FDX - A Moment of Clarity
02-01-2008, 09:02 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: MD-11
Posts: 395
Regardless of Bob's status, he does make a valid point. Unity is a myth when the senior members pass resolutions behind closed doors, and directly at the expense of junior members. Age 65, side agreements destroying parity, Tit for Tat agreements with the company giving away the store on the FDA, negligently negotiating away quality of life issues in the contract while focussing on retirement issues alone, all add up to this "union" being about the junior membership paying dues for the benefit of the few...those at the top.
Compensation for some of these inequities has caused some to wrongly conclude that it is alright to fly DP's. Another instance of selfishness. Moreover, open time trips are constantly flown at straight time, because the membership is undisciplined to wait until the company offers time and a half. Again, no leadership from the union.
Thus, unity is an illusion here. The sad part is that the company knows this. That's why we get so little from the company. They know they can offer a deal to the "leadership" and they'll bite, as long as that deal favors the pilots at the top. In fact, the entire concept of Agency Shop favors no one but the company. Now, the membership has no practical method to hold our own leaders [sic] accountable. All the company needs to do is continue benefitting the boys at the top and they can continue to turn the screws on the rest of us, saving big bucks at the same time. Kind of a sorry situation considering the net income of the company, don't you think?
So, yes, Bob may not enjoy credibility due to his non-member status. Yet, his opinions are spot-on and I think should be debated and discussed by the membership. Unless, of course, you're happy with the status quo.
Compensation for some of these inequities has caused some to wrongly conclude that it is alright to fly DP's. Another instance of selfishness. Moreover, open time trips are constantly flown at straight time, because the membership is undisciplined to wait until the company offers time and a half. Again, no leadership from the union.
Thus, unity is an illusion here. The sad part is that the company knows this. That's why we get so little from the company. They know they can offer a deal to the "leadership" and they'll bite, as long as that deal favors the pilots at the top. In fact, the entire concept of Agency Shop favors no one but the company. Now, the membership has no practical method to hold our own leaders [sic] accountable. All the company needs to do is continue benefitting the boys at the top and they can continue to turn the screws on the rest of us, saving big bucks at the same time. Kind of a sorry situation considering the net income of the company, don't you think?
So, yes, Bob may not enjoy credibility due to his non-member status. Yet, his opinions are spot-on and I think should be debated and discussed by the membership. Unless, of course, you're happy with the status quo.
02-01-2008, 09:47 AM
#12
Slainge Var'
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Zeppelin Tail Gunner
Posts: 1,530
Maybe it's because back when the company was drafting at 150%, the same people got called all the time. Maybe they just don't want to wait for a call that will never come. It's a simple fact that commuters have a significantly smaller chance of getting called for a trip that originates in Memphis, even as a deadhead. It's also human nature for the schedulers to call the same folks who they know will take the trip rather than wading through dozens of calls. One call, done! So, when Sally, Johnny or Herman sees a trip to his hometown with a back end d/h and jumps on it,(at straight time), I'd say they got a good deal. Besides, with the current overmanning, all those trips would go to reserve guys, many of whom would rather stay home anyway. Which is better, Sally flying the 10CH trip and Ralphie getting his RLG or, Ralphie flying the trip and still getting his RLG and Sally gets nothing?
02-01-2008, 09:56 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: 777 Multi-tasker
Posts: 712
oh yeah..... bob... pay your dues.
02-01-2008, 12:14 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: Completely Apolitical Nonsensical Slogan that has nothing to do with politics in the slightest....
Posts: 160
Anyone know how to put someone on their ignore list... I'm not nearly as bright as someone else thinks he is....
TSD
TSD
02-01-2008, 12:54 PM
#15
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 83
Bob makes no sense to this union member whatsoever...and that's ok if there aren't too many Bobs out there...
We all need to start looking into the mirror and think about where we want this union to go. Bob has no play in this union. He is one person. He knows that. Don't be Bob. Be a Captain who mentors the "young" pilots, explaining the detriments of flying DPs or the detriments of not belonging actively to the union. Be a captain who supports paying union members who are (or getting) involved in making this union stronger and smarter. We need to do the right thing by voting responsibly and looking out for each other. It's hard to argue that flying DPs is responsible. DP fliers know it sets a precedence, which the company tracks and uses to their advantage.
If one doesn't like how things are run or how situations have been resolved, then it's time for action. Elections/Recalls are tools to "help" the leadership understand where we, as FedEx ALPA (not alpa national), want this FedEx union to go. It seems to me that we voted yes for the FDA by 68%. It also seems that at the road show for the FDA that fear was thrown out at us due to scope for international flying. Elect leadership who will provide factual data and make the informaiton transparent to the membership, so we may vote on facts and not on certain individuals' biased views.
We all need to start looking into the mirror and think about where we want this union to go. Bob has no play in this union. He is one person. He knows that. Don't be Bob. Be a Captain who mentors the "young" pilots, explaining the detriments of flying DPs or the detriments of not belonging actively to the union. Be a captain who supports paying union members who are (or getting) involved in making this union stronger and smarter. We need to do the right thing by voting responsibly and looking out for each other. It's hard to argue that flying DPs is responsible. DP fliers know it sets a precedence, which the company tracks and uses to their advantage.
If one doesn't like how things are run or how situations have been resolved, then it's time for action. Elections/Recalls are tools to "help" the leadership understand where we, as FedEx ALPA (not alpa national), want this FedEx union to go. It seems to me that we voted yes for the FDA by 68%. It also seems that at the road show for the FDA that fear was thrown out at us due to scope for international flying. Elect leadership who will provide factual data and make the informaiton transparent to the membership, so we may vote on facts and not on certain individuals' biased views.
02-01-2008, 05:03 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: 777 Multi-tasker
Posts: 712
Bob makes no sense to this union member whatsoever...and that's ok if there aren't too many Bobs out there...
We all need to start looking into the mirror and think about where we want this union to go. Bob has no play in this union. He is one person. He knows that. Don't be Bob. Be a Captain who mentors the "young" pilots, explaining the detriments of flying DPs or the detriments of not belonging actively to the union. Be a captain who supports paying union members who are (or getting) involved in making this union stronger and smarter. We need to do the right thing by voting responsibly and looking out for each other. It's hard to argue that flying DPs is responsible. DP fliers know it sets a precedence, which the company tracks and uses to their advantage.
If one doesn't like how things are run or how situations have been resolved, then it's time for action. Elections/Recalls are tools to "help" the leadership understand where we, as FedEx ALPA (not alpa national), want this FedEx union to go. It seems to me that we voted yes for the FDA by 68%. It also seems that at the road show for the FDA that fear was thrown out at us due to scope for international flying. Elect leadership who will provide factual data and make the informaiton transparent to the membership, so we may vote on facts and not on certain individuals' biased views.
We all need to start looking into the mirror and think about where we want this union to go. Bob has no play in this union. He is one person. He knows that. Don't be Bob. Be a Captain who mentors the "young" pilots, explaining the detriments of flying DPs or the detriments of not belonging actively to the union. Be a captain who supports paying union members who are (or getting) involved in making this union stronger and smarter. We need to do the right thing by voting responsibly and looking out for each other. It's hard to argue that flying DPs is responsible. DP fliers know it sets a precedence, which the company tracks and uses to their advantage.
If one doesn't like how things are run or how situations have been resolved, then it's time for action. Elections/Recalls are tools to "help" the leadership understand where we, as FedEx ALPA (not alpa national), want this FedEx union to go. It seems to me that we voted yes for the FDA by 68%. It also seems that at the road show for the FDA that fear was thrown out at us due to scope for international flying. Elect leadership who will provide factual data and make the informaiton transparent to the membership, so we may vote on facts and not on certain individuals' biased views.
02-01-2008, 05:37 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2005
Posts: 1,275
A brief moment of entertaining clarity:
Grown men, perhaps a majority of the FedEx ALPA membership, continue to wish for the elimination of their older "brethren" so that they can move up a number and enhance their lifestyles. In the same breath, these "union" members express outrage at pilots who fly disputed pairings to enhance theirs.
And everybody wonders why the company walks over them at every strategic turn. This is nothing but good old-fashioned entertainment.
Gentlemen, start your every-man-for-himself engines. The race to the bottom is on.
Grown men, perhaps a majority of the FedEx ALPA membership, continue to wish for the elimination of their older "brethren" so that they can move up a number and enhance their lifestyles. In the same breath, these "union" members express outrage at pilots who fly disputed pairings to enhance theirs.
And everybody wonders why the company walks over them at every strategic turn. This is nothing but good old-fashioned entertainment.
Gentlemen, start your every-man-for-himself engines. The race to the bottom is on.
I don't usually care to argue or debate on these boards, but I am tired of your 'insights,' when you really are out of touch of what this pilot group actually desires.
Let me try and set you straight...
The majority of FedEx ALPA membership wanted to continue the status quo of Age 60 to keep (not enhance, as you care to say) the lifestyle that was expected before the Age 60 change was enacted.
In the same breath we express outrage at pilots who fly disputed pairings not because they are 'enhancing' their lifestyles, but because by flying these disputed pairings, they are tying the SIGs hands on preventing these onerous pairings from showing up in the bidpacks. Thereby making these 'disputed pairings' undisputed, and thus degrading our lifestyles.
So you see, Bob, these two issues are on the same side of the coin. They both degrade the majority of the pilots' lifestyles due to the selfish wants of the few. That's why we express outrage...
02-01-2008, 06:04 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
Posts: 4,357
"Anyone know how to put someone on their ignore list... "
Click on the users screen name. Select "view profile". Select "ignore user" in the middle of the page.
Click on the users screen name. Select "view profile". Select "ignore user" in the middle of the page.
02-01-2008, 06:33 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: Completely Apolitical Nonsensical Slogan that has nothing to do with politics in the slightest....
Posts: 160
Thanks... It'll come in handy.
TSD
TSD
02-02-2008, 12:16 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A300 F/O
Posts: 217
My point is, I am critical of you because what you represent. You represent all the folks who want a free ride, all the folks who think they are smarter than everyone else, all the folks who want to give orders but not carry their fair share. The people on this board don't like you because of what you are, not who you are. You represent many of the things that people have found repugnant their whole lives. Giving any credence to the rantings of a non-dues paying non-member, would be like inviting UBL to speak at ground zero. You're like that wacky guy standing outside the stadium, yelling to all the paying customers that you should be the starting quarterback. That's my point. Bobbie, here's your sign!
The world isn't a perfect place and there is certainly room for improvement in the way things are done at FedEx & ALPA, but to enjoy the benefits that we do have (i.e. vacations, signing bonuses despite their amounts, sick leave, R-24 lines the allow you to sit at home for 20+ days a month, etc.) THAT ARE PRODUCTS of the contract that we DO have in place, and not feel compelled to bear part of the burden financially is just as, if not more offensive to me than any guy flying a DP.
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