Working "100%" at FedEx??
04-22-2006, 06:22 AM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 980
Originally Posted by jungle
FEDEX and UPS tend to mirror each others moves. Guys at Brown are saying as soon as FEDEX gets their contract we will get ours. Neither wants to have a disadvantage in the market place-it would not surprise me if high level talks among the two are sorting out the eventual settlement. Illegal, but they do seem to get things done in a very similar fashion very often.
The only possible catalyst is a requirement to settle with other components of labor within the company, or a strong desire to alter work rules to gain more productivity, or a demand by the labor boards to finish the negotiations.
Maybe next summer.
I don't believe in fairy tales, but it does seem odd that a company so proud of it's fairness, charity and public image would treat it's employees so poorly.
We are a commodity being priced in the market and nothing more. It really isn't about the money, since the settlement differences are so small as to be meaningless to the companies involved.
In the meantime both companies are destroying good will within the workforce that could cost them dearly in the long run. If fuel remains at the current high levels or goes higher, the entire cargo market could get very ugly.
The only possible catalyst is a requirement to settle with other components of labor within the company, or a strong desire to alter work rules to gain more productivity, or a demand by the labor boards to finish the negotiations.
Maybe next summer.
I don't believe in fairy tales, but it does seem odd that a company so proud of it's fairness, charity and public image would treat it's employees so poorly.
We are a commodity being priced in the market and nothing more. It really isn't about the money, since the settlement differences are so small as to be meaningless to the companies involved.
In the meantime both companies are destroying good will within the workforce that could cost them dearly in the long run. If fuel remains at the current high levels or goes higher, the entire cargo market could get very ugly.
The contract issues are just business, and as usual they are good at taking care of business.
04-22-2006, 09:06 AM
#42
With The Resistance
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Burning the Agitprop of the Apparat
Posts: 6,191
Not to imply that they treat everyone poorly, but no raise for over four years amounts to about a 12% cut in real pay or 24% or more depending on whose inflation figures you use.
Yes, they are the best Airlines to work for and they are shoveling in the money, and a lot of that money comes from the contributions of the pilot group to the bottom line. A little recognition for that effort would not kill them, and it would encourage a spirit of working together rather than the antagonistic standoff that has existed for over two years.
It is about the business, and working together is always better than working under the concept of screwing your partners.
Yes, they are the best Airlines to work for and they are shoveling in the money, and a lot of that money comes from the contributions of the pilot group to the bottom line. A little recognition for that effort would not kill them, and it would encourage a spirit of working together rather than the antagonistic standoff that has existed for over two years.
It is about the business, and working together is always better than working under the concept of screwing your partners.
04-25-2006, 04:40 AM
#43
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: MD-11 F/O
Posts: 72
Yes, there are two views on the "100%" thing. Yes, we probably would make more of an impact if we all waited until after the 30-day cooling off period--all the draft and volunteer (and other stuff) that WAS done eariler, would now affect the company even more when it's NOT done.
HOWEVER...
Isn't the goal of negotiations to settle the contract BEFORE we get to that point?
If we individually decide not to fly draft/volunteer, don't sell back vacation, don't fly more than a normal schedule, etc., RIGHT NOW, we will park planes.
The FedEx bean counters have always kept us chronically under-crewed. Well, God Bless the bean counters in normal times because it keeps us busy...but these are NOT normal times...we are in contentious negotiations, and deserve FAR MORE than what they are offering us.
There have already been numerous flights PARKED because there are no legal crews to fly them, and some because crews wouldn't take a DRAFT or VOLUNTEER trip to fly them. The more planes we park, the more the company will realize that the crew force is serious. Particularly if it starts happening more and more often!
This company can't afford to park airplanes...ESPECIALLY in this HOT, COMPETITIVE market.
Parked airplanes mean service failures...service failures mean ****ed off customers plus customer refunds...****ed off customers mean bye-bye business to UPS or DHL...which of course affects the bottom line...which means unhappy shareholders...leading to a declining stock price...decreased executive bonuses...
(Oh and "JACK", as an aside, our "non-TEAM-player" Reservists and Guardsman taking their mil leave only helps our cause. The more trips they don't fly, the more trips the company has to cover...with hopefully no one...IF everyone flies only their 100%.)
FedEx can EASILY AFFORD to settle this for what we are asking right now, and STILL have hundreds of millions or billions of dollars in reserve for buying more airplanes, hiring more employees, growing the route structure, capital improvements, etc.
The company LOVES this underwhelming contract we've had for SEVEN years now. They're making money hand-over-fist...by the BILLIONS...the longer they can operate with this contract without significant hindrance, the more money they'll reap from our current agreement!
And for those who are saying "You're hurting the company, and biting the hand that feeds you", well, FedEx is doing it to themselves.
The FedEx bean counters have always relied on the money hounds to fly draft, volunteer, sell vacation, or fly more than their normal schedules. They COUNT on us doing it!! And why shouldn't they? it's cheaper than paying for another crewmember career! We can't even reach our full pension High-5 without it! Symbiotic relationship? Sure...again, maybe in normal times...but these are NOT NORMAL TIMES!
So the sooner we can pull together as a crew force and do only 100% of our job, the sooner this may get settled! And we may not even have to fly extra to get our High-5 with a new contract...imagine THAT!
Oh, and by the way, off the subject a bit, you can be assured some management crony is perusing these airline threads, taking the pulse of the crewforce, no matter how small a sample of the crewforce it may be...and trying to find weaknesses to exploit...Keep the Faith.
In Unity, Brothers and Sisters...
HOWEVER...
Isn't the goal of negotiations to settle the contract BEFORE we get to that point?
If we individually decide not to fly draft/volunteer, don't sell back vacation, don't fly more than a normal schedule, etc., RIGHT NOW, we will park planes.
The FedEx bean counters have always kept us chronically under-crewed. Well, God Bless the bean counters in normal times because it keeps us busy...but these are NOT normal times...we are in contentious negotiations, and deserve FAR MORE than what they are offering us.
There have already been numerous flights PARKED because there are no legal crews to fly them, and some because crews wouldn't take a DRAFT or VOLUNTEER trip to fly them. The more planes we park, the more the company will realize that the crew force is serious. Particularly if it starts happening more and more often!
This company can't afford to park airplanes...ESPECIALLY in this HOT, COMPETITIVE market.
Parked airplanes mean service failures...service failures mean ****ed off customers plus customer refunds...****ed off customers mean bye-bye business to UPS or DHL...which of course affects the bottom line...which means unhappy shareholders...leading to a declining stock price...decreased executive bonuses...
(Oh and "JACK", as an aside, our "non-TEAM-player" Reservists and Guardsman taking their mil leave only helps our cause. The more trips they don't fly, the more trips the company has to cover...with hopefully no one...IF everyone flies only their 100%.)
FedEx can EASILY AFFORD to settle this for what we are asking right now, and STILL have hundreds of millions or billions of dollars in reserve for buying more airplanes, hiring more employees, growing the route structure, capital improvements, etc.
The company LOVES this underwhelming contract we've had for SEVEN years now. They're making money hand-over-fist...by the BILLIONS...the longer they can operate with this contract without significant hindrance, the more money they'll reap from our current agreement!
And for those who are saying "You're hurting the company, and biting the hand that feeds you", well, FedEx is doing it to themselves.
The FedEx bean counters have always relied on the money hounds to fly draft, volunteer, sell vacation, or fly more than their normal schedules. They COUNT on us doing it!! And why shouldn't they? it's cheaper than paying for another crewmember career! We can't even reach our full pension High-5 without it! Symbiotic relationship? Sure...again, maybe in normal times...but these are NOT NORMAL TIMES!
So the sooner we can pull together as a crew force and do only 100% of our job, the sooner this may get settled! And we may not even have to fly extra to get our High-5 with a new contract...imagine THAT!
Oh, and by the way, off the subject a bit, you can be assured some management crony is perusing these airline threads, taking the pulse of the crewforce, no matter how small a sample of the crewforce it may be...and trying to find weaknesses to exploit...Keep the Faith.
In Unity, Brothers and Sisters...
04-25-2006, 06:33 AM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 767 CA
Posts: 1,876
Originally Posted by MD11driver
Oh, and by the way, off the subject a bit, you can be assured some management crony is perusing these airline threads, taking the pulse of the crewforce, no matter how small a sample of the crewforce it may be...and trying to find weaknesses to exploit...Keep the Faith.
In Unity, Brothers and Sisters...
04-28-2006, 09:11 AM
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,838
Originally Posted by MD11driver
Yes, there are two views on the "100%" thing. Yes, we probably would make more of an impact if we all waited until after the 30-day cooling off period--all the draft and volunteer (and other stuff) that WAS done eariler, would now affect the company even more when it's NOT done.
HOWEVER...
Isn't the goal of negotiations to settle the contract BEFORE we get to that point?
In Unity, Brothers and Sisters...
HOWEVER...
Isn't the goal of negotiations to settle the contract BEFORE we get to that point?
In Unity, Brothers and Sisters...
All Good points......( I didn't paste your entire quote).
Doing your job at 100% is 2 fold..................allows a pilot to recuperate from all the hard work he/she has been doing.spending more time with the family. And 2 puts a little financial pressure on the company because trips can't get covered and cargo sits or is late.
However this should be done NOW not later. This is a personal choice allowed under the contract, but , DON"T expect UNION leadership to ever call for this!!
When the 30 Day clock runs out (assuming we get released by the NMB) only 4 thing's can happen.
1. We Sign a Deal at 11:59 PM
2. a. NO Deal... ALPA calls for a With-holding of services (Strike)
b. FDX MGT imposes their last Offer. (Very Likely like 1995)
c. FDX MGT Locks Pilots out.(Very Unlikely as they are counting on SCABS)
3. NO DEAL..ALPA says Strike.....President BUSH invokes a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB)..All this means is the 30 Day Clock is reset....Now both sides resume MEdiated talks with congresional oversight......No a good option (just my opinion) under the current Administration.
From the above.........the only desirable option that ALPA wants is of course option #1............An agrees upon deal.
The problem is we would prefer this deal sooner than later.
The other problem is at the present time the company has absoulutely no incentive to settle!..........How do we change that?
If we are destined to go to the 30 day cooling off period, wouldn't all of you want to see MGT's cuurent offer better?......because if we went into the cooling off period today that is what would be imposed.........is MGT's last offer good enough for you? because again that is what they WILL Impose and it will be YOUR LEGAL contract with NO VOTE!!
(Unless we strike that is, and ALPA wants to avoid that if at all possible)
So this all comes down to personal choice..........Do what you can NOW to help prod along negotioations. Give MGT a little incentive to Negotiate. Help our Negotiating Committee get movement at the table.............................By you making the right, legal contractual choice today, it might help avoid a more serious job threatening confrontation in the coming future?
Once the deal is inked...........you will be rested and rejuvenated and will be able to fly extr if that is your desire..................
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