Freightpuppy

I've made comments that if people can't volunteer, they can't volunteer. I've been paying more and more attention to this program but since it's "all or nothing" and you can JS or RLG for as few or as many bid periods as you want, I have come to the following conclusion.

There is NO REASON why EVERY PILOT ON THE PROPERTY should not sign up for one pid period of JS or RLG at the minimum (junior, senior or in the middle)! I mean, if you can't do more then fine but everyone here should be able to afford to give up a half of months pay for one month! Wouldn't it be an awesome message to the company if every single pilot volunteered? (I know it won't happen, but it SHOULD) What do you all think?

FR8TFLYER

Agreed, I feel obligated as one who will benefit from the MOU to participate. I am disappointed and the low number of bottom 300 bubbas I see on the JS board. Perhaps they have already signed up for the RDG, MIL or found a JS partner.

I fugure I can easily live on less money, just think if you survived your probabionary year you would still be at twice the $$ with JS. Will know soon enough.

brownie

Have you done your share?

Freightpuppy

brownie,
You are so predictable.....I saw that you posted and I knew right away what you wrote.....I was right!

It would be pretty stupid to preach about doing it and not do it, don't you think?

Have you done YOUR share?

Naven

I agree, it would be awesome if every pilot volunteered for at least the minimum program. It would send a huge message to UPS about the unity of the IPA and would help us in negotiations for a while. However I am realistic and talking to people out on the line there is a big reluctance to volunteer for anything. There are actually a lot of guys that still look at this as a concession and a big win for UPS. For anyone that still thinks that you are WRONG, please read Bob Miller's message it clearly states that this MOU is a win for the IPA, but only if we get enough volunteers for it to be implemented.

Shaggy1970

I think that the 800-900 who said that they would volunteer for something need to step up to the plate. This notion that if your in the bottom three hundred that you must volunteer for something is BS. I think its amazing that a company that make 648 million in a quarter needs 131 million from this pilot group until 2011. My only question that I have asked before and is a question that every pilot here needs to be asking is, how much money does this company need to make for this, volunteer based concessions, to go away?

MD11Simnerd

Something to consider as well, there will be a large system bid coming out to do the UPS shuffle. 240 plus DC-8 crewmembers and the associated displacements and secondary moves will create a significant shortage and the associated open time. While we can't pick up open time during the bid we are participating in RDG or J/S, we can both before and after. Just one bid period of RDG from all of us will send a great message to all our crews, (top to bottom), stop the furlough, and also put us in a slightly short staffed situation creating more of that open time to pick up on the bid periods that we are not participating.

Lester Burnham

This is a win for UPS and the IPA! UPS gets to reduce pilot costs while the IPA gets to keep everyone on property and participating pilots get some extra time off. Some will be too bitter at UPS to do anything that will provide them any cost savings, but I hope the majority of IPA pilots see the great opportunity we all have here. A large participation by IPA pilots sends a great message and also gives you some added time away from brown.

I agree that there is absolutely no reason everyone shouldn't participate with at least one bid period of JS/RDG.

Shaggy, there is no answer to your question and I think you know that. If you were CEO of a company that just had profits fall by 55% during one of the worst recessions in modern history, what would you do? UPS is being prudent by looking for cost savings everywhere they can find them. The IPA is also doing it's job by protecting its' membership. With the retirement of the DC-8, we are a vulnerable group. Rather than both sides going down the old road of classic mgmt vs. labor battle, we have an opportunity to both get something out of this deal.

And yes, I will be doing my part!

navigatro

If you are in the bottom 300 and do not volunteer, how can you expect anyone else to do so. Regardless of the the reasons, and no matter who is at "fault", we are at a crossroads. I believe that 50% pay (for 50% work) plus benefits is MUCH better than $328/week unemployment (or whatever it is.)

In January, everyone in the bottom 300 will be on year 3 (or better) F/O pay. 50% of 134 is 67K plus benefits, for 7 days of work per month. If you cannot survive on that, then get a 2nd job. Or take a LOA and find a better paying job. (good luck)

I believe that everyone in the bottom 300 should volunteer for the entire first year. You are only helping yourself. It is not perfect, but a furlough could destroy hundreds of lives.

I agree that UPS does not HAVE to furlough. Unfortunately, we cannot control what the company does. We can only control what our response is to their actions. In my opinion, the best response is to help ourselves.

PS Thanks to all who have volunteered for one of the programs.

Shaggy1970

S,
Reading these forums and the B&G I think is a great way to stay in tune with what the members are thinking and feeling! Having said that can I ask you the same question I asked earlier on this thread? How much does our company need to make in order for this Furlough threat to go away. I mean if they are making 1.2 Billion a quarter like they did in 07-08 are they still looking at this 131 million in savings from the union? This sounds absurd to me and the MOU does not address it.