gcsass

They absolutely can hire into an FDA, thats not the problem. The problem is that there is no mechanism that allows them to involuntarily remove you from said FDA at 4 years and 9 months. I want them to have all the FDA's that they can handle......I just don't think I should give this gem away for nothing (or in this case very little).

Busboy

There are a lot more costs involved in SIBA than just the D/H tickets. Productivity is what they're after. Ever wonder why SIBA is so senior? Look at the trips. The D/H days, the layovers in conjunction with D/Hs, all the hotel costs, per diem, etc. That's where the money is.

Look, they've been trying to open the European FDA for more than 15yrs. With FDX pilots to moving to Europe to do the flying. Don't you think they would have done it by now, under sec. 6, if they thought it was good business? Lets not forget those RLA agreement letters, that come with the LOA. They don't want a group of pilots operating under the Europeans labor laws. Doesn't really fit with our product.

I'm willing to delay my 3%, and bet that they won't attempt to open CGN under current Sec. 6.

Cargo Pirate

There is no chance of a CGN domicile without the LOA. A big part of the FDA LOA is the requirement to sign the letter stating you give up all local labor law protections. This is the same reason the company would never use EU pilots to move(or not move) FedEx freight. Opening the HKG domicile under the current FDA LOA means the base will go junior despite what the previous MEC minus EI claimed. I don't believe our insurers(that may be ourselves now) want junior guys flying our less than stellar safety record MD-11 around asia. Until we address 4a2b and accepted fares a COLA TA with FDA enhancements that will degrade my bidpack will not get my vote.

The Walrus

I agree that it would be virtually impossible for the company to open a CGN FDA under the current section 6 parameters in our contract, but remember that the current FDA LOA for HKG states:

Ongoing Implementation Measures

The parties recognize that the details involved in opening and operating foreign pilot bases are varied and fluid. Other measures facilitating the operation of the pilot bases in CDG and HKG and supporting the pilots based there may be implemented if agreed upon in writing by the Vice President, Labor Relations Law and the ALPA FedEx MEC Chairman.

Therefore, SS has the ability/ authorization to change the provisions of the HKG FDA to include what the company is offering in this TA. This would allow the company to open the MD11 portion of HKG by upping the ante even if we vote this TA down.

With that said, I am still a NO vote!

gderek

Totally Agree, I've read through the agreement, watched the video. This is a big no and I've been surprised to run into more people that agree, not just the so called APC 20.

tennesseeflyboy

I was at the TA roadshow yesterday, don't feel so convinced that the company has your best interest in this ........................ many there that stood up with well thought and salient questions .................. The rationale of negotiating certain sections of this contract was explained ................ what doesn't make sense is the paltry few "crumbs" that the company offers up to "keep the status quo", this is the same trickery that has been offered up to the mechanics when they tried to organize, and look where they are today !!! Look around guys/gals, THEY need us to make this happen, not the other way around ..............................Agreed, the many issues of Scheduling, Reserve, bad contract language that all needs to be addressed. WE are the keepers of this TA, not them ................................

Carl Spackler

I'm a Northwest - now Delta guy, so I'm not part of you guys' current fight, but I hope there's one thing you don't do. I hope you don't take the bait bucket of scare tactics served up by this Turpen dude in his first two posts.

If you turn down this TA, you're sending a message to everyone that what's in it is simply not good enough. That message is sent to management, and most importantly, to your local ALPA. This Turpen guy wants you to think that it will also mean you'll be repolling and regrouping after 5 more years just like APA. That wasn't the case when the Spirit guys sent their first TA back, and it wasn't the case when the pilots of Hawaiian Airlines sent their first TA back during their bankruptcy.

You guys have leverage. If you didn't, Fred would not be talking to you now. It's just that simple. You can either lose the leverage, or believe Fred's attempts to make you think you don't have any.

Vote for what you think you are worth. But don't allow your vote to be tainted by some absolutely stupid comparisons and scare tactics.

All the best guys,

Carl

Popeye

Remember the HKG LOA after we were told, "it is the best we could get"; then the company all by itself started sweetening the deal. This TA happened so fast and already a few of us are afraid the sky will fall if we say, NO.

I think a few of the great points made here in the last few pages are spot on. The company can't get those FDA's up and running as efficiently as they would like without our help. Send it back.

Get the deal sweeteners on the table, fix some of the weak contract language that has hurt us over the past few years, get the raises up to 6% per year to slowly allow us to recoup our pay cut during 4A2B and fix the smaller points like trip trading and accepted fares that really don't cost the company a dime.

The new and enhanced TA will be back for a vote by this summer. Believe me, there will still be plenty for us to complain about, but I think while we will still be getting screwed, at least we will be getting the reach around. Now we are not even getting that.

fly2ski

Thanks Carl, Hearing from guys like you is what we need more of, too many chicken littles at FDX. AA has no reason to sign, FDX wants the FDA or they would'nt be at the table. But some of our guy's have already spent their 1% and can't wait for the .20/hr per diem raise . Thats 2 more corn dogs and a soda at the gas station in front of the motel.