So I have an anecdote about my father and UPS from back in those days. He was furloughed from Braniff 2 in the fall of '89 and interviewed at both UPS and Midway, UPS called first and while he was in class he got the call from Midway. Midway back then was successful and growing having just purchased the PHL operation from EAL, it was also ALPA vs whatever UPS was back then. He called his buddy that helped get the job at UPS and told him what was going on and his recommendation was run, don't walk from here to Midway, "I'd leave if I had that offer". So he left and the rest is forgotten history.
Point is you never know, and do what makes you happy.
In 1988 we had folks leaving UPS left and right. No union, no real work rules, pay was terrible and schedules/trips were changed at a moments notice. Crew scheduling was a couple girls in a broom closet sized office holding pencils with big erasers. Folks were basically on reserve. No cellphones or beepers, no Internet or websites just sit by the phone. At one point my first year as a probie, I got called out for a 3 day trip (B727 engineer). I got home 3 weeks later. The airline had only started flying 2 months earlier and the whole place was an organizational mess at every level….to be polite. Ok, it was a huge • show! Capt’s we’re only making $65K/yr and management told us point blank to never expect to make over $100k/yr since that was management territory and well, we weren’t!
Things were bad.…really bad. This was pre-IPA union. Management lead by a very effective intimidation and threat policy. I still remember my release to the line check as a new hire. Backside of the clock trip to Tulsa from Louisville. I was dead tired having been up for over 24 hrs due to being up all day prior and not being able to flip the switch to sleep before my trip. The check airman was an old school freightdawg and after landing in Tulsa he wanted to walk across the street from the hotel to a 7/11 and get some microwavable burritos and a six pack of cheap beer. I was told I would be joining him. He said he was teaching me to be a real freight dawg! Being only a 26 year old knucklehead and a new hire/ probationary pilot on my line check I felt compelled to humor the guy. Getting very little sleep again trying to switch my body clock I was toast by the time I got back home. I think I slept for 3 days straight after that. I remember telling myself I couldn’t do this for another 30+ years. I still vividly remember that trip and not in a good way. Turns out my “real freightdawg“ check airman was a double SCAB (Came from United). He and I never spoke again the rest of my career.
The older and wiser Capt‘s were telling me to get some jet time under my belt and leave as soon as possible. Those days were different when looking for a job. Commuters were flying small turboprops and required the same time and experience that large jet operators will take now and there were fewer options all around. There was no Internet to mass blast resumes out to hiring websites. Everything was mailed in and “hiring windows” were word of mouth or knowing someone. I eventually secured interviews at TWA, Braniff 2 and American. I actually went to the American interview and fortunately got a TBNT’s letter. Again, thank God for unanswered prayers!
After a long talk with my father, who convinced me to stay and stick it out at UPS. After all, he said, UPS took a chance on you….you owe them some loyalty in return. He was a big work ethic guy. I’m so glad I listen to him! Things got much better when we voted in our own in-house union…the IPA. Thank God for the 4 horseman (our union founding fathers led by Capt Bob Miller) who with unshakable commitment fought tooth and nail to secure better working conditions.
We went from everyone’s last choice of places to work to a top tier employment opportunity. It took many years before the pax carrier guys would even talk to us to having those same guys asking how to get an interview with UPS. Are things perfect, no. But they’re so much better than they were when I was new hire. It’s 180 degrees better. We’re one of the very few that still have a pension after retirement and that’s huge anytime but especially during these economic hard times.
I think back to that first flight with the company and how I almost left for what I thought were greener pastures. 2 out of 3 of those airlines don’t even exist anymore. I never made many great decisions in my life but the decision to stick out what seemed like a terrible situation in the beginning turned out to be one of my better ones. YMMV…..