STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND STRIKE COMMITTEE CALL CENTER. DISPUTED PAIRINGS ... sick call automation? Management seemed r
SECRETARY TREASURER'S MESSAGE SAVE THE DATE - MARCH 1 THE NMB AND MEDIATION UPCOMING MEC AND MEM JOINT COUNCIL MEETING FROM THE R&I COMMITTEE - KNOW YOUR BENEFITS UPCOMING ALPA SAFETY COURSES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OPENING STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND STRIKE COMMITTEE CALL CENTER DISPUTED PAIRINGS INDUSTRY NEWS
SECRETARY TREASURER'S MESSAGE: “I just don’t get it.” That about sums management up, doesn’t it? Recently, you were made victim of a missive from FDX management that was foretold by the MEC over the past few years. If you look back at the communications published by our MEC, you will find a common warning: Management, when faced with no other option, will attack union leadership, overinflate the pilot’s objectives, and dismiss pilot sentiments. Well, management earned a big Bravo Zulu with that one, didn’t they? Management continues to disrespect you, the line pilot, by marginalizing your attitude toward timelines and formal commitments that they themselves engaged in with you. Okay, I guess, but really? Four years in the making there, people. Whether management likes it or not, they signed onto the process—then they threw that process under the bus and it stays there today. They exploit the willingness of a pilot group motivated to shed historical drama-based bargaining in an effort to extract economic gains by lengthening the process. Doing so by throwing ill-conceived and outlandish proposals with little supporting facts. PiBS? Not a single ounce of effort by management to develop the program: just a concept that you should accept. How do they think that would work when even today a reserve pilot has to call the scheduler to remind them he is off an assignment? You would think that would be automated, huh? Or how about the now infamous sick call automation? Management seemed ready, willing, and able to put forth an effort there for computerization—but not for their PiBS proposal. Their focus and support for such programing issues seems juxtapose. So, why propose? Management continues to disrespect you, the line pilot, by labeling what you require of this round of bargaining as “ridiculous increases.” Maybe they are looking at different financial documents than our team is. What we are seeing is a solid trend in economic flourishing by FDX. But then again, management is often evaluated on how effective they are in cutting pilot operating costs and increasing pilot productivity. Your goals run directly contrary to theirs. That is why we bargain. The problem is that thus far, management hasn’t done that. They have stuck with the proposals which make it very hard to get to a fair outcome because they continue to not talk to the issues with any clear end, other than what we should accept at face value from them. Perhaps out of frustration over the failure of its plan to roll over the pilots, management has finally entered the truly disrespectful area of personalizing the business of negotiations. While the attack on your MEC Chairman was certainly personal, characterizing it as “venomous criticism”, we all need to keep in mind that it was also straight out of the playbook—destabilize by attacking the Union leadership. In this case calling the MEC Chairman a liar. The list of disasters wrought by such a play is long and distinguished. Once proud airlines like Pan Am and Eastern expired quickly as a result of such nonsense. I would have to personally agree with the departing Managing Director of Flight Operations Support in that I “cannot recall anyone from either Negotiating Committee being disrespectful . . .” that is, until now. Then again, parting shots typically lend themselves to such, and again fall into the typical anti-labor philosophy of many a management group. The interesting aspect of this, and one that should not be lost on any of us, is that this latest management communication was vetted by their legal and labor relations department, or it should haves. What would be the motive for such malicious attacks upon their own employees? What is their true objective(s)? Your leadership is not interested in becoming one of history’s dark chapters. We have always presented ourselves as a party willing to bargain reasonably, honestly, and respectfully. Understanding that the party you are negotiating with has differing agendas and objectives. FDX
management has always gone to great lengths to decrease overhead while increasing productivity. Understandable. Conversely, but more importantly, we do not need to apologize for what we seek. We have earned it, whether or not pilot managers believe it. They will just have to get over it. So if management dislikes aggressive rhetoric, then all they have to do is come willing and able to bargain and make the deal. We have, and we are. See all of you on March 1st. Sean P. McDonald [back to top]
SAVE THE DATE - MARCH 1: On February 28, 2015, it will have been two years since our contract became amendable. It will have been four since we started the process of bargaining our contract. Four years since FDX Management willingly agreed to a process that should have concluded much sooner. Two years of management proposing outlandish concepts at the bargaining table. Two years of management proposals that have put forth unjustifiable cost cuts and overhead reductions in the face of record profits and business growth. The time is now for all pilots to rise up and speak with a singular voice —Contract Now, It Is Time.
On March 1st, 2015 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis (939 Ridge Lake Boulevard), the FDX MEC will be holding a contract rally. This is a must attend event for all pilots. The time is now to shout out loudly—Contract Now, It's Past Time. Please click here to RSVP for this event. [back to top]
THE NMB AND MEDIATION: Below you will find a link to Frequently Asked Questions regarding the National Mediation Board and the mediation process. Please take a few minutes to read this information. Mediation FAQ [back to top]
UPCOMING MEC AND MEM JOINT COUNCIL MEETING: The 1st quarter regularly scheduled MEC meeting will be held the week of January 26-30 at the MEC office. To view the order of business, please click here. The MEM Joint Council Meeting will be held at the Germantown Centre (1900 S. Germantown Rd.) on Wednesday, January 28 beginning at 11 a.m. Individual Local Council meetings for Councils 7,
22 and 26 will follow immediately after the Joint Council Meeting. [back to top]
FROM THE R&I COMMITTEE - KNOW YOUR BENEFITS: Would you take your car to a repair shop and ask them to fix it without an estimate? The same philosophy should apply to your healthcare needs. Are you automatically guaranteed that a treatment will be covered by your health insurance simply because it is directed by your physician or dentist? NO. No, you are not guaranteed that Anthem (medical/pharmacy) or Metlife (dental) will cover a procedure or prescription. Refer to the Pilot Benefit Book under Health Care: Anthem Plan for Active Pilots: Medically Necessary Care, page H-41. As stated in this section, benefits not considered appropriate and medically necessary as determined by the Administrator’s guidelines will not be covered. If you want to have more information about these guidelines, bookmark this link (Anthem Guidelines) or look on the R&I Committee page should you need it in the future. Recently, the FDX Retirement & Insurance Committee has seen several cases involving participants being charged in excess of $50,000 in out of pocket costs. These charges could have been known ahead of time if the patient had requested a preauthorization and a predetermination. You can get either of these by calling Anthem or MetLife. The preauthorization will tell you whether or not the procedure is covered by the Plan. The predetermination will provide an estimate of how much the Plan will pay for the procedure, and how much you will pay for the procedure. It is ALWAYS the patient’s responsibility to ensure that the procedure is covered by the Plans and a preauthorization has been obtained. A predetermination is an absolute necessity if you plan on using an out-of-network provider where the patient is responsible for all amounts in excess of the Reasonable and Customary charges. Did you know that you can also access provider information and estimate your costs on the Anthem website and the Anthem app for your smartphone? You can also view claim information. Please take the time to review the Pilot Benefit Book regarding this issue and look for additional information regarding the proper use of your health benefits. Our negotiated pilot healthcare is comprehensive, but it does not cover everything. Failure to educate yourself on this subject matter could cost you or your family money for health care expenses not covered by your health benefits. [back to top]
UPCOMING ALPA SAFETY COURSES: Below you will find information regarding two ALPA Safety Courses—Basic Safety School and Airport Safety Liaison Training. Basic Safety School - February 17-19 The Next ALPA Basic Safety school to be held at the Alaska Airlines ALPA MEC office in Seattle, Washington is now open for registration. Those crew members interested in working on the FDX ALPA Safety/Accident Investigation committee are welcome to attend. The course will start at 8:00
am on February 17 and end at 12:00 PM on February 19. Attendance requires the approval of the MEC Chairman or the Central Air Safety Chairman. Those interested should email Captain Gary Janelli, Central Air Safety Chairman at
[email protected] or the Vice Central Air Safety Chairman, Doug Howard at
[email protected]. Flight pay loss and travel can not be paid, but hotel and meals will be covered. Please see the attachments below for information on the course and how to register online and the course agenda. Each individual will need to register online. Basic Safety School Information Basic Safety School Agenda Airport Safety Liaison Training - February 19 The next ALPA Airport Safety Liaison Training Course to be held in connection with the ALPA Basic Safety School will be February 19, 2015 at the Alaska Airlines ALPA MEC office in Seattle Washington. The Basic Safety School will be held from February 17-19, 2015. Those that have not attended the ALPA Basic Safety School must attend the Basic Safety School on February 17-19 prior to attending the Airport Safety Liaison Training Course. Prior ALPA Basic Safety School attendees need only attend on February 19. There are only 10 slots available for the Airport Safety Liaison Training course and will be filled on a first come basis. Those interested in attending need the approval of the MEC Chairman or the Central Air Safety Chairman and the completion of the ALPA Air Safety Organization approval process. Please email Captain Gary Janelli, Central Air Safety Chairman, at
[email protected]. Those individuals wanting to attend will also need to register online. Online registration for each course by the individual will be required. Please see the course announcement for course information and information on how to register and the course agenda provided below. Flight pay loss and travel can not be provided, but hotel and meals will be covered. Airport Safety Liaison Training Course Information Airport Safety Liaison Training Course Agenda Captain Gary Janelli
FDX MEC
Central Air Safety Chairman [back to top]
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OPENING: After several years working as the FDX MEC Grievance Committee Chairman, First Officer Coy Briant is stepping down. In accordance with the FDX MEC Policy Manual, those pilots who desire to be considered for this position should submit their resumes to MEC Secretary Treasurer Captain Sean P. McDonald at
[email protected]. [back to top]
STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND STRIKE COMMITTEE CALL CENTER:
The Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committee has set up a call center in the MEC offices. This call center will be manned Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The call center is here to answer questions about current negotiations with the company. If you have a question for the Negotiating Committee or the MEC, you can call the call center and we will get the answer for you. The number to reach the call center is (901)752-8749 ext. 2591. [back to top]
DISPUTED PAIRINGS: January MEM 757
198/06Jan
198/07Jan
198/08Jan
198/13Jan
198/14Jan
198/15Jan
198/20Jan
198/21Jan
198/22Jan
198/27Jan
198/28Jan
198/29Jan ANC MD11
21/16Jan
21/23Jan MEM 777
24/14Jan
74/20Jan
119/27Jan February MEM 757
258/03Feb
258/04Feb
258/05Feb
258/10Feb
258/11Feb
258/12Feb
258/17Feb
258/18Feb
258/19Feb
258/24Feb
258/25Feb
258/26Feb ANC MD11
13/14Feb
72/03Feb
72/17Feb MEM 777
24/09Feb
71/04Feb
145/10Feb
[back to top]
Can FedEx Do It For a Third Time? Pilot Pressure Explains FAA's Indecisiveness on Drones 10 News Outlets to Test Drones for Journalism
[back to top]
