STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND STRIKE COMMITTEE CALL CENTER ... reinterpretation of agreed-to contract language and intent b
VICE CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE SECRETARY TREASURER'S MESSAGE THE NMB AND MEDIATION 4TH ANNUAL MEMPHIS ZOO EVENT MEM COUNCIL 22 MEETING - JUNE 4 CORRECTION: MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE WELCOMES NEW HIRES FROM THE SPSC COMMITTEE APRIL RETIREE INFORMATION JULY RETIREMENT SEMINAR DATES PILOTS FOR PILOTS FEDEX ST. JUDE GOLF CLASSIC CAR BUILD
STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND STRIKE COMMITTEE CALL CENTER DISPUTED PAIRINGS INDUSTRY NEWS
VICE CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE: I talk all the time about the character and integrity of this crew force. Each of us would take the shirt off our back to help the company when needed. Unfortunately, the company would gladly then take that shirt and try to sell it back to you. I can think of no better example of this than the current reinterpretation of agreed-to contract language and intent by the company. Once again the company has conveniently re- interpreted our 767 LOA in ways it was not meant to be. They are using Memphis based 757 narrow body crews to fly trips in the Indy 767 wide body base and paying narrow body rates. This was never the intent and the company knows it. This is dealing from the bottom of the deck at its worst, and is being addressed by your Officers and MEC. Plain and simple, this intransigence will not be tolerated. These deplorable acts of reinterpretation make it necessary for our negotiating team to put forth great effort in making sure the language in our next contract isn’t subject to convenient interpretation. If past is prologue, we can expect that the second the ink is dry on our amended contract that someone from the company will get paid to figure ways around it. You have no idea how much I wish this wasn’t true, but we have a long list of such shenanigans throughout the history of our agreements. This has to stop. Speaking of history, my guess is that shortly you will read posts from the company stating that your union is asking for too much and that the company can’t afford it. Of course we should ignore their recent $4.8 billion dollar all-cash acquisition of TNT, but I digress. The company hopes that using delay tactics will eventually wear us down and cause us to give in. I think I speak for everyone when I say nothing could be further from the truth. I find such bargaining tactics to be disrespectful and a slap in the face to every pilot on the property, especially those who have dedicated their professional life to the company, only to retire on a 15-year-old retirement benefit greatly reduced by inflation. I have heard some of our pilots say that they are so lucky just to be here. When I hear that I stop them in their tracks. The company would love for us to think we are lucky to be here. Luck has nothing to do with it. Each and every one of us has worked our butts off to get to this level of our profession. FedEx pilots are the most productive in the airline industry. We create an incredible amount of money for the corporation and it is our skill set that allows our sales force to boast the “purple promise,” not to mention help build the FedEx brand. Yes, FedEx relies on many different employee groups doing their part, but let’s face it, pilots are the key. The sales force doesn’t sell our next-day service with any disclaimers such as, “as long as the weather cooperates, as long as there isn’t a blizzard, or fog or ice storm, or torrential rain.” No, they just sell the purple promise that we keep with a 98 percent success rate, and that needs to be respected. I want to be clear and make it known to the company that we will not tire; we will not give in. Our unity and resolve is stronger than ever, to think otherwise is a huge misread of your pilots. We won’t allow the company to marginalize what we do and make us think that we are just plain lucky to be here. The reason each of us are here is because we are the best at what we do and that is why we are worth every penny of what we ask and more. Don’t ever try to make us believe anything else. Now stop the delay tactics and let’s close the deal. Fly safe, John "The surpreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower [back to top]
SECRETARY TREASURER'S MESSAGE: One of the lingering issues at the bargaining table is retirement (Section 28) and in particular our Defined Benefit (A-Plan). A couple of data points to understand. Currently, the FDX Defined Benefit Plan is well funded exceeding the minimum required by federal regulations. It has historically been funded as such, and as our corporation has flourished we have yet to witness any of the debacles seen at other airlines in the U.S. The compensation considered by our Defined Benefit is capped at a predetermined amount of $260,000.00 averaged over the highest five years of earnings. That amount was derived using 1993 data, when most of our pilots were struggling to achieve that amount of income without herculean effort. As of 2014, approximately 40% of our pilots earn above that cap. To echo MEC Chairman Captain Scott Stratton, “no apologies are in order either for earning that.” FDX pilots assume responsibility for hundreds of millions in corporate capital investment every time we close the cockpit door. FDX pilots also assume tens of billions in corporate liability each and every day/night. That costs something. Add to that, when a pilot is hired at FDX they aren’t hired to gain experience, they are required to bring it with them. As evident by the hiring of qualified 767 pilots as of late and the past practice of hiring wide body qualified international pilots. This all costs something. This isn’t the minor leagues nor is it a farm team for some future employment opportunity. Management would love dearly to rid itself of our Defined Benefit Plan, pursuing a plan that resembles what management did to the other employees—pennies for dollars. While management has offered increases in Defined Contribution (B Plan) monies, they continue to want to freeze the A Plan in exchange. What does this mean to you and I? Cash is always good, but only in the right perspective. Tax burdens, longevity ahead (in other words how much time do I have left to grow that pot of money) and enough money to reflect the contribution and commitment FDX pilots provide to this corporation. That amount should not be one similar in value to a bankrupt carrier who froze then terminated Define Benefit Plans for its pilots. We do not work for a struggling—or worse—bankrupt carrier. The only logical path then would be to increase Define Benefit Plan amounts, especially for those that do not have time left to grow cash. But this can’t be done in a vacuum, as the Defined Contribution Plan should be similarly increased for the reasons above. 1993 is a long way back. FDX pilots have helped make this corporation and the industry as whole what it is today. Our responsibilities, our legal liabilities, the oversight our profession ensures, and more importantly the billions of dollars FDX makes off of our work effort should account for something more than a number from the last century. The increasing divide between final average earnings and retirement income is widening. As high-income earners, we are required to spend more and receive less from federal retirement programs (Social Security and Medicare), which also play into the need for increasing FDX retirement provisions. We have earned it. FDX can afford. It is time to pay it. Sean P. McDonald [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]
4TH ANNUAL MEMPHIS ZOO EVENT: SAVE THE DATE!
You're invited to our 4th Annual Family Awareness Picnic at the Memphis Zoo on Sunday, August 2. This is the last Sunday of the July bid month. Parking, zoo admittance, and a catered lunch will be provided. Your MEC leadership will be available to answer questions during lunch in the climate-controlled Teton Trek Lodge. More details will be published in the near future as well as a link to RSVP. For now, please mark your calendars and make plans to join us! [back to top]
MEM COUNCIL 22 MEETING - JUNE 4: Council 22 will host a council meeting on Thursday, June 4th from 1100-1300 at the Holiday Inn Memphis Airport (2240 Democrat Rd., Memphis). The agenda for this meeting is the nomination of seniority block 7 for the term ending 2/28/17. Lunch will be provided and the hotel shuttle will be available. [back to top]
CORRECTION - MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE WELCOMES NEW HIRES: Last week, we published an article regarding the recent class of new hires. That article incorrectly stated the new hires were internal FedEx hires. The class of new hires were previously employed with Omni International, Atlas, Virgin America, Northwest Airlines, and American Airlines. Addtionally, many of the new hires had prior military service with the U.S. Air Force and Army National Guard. Please join us in welcoming these newest pilots to the FedEx Pilot seniority list! Scott Belbeck
John Haase
Marc Hartford
Joseph Klodt
Hayden Madison
Brian Matranga
Neal Roffmann
Andres Snow II
[back to top]
FROM THE SPSC COMMITTEE HOW TO SAVE BY REDUCING EXPENSES This article is the first of two presented by the SPSC, in coordination with the R&I committee, to help educate the FedEx crew force with financial planning ideas and suggestions. Our goal is to create a proactive and forward looking mind set among the pilots and their families in view of the current contract negotiations between our union and the company. Here are some basic financial planning steps for anyone worried about possible job or income loss in the months ahead. Remember, some of these suggestions may be expensive in the short term, so think about how long you have to prepare: 1. Know your expenses. We all should have a budget and a cash reserve of at least six months expenses. If we see stormy times ahead, a prudent individual would increase that amount to 12 months or more. But do we really need to match our current monthly outflows? Most of us have lots of extras in our budget that could be cut in times of crisis. To read the full article, click here. [back to top]
APRIL RETIREE INFORMATION: The FedEx MEC and R&I Committee would like to congratulate the following ALPA members who retired in April and to thank them for their years of participation in the Association.
Captain Mike M. Poynor
Captain Gary D. Young
Captain Luis D. Santiago
Captain Howard C. Steinhauer
Captain Kennard L. Rawlinson
Captain James S. Shaffer
Captain Drew N. Metcalf
Total retirements from January through April 2015 were 21, of whom all were ALPA members.
Our condolences to the family of First Officer James D. Morrison, Jr., who passed away on April 10th. [back to top]
JULY RETIREMENT SEMINAR DATES: The next available Retirement Counseling Seminars will be held on July 8th and July 15th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Central Time at the FDX MEC Office, 1770 Kirby Parkway, Suite 300, Memphis, TN 38138. For pilots who are unable to attend in person, we will provide access to the seminar via teleconference. In order to streamline the seminars and to ensure the highest level of counseling, we are limiting each seminar to 25 pilots. Spouses are welcome to attend. To register for a Retirement Counseling Seminar click here or call the FDX MEC Office at 1-866-339-2572 (or 901752-8749 in Memphis). Please be prepared to provide your ALPA member number. Since the seminars fill up quickly, you should register as soon as possible. [back to top]
PILOTS FOR PILOTS: As a charity supported solely from donations, the ALPA Emergency Relief Fund, or Pilots for Pilots (P4P), is constantly seeking contributions to ensure that we have the resources necessary to meet member needs. This year, P4P is planning a fundraising campaign, Give Me Five, asking all ALPA pilots to contribute at least $5. If successful, we could bolster our coffers by more than $250,000. P4P has helped hundreds of ALPA pilots and their families cover the immediate expenses following widespread catastrophic events. Remember that we're all just a disaster away from needing P4P, so please consider making a donation today. To make a donation, please click here.
[back to top]
FEDEX ST. JUDE GOLF CLASSIC CAR BUILD: My name is Bob McKee and I am a Memphis-based 767 Captain, and I’ve got some exciting news for you. Recently, both FedEx and St. Jude Children’s Hospital have authorized me to put on a fabulous fundraiser during the FedEx/St. Jude’s Golf Classic in June. A group of FedEx pilots and myself will be building a replica 1965 Shelby Cobra, during the golf tournament, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I would love for you to be part of this! The Cobra Build will be taking place right at the golf course and will be raising donations for the kids undergoing treatment at St. Jude. Each and every day it costs St. Jude over $2,000,000 to stay open and we have the opportunity to really help ease this financial burden and have a good time doing it. To read more about this wonderful cause, learn how you can volunteer or donate, please click here.
[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: May EUR 757
12/03May
12/31May
14/17May
14/24May MEM 757
338/28Apr
338/29Apr
338/30Apr
338/05May
338/06May
338/07May
338/12May
338/13May
338/14May
338/19May
338/20May
338/21May
338/27May
338/28May ANC MD11
26/08May
26/22May MEM MD11
87/08May
543/30Apr
567/08May
567/15May
567/22May MEM 777
11/14May
33/06May
44/12May
216/01May
2173/12May
2173/19May
2173/26May June EUR 757
11/07June
12/14June
12/21June
13/28June MEM 757
233/02June
233/03June
233/04June
233/09June
233/10June
233/11June
233/16June
233/17June
233/18June
233/23June
233/24June
233/25June ANC MD11
26/17June
27/19June 29/24June MEM MD11
416/06June
416/13June
416/27June
438/20June MEM 777
45/20June
74/03June
105/04June
143/09June
144/10June
152/24June
2162/02June
[back to top]
FedEx Weighs in Through Open Skies Docket FedEx Corp. Accelerates Aircraft Retirements FAA and Industry Will Study Pilot Fitness FAA Proposes $58,600 Fine Against FedEx Longread: The Story of a Flight Strapped for Pilots, Republic Asks Partners to Reduce Flights Southwest is Dialing Back on Growth to Appease Investors Why Hong Kong's Quiet Side Suits Buyers Seeking Green Space [back to top]
