FDX - "The economy will come around"
10-07-2008, 07:37 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,931
It would be better if no one at all bid it, but I am not naive. We CAN have a significant group not bid it.
I say let the non-member and DP flying crowd have it to themselves...For now.
I say let the non-member and DP flying crowd have it to themselves...For now.
Last edited by Gunter; 10-07-2008 at 12:11 PM.
10-07-2008, 08:10 AM
#12
Nice lookin' tree, there!
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Tool-Box, old man
Posts: 2,204
I'm going to make a prediction: with gas where it is, mail-order's going to go up this Christmas.
I used to live 50 miles from the nearest Walmart. My wife did all her shopping with the Land's End catalog. There'll be more of that this year.
I'm also hoping for a "November Surprise" as guys retire before 65. In November (or around that time) they can get, and then cash out, their 2009 vacation hours. If they've kept their 2008 hours the total check is huge....
I used to live 50 miles from the nearest Walmart. My wife did all her shopping with the Land's End catalog. There'll be more of that this year.
I'm also hoping for a "November Surprise" as guys retire before 65. In November (or around that time) they can get, and then cash out, their 2009 vacation hours. If they've kept their 2008 hours the total check is huge....
fbh
10-07-2008, 08:12 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: MD11 FO, ANC
Posts: 1,098
AFW MD11,
I'm sure you probably don't believe this, but not everything is just about your and my job here at FedEx. This economy, in my opinion, not only stinks now, but will for many moons to come. People have lost, and are losing their homes and jobs at record rates. Our (the U.S.) economy is in the toilet, and to make matters worse, we've taken down pretty much the rest of the worlds' economies as well. There is NO quick fix for the damage done, regardless of which candidate becomes our new president. The fact that Mr. Smith sees a rosy future for FedEx is a testament to his far sightedness, not his clairvoyance. Corporate greed, coupled with little or no oversight or accountability, and no one wanting to take responsibility for their own, or their employee's actions, have dealt us a very difficult hand to play, and it's my opinion that it will be a number of years before we're out of the dumpster.
That, however, doesn't change the fact that FedEx CAN afford to pay us a more fair wage, but it is not their corporate responsibility to do so, unless we, as a pilot group, can show the unity required to demonstrate to the Company that not only are we worth the wage we're asking for, but also that it's in the Company's best interests to have a happy, productive, and responsible crew force.
As an example, our MEC, yesterday, posted a new message line, in which they discussed the current state of affairs, as they relate to the ongoing negotiations that were happening, relative to the 777 pay rates. For those of you who have not read that message, in a nutshell, the Company has basically abandoned the negotiating process, opting for a mediated settlement. My interpretation, from what I read, is that the union is asking us to NOT BID the 777, at least for now. This will be the first step in seeing if this crew force has the guts to get in line and represent each other, instead of only ourselves. Good luck to us all. It begins here.
JJ
I'm sure you probably don't believe this, but not everything is just about your and my job here at FedEx. This economy, in my opinion, not only stinks now, but will for many moons to come. People have lost, and are losing their homes and jobs at record rates. Our (the U.S.) economy is in the toilet, and to make matters worse, we've taken down pretty much the rest of the worlds' economies as well. There is NO quick fix for the damage done, regardless of which candidate becomes our new president. The fact that Mr. Smith sees a rosy future for FedEx is a testament to his far sightedness, not his clairvoyance. Corporate greed, coupled with little or no oversight or accountability, and no one wanting to take responsibility for their own, or their employee's actions, have dealt us a very difficult hand to play, and it's my opinion that it will be a number of years before we're out of the dumpster.
That, however, doesn't change the fact that FedEx CAN afford to pay us a more fair wage, but it is not their corporate responsibility to do so, unless we, as a pilot group, can show the unity required to demonstrate to the Company that not only are we worth the wage we're asking for, but also that it's in the Company's best interests to have a happy, productive, and responsible crew force.
As an example, our MEC, yesterday, posted a new message line, in which they discussed the current state of affairs, as they relate to the ongoing negotiations that were happening, relative to the 777 pay rates. For those of you who have not read that message, in a nutshell, the Company has basically abandoned the negotiating process, opting for a mediated settlement. My interpretation, from what I read, is that the union is asking us to NOT BID the 777, at least for now. This will be the first step in seeing if this crew force has the guts to get in line and represent each other, instead of only ourselves. Good luck to us all. It begins here.
JJ
See my posts in the "slow learners" thread.
In a nutshell - we have taken the high road with our "spirit of cooperation" and "businesslike" negotiating style - the company has now openly rejected that.
If our NC presents all the facts correctly - any "neutral" party in a System Board/arbitration should be able to see all this and rule in our favor.
I was trying to make the point that NOW, more than ever, is the time for our union to take advantage of that situation - time to reap the benefits of allowing the company to win over and over again at the expense of "working together in harmony"
Secondly, it's time for individual pilots to place the long-term good of the group ahead of their personal greed and personal desires/agendas - DON'T HAVE THE 777 IN YOUR STANDING BID!!! (is, as you said, the first step/show of unity)
Those were my points - so I think we're in total agreement.
10-07-2008, 12:42 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 440
Anyways, isn't our 401k's and other investments only losing money on paper? In other words, I'm under the impression that you would only lose money on it if you pulled it out today. I'm concerned like everyone else, but the big question is what will it be worth in 25 or 30 years?
10-07-2008, 12:47 PM
#15
...Whatever It Is!
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,680
I'm not the smartest personal investor either, although my planner is.
Anyways, isn't our 401k's and other investments only losing money on paper? In other words, I'm under the impression that you would only lose money on it if you pulled it out today. I'm concerned like everyone else, but the big question is what will it be worth in 25 or 30 years?
Anyways, isn't our 401k's and other investments only losing money on paper? In other words, I'm under the impression that you would only lose money on it if you pulled it out today. I'm concerned like everyone else, but the big question is what will it be worth in 25 or 30 years?
If you pulled out today, its probably too late!
10-07-2008, 01:05 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 440
Like you said earlier, it's a good idea to keep an eye on things and move them around as needed or perceived. Aside from that I'm tightening the seat belt and holding on for the ride.
10-07-2008, 04:57 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
It really doesn't matter who your planner is, the fact is that you've probably lost money in the past year or so. Yes, as long as you've not taken it out of the plans that it was in, you've only lost money on paper, but if you've been moving it around, then you've probably lost some real money. The DOW is down about 25% in the preceding 12 months, but again if you've got time (to retirement) to "stay the course", and are at the same time confident that your money will again grow, it's probably better to leave it where it is. Hopefully we're close to the bottom (although personally, I don't think we are yet), but when we do get there, that's the time to start buying again, if you have money left to buy with. The trick of course, is to determine where the "bottom" is.
-- I can't resist 
.
10-07-2008, 07:16 PM
#19
...Whatever It Is!
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,680
It really doesn't matter who your planner is, the fact is that you've probably lost money in the past year or so. Yes, as long as you've not taken it out of the plans that it was in, you've only lost money on paper, but if you've been moving it around, then you've probably lost some real money. The DOW is down about 25% in the preceding 12 months, but again if you've got time (to retirement) to "stay the course", and are at the same time confident that your money will again grow, it's probably better to leave it where it is. Hopefully we're close to the bottom (although personally, I don't think we are yet), but when we do get there, that's the time to start buying again, if you have money left to buy with. The trick of course, is to determine where the "bottom" is.
When its time to get back in, I'll be working with almost 50% more (if this is the bottom, which I don't think is) than if I had stayed in!
While I generally agree that dollar cost averaging is the way to go, this has been an extreme scenario, I have been able to mostly shield myself from the crash.
Of course, your mileage may vary!
10-07-2008, 07:19 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: A300/310 Capt
Posts: 1,642
I basically did the same thing, but instead of putting it in the money mkt, i put it in the inflation protection fund, which is the only fund in the black this year in our family of funds.
But then again, i'm not a very good pilot.
But then again, i'm not a very good pilot.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
