company is not being nice to us.

a300fr8dog

You know what they say: "You get what you pay for". Lowballing us on the LOA will continue to befuddle the company. Think three years from now: either growing the FDA's, or having a change of the guard in those locations.

There are alot of people finally starting to give every nook & cranny of the company's offers the third degree: trying to find how they can pull a fast one on us. Sounds like even the 757 cadre gave it the smell test. It's a shame really. It didn't used to be that way. But needs to be, today.

hamfisted

I don't want ALPA to have a good relationship with Fedex. By necessity, both parties have polar opposite goals and desires. I am by no means saying that Fedex is evil. It's a great company and I feel privileged to work for them.
However, DW and gang trying to play nice and cuddle with PC and OR is NOT in the pilot's best interest. To Fedex, pilots are a cost center. Nothing more, nothing less. Let's stop pretending this is still Fred Smith's small good old boys company and face the reality that we are nothing more or nothing less than hired help.
That's where ALPA comes in. I pay them good money to represent me. Apply leverage; squeeze pennies and outright threaten the company with some type of action that would adversely effect the FDX bottom line. Pilots are NOT qualified to be negotiators...period! Why do we continually think we can sit across the table from a Harvard-trained financial analyst and come out ahead? DW and his ALPA National patronizing /Fedex schmoozing cronies have to go. Give me an MEC Chairman who has the nads to walk into a meeting with the company and basically tell them that "if it ain't in the CBA, we ain't buying it". No side drug deals...no backroom handshakes and no political aspirations for an ALPA National office. Represent YOUR constituents...the Fedex line pilots!!

Bohica

And don't forget to tip Santa and the tooth fairy next time they visit.

MajorKong

It is time for DW to hit the street. We should be bending the company over and making them squeal on the LOA, Passover, and correcting the scheduling nightmare. Instead, DW is going to work with the company and not the membership. Do you see a trend? Where is our error management? Will you trap it and correct it?

av8rmike

Good point, but leverage to move which party? The company is trying while the MEC is saying they won't allow any exemptions from the contract. This is the contract that is not equipped to deal with bringing a lower paying aircraft on property and standing it up from scratch.

If you mean for all the instructors to walk out at this point and shut the program down (which it would), who gets hurt? Obviously the company does, which would be bad for business. Since they're already willing to negotiate and are seeking a solution, this leverage wouldn't move them any more.

The only possible outcome might be if the program is shut down, the entire MEC is kicked to the curb and replaced, perhaps a new regime might realize the contract needs to be changed to allow the 757 and 777 programs to work. At least relief for a defined period of time.

MaxKts

Me thinks the Passover pay issue was "the straw that broke the camels back" in the MEC's mind. I don't think they will try and scew the Instructors over on the passover issue. They are finally realizing how screwed up the whole LOA debacle is and how much they lowballed us (yes, our MEC lowballed us - not the company). Now they think they have some leverage and are going to try and use it. Unfortunatally the 757 Instructors are caught in the middle right now. When the company first threw a bone to the people bidding an FDA, our MEC should have jumped on the company immediately - problem was how do you complain when the company is offering more than what you asked for in the first place. Hopefully this will all work out for the benefit of everyone and our MEC will pull their head out of the sand and realize (and possibly even admit) they screwed the pooch on the whole LOA issue! So lets all take a breather and sit back and see what comes next.

2cylinderdriver

What does the fact that the 757 Pay is narrowbody have to do with the Company screwing up and trying to evade the CBA without going through the proper channels ? This is 100 % the Company's fault. How come they they did not post a bid a year ago and approach the Union to address the shortcomings of the CBA ? Why did they train a bunch of guys who they can't use ? The instructors have walked, it is a done deal. Not a single one is the 757 Bid ?

Do you think the Company offered ALPA anything in return for the 4 CBA sections they wanted relief from ? I would guess nothing was proffered.

I agree 100% that the CBA needed discussion, but pass over pay for IP's could and should have been an easy fix on the front end. There had to be more issues if they needed 4 sections waived. I hope they do approach the 777 properly and in advance. Whoever decided to roll with the 757 porgram in this manner just caused the Company lots of dollars in fuel savings.

pdo bump

new block reps in....recall attempt part II.