FDXLAG

I don't know I have seen 19 different opinions from 5 guys; perhaps a little authoratative instruction to 100% of the membership could be usefull.

And I still don't think it is "gaming the system" anymore than refusing sub or maximizing vacation is "gaming the system".

kronan

I'd say it's only about 32% of the membership that really cares

FDXLAG

So shouldn't those 32% get something official? What other provisions of the contract do you consider to be "gaming the system"?

kronan

I don't consider any provisions of the contract to be "gaming the system". I do think CRS "games" the system hoping that I am unaware of a specific contract section since I've called them on it a few times in my career and they immediately relented with a "yeah, you're right, forgot about that one". And no, I don't think they actually forgot since the contract is the water they swim in daily, while a specific situation only occasionally slaps me in the face.

I do consider requesting advice on bidding HKG in an attempt to get POP without the expectation of going to HKG to be "gaming the system".

There is absolutely no way the union can know how long the training process is going to be. No way the union can know if there is going to be a vacancy bid prior to a specific individuals training for HKG starts

If you bid it, expect to go.

If you want the company to buy the house, bid to LAX or ANC and plan on moving w/in 100 miles of the base (excessed or bidding to excess allows move package 1)

viperdriver

What does no junior activating passover mean?

I hear bid what you want to fly. A excessed 727CA who bids 777 vs Airbus gets to stay a Capt for an extra year, whether or not that is what he wants to fly.

kronan

People are excessed in reverse seniority order, and go to training in reverse seniority order.
Not sure if it will happen, but, consider a the bottom 3 guys being excessed off of the 72 FO list to 777 FO, the bottom guy would go to training first, and per 24.D.3.a, no POP would be paid to the higher seniority 2nd&3rd excessed pilots

kronan

If I was one of the bottom 72CA, Airbus CA, then I think it would be a good excess bid strategy to bid 777 and maintain the Capt pay until the training comes along.

FDXLAG

Yeah and I hate those weasels who try to snivel a first class ticket on a deviation just because their duty day excedes 11 hours. Don't they know we wont have a job if the company has to keep blowing their profits on dead head tickets.

The POP provisions were written in fairly plain english yet the company and the union thought it was necessary to do some secret negotiating to iron out an agreement that only muddies the water further. Who knows what they are negotiating now. Maybe that is the reason they can't say anything. DT could put out a statement on Monday and the FEDEX MEC (motto: shut up and color) can change it all with an agreement on Thursday.

More dang weasels gaming the system.

kronan

Is the secret negotiating you're referring to the result of the CDG canx debacle?
I think they will say something if you ask regarding your specific situation, something Albie did-and commented on- last year about his decision on bidding HKG or not.


And as an occasional First Class weasel, have to comment that even with the upgraded cost I still don't exceed the travel funds FedEx has budgeted and written off as a business expense for tax purposes.

The thing I disagree with is all of the planet guys choosing the immediate J/S home versus running through the airport. Shoot, hard to imagine how much money the company "makes" as a result of all those tickets being canx'd. I've flown with more than one guy who's gotten in trouble with the company for never filing an expense report because, although they deviated, they never purchased a ticket. "If I don't have any expenses, then why should I file an expense report"

FDXLAG

Nope, the document that created the Virtual Training Letter.