CactusCrew

I am pleasantly surprised with the MOU or LOA or whatever ... There's more to it than I thought, and some details that I am unsure of. Definitely a step in the right direction.






Implementation is the key to anything dealing with Brown

Vman

One thing that seems WRONG is preventing those that signed up for JS or RDG from being able to pickup "open time".

Precontact

But wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the program? The company wants to know how much money they'll be saving by publishing lines at set values.

Rocket Bob

Duh...Don't think there's going to be much open-time going around this place for a while, and it would definitely defeat the purpose of the cost saving initiative. Job share and pick up to 100+, was that your plan??

Charlie Murphy

Why does it matter if a guy who JS's or RDG's picks up opentime? UPS is going to be paying someone to cover the trip and if they are so overstaffed with crews, there won't be much opentime to be had.

Vman

Yes BUT, those who do not volunteer for JS or RDG due to greed/self... will have more open-time to choose from and less competition for selection. If there was a straight open-time moratorium for everyone, great, but this only restricts those who have volunteered for a program/pay-cut. It seem exactly opposite from the way it should be implemented. Why reward those who act without regard to the needs of others, in the UNION (individuals who do not volunteer), with the possibilities for additional pay while restricting those who volunteer…

Do you think with this new program that open-time will magically go away...?
　

ERJ Jay

Let me double check this:
Guys who are 62.5+ can sign up for "early retirement" when they would have been forced to retire until Dec 13th 2007. Now they get their social security benefit at no penalty (62.5 yrs of age) and an extra year of service credit for retirement and no longer have to commute while saving a job?

I would think these guys would think that's one hell of a deal.

As for job sharing, we've been trying to get my current employer to do that for years and have gotten no movement. I could see those with young families taking advantage of that until the kids got older; after all you can't buy back time.

But then again, what do I know.

Vman

It's not a plan, just an observation from the MOU. Ok, let's say there's no open-time, great, who cares. But you should be able to see the irony in excluding the one group being paid at ˝ the rate of the others (37.5 to 60 credits) from being excluded from supplementing their income if the opportunity is available. If I were not a Part 121 pilot, I could use my skills to supplement my income moon-lighting at another job. Again, this is theoretical in nature and not a PLAN, as you ask…

highsky

When this whole furlough threat started, I was convinced that the membership would vote to send the 300 up the river, without thinking twice about it. I've experienced this at a Legacy, and have many friends at other airlines see the same thing.

My heartfelt thanks go out to UPS, the EB, but most importantly, to the 846 leaders among us with the guts to step up to the plate with compassion and sacrifice, and de-screw a very screwed up situation.

Great to see that "We Take Care of Our Own," isn't just an empty union slogan on a bumper sticker. Evidently, it really means something.

Fraternally

Bottom 300 Guy

Luckydawg

It depends who is doing the JS or RDG. Time will tell, but the savings generated will be the greatest at the top end of the pay/seniority scale. If the highest paid pilots jobshare, that leaves the lower paid to pickup any open trips (if there are any). Junior assignments are given in junior order already. According to the survey though, most that opted for these voluntary programs were skewed to the most junior group so time will tell if enough takers at the top end help this option generate big savings.

On the early retirement end of things, is there any real incentive now? I understand the "no reduction in actuarial benefit" for those that wish to retire early. History is showing though most opting to stay past 60. What about those currently over 60? They get an extra one year credit? I've heard some saying they need an extra 5 years credit to get them moving. I could see them going for a job share but not necessarily an early retirement.

Anyhow, I applaud the IPA and UPS for so far what seems like a program that could work.