md11phlyer

Gave up motorcycles in college. It's a mountain bike.

Albief15

Exactly. Right now the some of the senior would sell out the junior in a heartbeat, yet they are getting kyboshed by some of those same dudes who signed off on the retro provisions.

If this was black and white and easy, we'd all want the MEC jobs. You junior guys have more friends and support than you realize.

I have taken a few shots at Tony for his position on 65, even though he wasn't even on the MEC when it happened. I told him the displacement to ANC was a product of that position. That self rightous SOB didn't even blink, however, when it not only took him to ANC but got him kicked off the WB jets. Say what you want--he is walking the walk and not whining. I was 100 or so numbers from the bottom 727 captain when this all broke, and I got to tell you...I was P!SSED. But I've dealt with it. Not always quietly, but I've dealt. Tony has not wavered--even though as a guy who upgrades at 100% he's taking a hit.

So--guess how much sympathy someone whining about losing a few hours of BLG will get with him? About as much as they do with me...

So--I wish General Lee hadn't squandered all his forces at Gettysburg, and JEB Stuart hadn't been away from that battle. I wish we would have been better prepared for Pearl Harbor. I wish we'd have brought in air cover during the Bay of Pigs invasion, and taken a pass on Vietnam. I also wish we'd not gone into Iraq in 2003. And dang it, I wish ALPA had decided to fight against age 65 to the bitter end, and our own MEC oppossed the retroactivity provisions. But complaining about the latter carries about as much effect as complaining about the former. I have come to terms with the status quo, and as I have said before...my job now is to 1) help preserve jobs and 2) get ready for the next contract. If you want to continue to vent here--I understand. I was wickedly PO'd a long time. I still wish it had gone down another way. But the one thing I will share to you as a new guy is that some of these guys you are throwing spears at are now working just as hard to protect some of the junior guys. I'm not asking you stop complaining--I'm just telling you why my voice isn't in that chorus. I think we've got to quit looking at the rearview and get our eyes back on the road in front. Forget the past issues? No...of course not. But age 65, for all its career ramifications, isn't the only challenge we'll face. We aren't used to going backwards at FDX, and its no fun. But if we an somehow keep from slicing each other's throats during the next 2 years, I think we'll come through this okay and see some growth in a couple years. If we work together we can tweak some onerous work rules, perhaps secure some additional retirement options, and continue the postiive vector on improving our quality of life. Lose that focus and spend all our time squabbling, however, and we will tread water or move backwards.

I'm hearing a lot of calls for change. We got block rep positions open next spring. It doesn't have to be one of the same 40 guys who seem to always end up with their names in Positive Rate. Bring it on...

Toccata

Don't worry Albie. Same possibility exists (think Knoxville.........). Just check to see if they're senior to you, and let 'em know flatland single-track is for sissies......

FR8Hauler

No, I am just saying it has not been very equitable lately. ie. ND's coming back and excess'es because of it. We all knew the rules and now the rules have changed. I don't know a better system, but let's not get on our high horse about how you are junior so suck it up.

FR8Hauler

Easy for you to say with SYD as your avatar.

Toccata

Oh come on......those country club boys? Screw 'em. Everyone knows they're overpaid already.

They're a small block, anyway. If they don't like it, they can just quit.

Toccata

Agreed. Quite a few famous quotes could be referenced here (...those who do not learn from history are doomed....). What would you proposed is to be learned - constructively - from our recent Union history? Specifically? (Not something like we are one or we are none, please......)

If we had 12 Albies, or maybe 10 Albies and 2 TonyCs, (or however many reps there are - need more Albies that TonyCs 'cause he's been just flat wrong a few times.... I'm adding up about 3% of the time..), what do you think could be accomplished in the current structure? Daniel L. might be able to weigh in on this one.... he's pretty sharp in this area.

AerisArmis

So you support slavery but are on the side of the junior pilots? Isn't that contradictory? (BTW, J.E.B. Stuart was there, he had a very large but inconclusive battle with BGen. George Armstrong Custer at the Union rear trying to raid their logistics train. This is generally accepted as the beginning of the cavalry dominance of the Union over their Confederate counterparts. Thought you'd want to know.)

RedeyeAV8r

Relax, I am not on any High- horse. this all affected me negatively too (just not as bad as the bottom feeders. Like everything with seniority ****** rolls down hill and it gets worse the closer to the bottom you get.

It works in reverse too. When things pick up, the JR to middle guys see more upward movement. The guys at the top really don't see much upward movement, but don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind being there.

BOYCAPTAIN

don't worry...he only saw SYD on his IOE...i have been to many more countries than he has and i'm on the bus(SIBA)....he knows DTW and EWR very well....