MaydayMark

I've suggested this to the SIG chair and my LEC reps both in writing and at union meetings. They say the company would never allow such an idea?

FDXLAG

When the company comes to us for discussions on BLG adjustments maybe this could be one of our topics.

FlybyKnite

The company actually did a brief test of marking DPs. Several months back they placed (Disp) in the Comments column of the OpenTime display for a couple of the airframes. I remember because I was excited and wrote a code segment in MagicWebFX to handle it. I don't know why they discontinued it, it worked for me.

Everyone seems to agree that the quality of pairings and lines is sliding down the tubes. When that is coupled with more pairings are being disputed, it would seem to me that flagging DPs would be a small issue the union could pursue that could produce a significant and effective unity of action to benefit ALL our pilots. After all, it is in the automation appendix attached to the contract.

FR8Hauler

Very true. No hard feelings toward Joe. It is just that there seems to be a real disconnect between the world our union leadership lives in and us line pilots. Disputed pairings probably never crossed his mind.

Gogojoe

I AM a line pilot guys.
Check my schedule (it's always open).
I fly the line every month, not just a day here and there.
An entire line (although Jan looks rather thin...sims and vac).
You all can talk with me in the crewroom any day/night; I'm always there.
As a matter of fact, please do. I find THIS method of communication lacking.
No inflections of the voice, no eye contact, false readings of "tone"of the written word, etc,etc.
JF

hyperone

Gogojoe, "You all can talk with me in the crewroom any day/night; I'm always there... I find THIS method of communication lacking."

Joe, I agree, unfortunately, the level and quality of communication that has been coming from our union leadership has been so poor in the last couple of years, that we, your membership, are willing to go anywhere to get a better clue about what is going on. And this forum, for all it's faults, has been a very good source if information (once you weed out a fair amount of BS).
I would love to see a much higher level of communication coming from our leadership. Not all of us are based in MEM, and not everyone can go to hub turn meetings.
I've brought it up with several of our MEC members, and I'll ask you: why doesn't the MEC conduct secure Web meetings for our membership where anyone with a password can log on and watch the MEC answer questions that are e-mailed to them? It would be a form of a web-based hub turn meeting.
Considering the millions of dollars in dues that are collected every year, I'd be willing to bet that we can hire a company to set up a web meeting capability. That way, all 4800 of us could participate, instead of the 100-200 guys who happen to be hub-turning through MEM.

NightBusDriver

You've hit the nail on the head! FDX-ALPA has turned a deaf ear and stopped communicating with the membership. The "Message Line" is a sad substitute for real dialogue.

boost

First of all I would like to say that I am a third generation union and second generation union pilot and a great believer in unified pilots and will be until I die. However, I am thoroughly disgusted recently with the MEC.

The people that are on this forum vs. the MEC to me is a great analogy to the disconnect between the MEC and the general pilot group. I can't tell you the amount of times where I have tried to have a discussion with guys on the bus or AOC, about many items discussed on this website where it turns out that they have no idea what I am even talking about. Why....because it does not affect the senior memphis based guys.

There is a great divide here and the old school is running the show...poorly. I mean DW stating in an email that a 500 thousand number guy would have no chance of holding hong kong and he ended up in the top 5 guys on the FO list and almost held Capt., joe (who I know just made a mistake and is a good guy) picking up disputed pairing without the help of one of 3 bidding programs readily available. Lets face it, the guys in charge are not living the same lives or experiencing the same careers that we are. 8hr, 11 min layovers in OAK, not them...me. FO for the next 10 yrs..uh me too. Until the MEC spends a few dollars upgrading their systems and decides to communicate with us younger pilots more than once a month after we have heard it here already, it will never change.

The last three captains I flew with all still print out the bidpack and bid manually, they still tip 3 us dollars a ride even in europe, they have never heard of skype, never heard of this forum, never lived outside of germantown, voted yes for the LOA, and can't understand why we are all flustered about the 65 thing because we "will get to make it all up later." These are the guys in charge and they certainly do not get "it" or represent me.

Sorry to say what everyone is thinking but these old farts just don't get it and our one man David is armed with a knife in a gun fight. How's that for an analogy?

skypine27

Boost:

Great post. It's sad because it's true.

What exactly does "make it all up later mean?" What do they say when you ask them that? You mean I "get" to work another 5 years? Great, thanks!

MD11Fr8Dog

Gogo, How about next time I see you again at the James Joyce. I'll buy the beers!

S.O.