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Career options after 1 year in memphis express/Rant
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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 890546" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>It is possible to move straight from a handler position, to a Courier position. It is possible (in most locations away from ramps - standard practice) for Couriers to be hired off the street. </p><p></p><p>I started off in AFGS with the line of thinking of making Express a second career (start in the wage force, then move into a salaried position after a couple or so years). I had my undergraduate degree completed way before starting off with Express (completed as a requirement for my "first career") and possessed the capability to move up rapidly within Express once I was an internal applicant for open positions. I rapidly learned what Express was - not quite as bad as you put it, but I know that MEMH is a hell hole. I had friends that were already in salaried positions within Federal Express and they encouraged me to come into Express - based off their experience up to the time and what they had experienced as wage employees back when Federal Express was the company name, and not "FedEx Express". </p><p></p><p>When I learned what Express was really like, I made the decision to get out of AGFS, apply to graduate school to obtain my Masters, transfer to a DGO station relatively near the campus so I could work part-time - and got out as soon as I no longer needed Express. I used Express to further my purposes and even still could recommend to anyone looking for part-time employment while they further their education to do the same. Many of the friends that encouraged me to come into Express those years ago have left themselves, with a few remaining - which I protect by vigorously maintaining anonymity on this site. They are the core of the group with which I engage in my "payback" activities. </p><p></p><p>Since you are in Memphis, you are in a bad position to attempt to move into a Courier position. There are literally thousands at MEMH that are trying to get out of there and into a better compensated and less physically stressful position. However, there is plenty of BS going on in the stations too, just not as bad as the hubs and ramps, since Express knows that if they push too much, the union cards will be flying.</p><p></p><p>The simple mathematics of having so many handlers, material handlers, DG Agents, Information Agents, Truck Control Agents, Team Leaders and Ramp Agents trying to get out of the hub and into Domestic Ground Operations (DGO - Courier positions), makes trying to get selected for a Courier position in JCATS with only one year of seniority next to impossible - in the Memphis area. </p><p></p><p>Ask around MEMH, find out what is the typical number of years required for ANYONE at the hub to be able to transfer to a station in the Memphis area. I'd like to know the answer as much as you need to know the answer. I believe that if you want out of the hub, you'll have to transfer to a station quite a distance from MEMH to not be competing with so many of the employees at MEMH for open positions - especially since you have so little seniority. </p><p></p><p>As a handler, forget about all the talk going on here about unionization - it is focused on the ability of Couriers to be able to organize - and to what means Express will go to in order to prevent Couriers from unionizing. If you are a handler, you've got other problems. </p><p></p><p>The advice to get into a non-handler position is sound - but don't think you'll move up the "preferential treatment totem pole" any - the only thing you'll be gaining is less of a beating to your body, and something that involves a bit more use of your head. I held just about every job position a wage employee in AFGS can do, and the best from my stand point (wages excluded from consideration), is that of DG agent. Team Leaders get paid the same as DG agents (don't know if they have changed the pay grade for DG agents again from when brought them into the same pay grade as Team Leaders back in late 2005 if I remember correctly). You DON'T want to work as a Team Leader - the pay is only about a buck an hour more than a handler, and the headaches are worse than the body aches you've experienced as a handler. </p><p></p><p>In order to move into a Ramp Agent position, you'll need to gain some experience with aircraft operations (Material handler usually) - or the better way is to work as a DG agent on the aircraft side of operations rather than sort side. As a DG agent, you'll learn the operation, be focused on a small segment of activity (DG processing), will be given all the various odds and ends tasks that need doing (doc sorting in ramp locations, non-DG paperwork) and have the best opportunity to learn the operation, rather than moving packages or containers around. If you are going to stay in AFGS, you might as well commit yourself to becoming a Ramp Agent sooner rather than later. The pay scale is the same as Ramp Transport Drivers and Swing Couriers - it is about a buck an hour higher than regular DOT-Couriers. </p><p></p><p>If you really get some seniority, you can bid on some of the more esoteric positions, that involve auditing International Shipments and shuffling all the paperwork that goes along with meeting all the FAA requirements and regulations. You usually need at least 10 years in before you can even hope to get a position like this. </p><p></p><p>Ramp Agents, Team Leaders and (at least as of a few years ago) DG Agents are interview positions - they are NOT selected on the basis of seniority. Someone can spend 10 years handling packages or loading cans into an aircraft - that doesn't mean they have the mental capability to handle the more "cerebral" tasks. If you have the brains, get into a DG position (I did so VERY rapidly), then if a Ramp Agent position opens up and you have gained enough knowledge about the operation to possibly fill a Ramp Agent position, your manager (if they are worth their salt and looking out for THEIR own best interest), will let you know if they think you can handle the position.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 890546, member: 22880"] It is possible to move straight from a handler position, to a Courier position. It is possible (in most locations away from ramps - standard practice) for Couriers to be hired off the street. I started off in AFGS with the line of thinking of making Express a second career (start in the wage force, then move into a salaried position after a couple or so years). I had my undergraduate degree completed way before starting off with Express (completed as a requirement for my "first career") and possessed the capability to move up rapidly within Express once I was an internal applicant for open positions. I rapidly learned what Express was - not quite as bad as you put it, but I know that MEMH is a hell hole. I had friends that were already in salaried positions within Federal Express and they encouraged me to come into Express - based off their experience up to the time and what they had experienced as wage employees back when Federal Express was the company name, and not "FedEx Express". When I learned what Express was really like, I made the decision to get out of AGFS, apply to graduate school to obtain my Masters, transfer to a DGO station relatively near the campus so I could work part-time - and got out as soon as I no longer needed Express. I used Express to further my purposes and even still could recommend to anyone looking for part-time employment while they further their education to do the same. Many of the friends that encouraged me to come into Express those years ago have left themselves, with a few remaining - which I protect by vigorously maintaining anonymity on this site. They are the core of the group with which I engage in my "payback" activities. Since you are in Memphis, you are in a bad position to attempt to move into a Courier position. There are literally thousands at MEMH that are trying to get out of there and into a better compensated and less physically stressful position. However, there is plenty of BS going on in the stations too, just not as bad as the hubs and ramps, since Express knows that if they push too much, the union cards will be flying. The simple mathematics of having so many handlers, material handlers, DG Agents, Information Agents, Truck Control Agents, Team Leaders and Ramp Agents trying to get out of the hub and into Domestic Ground Operations (DGO - Courier positions), makes trying to get selected for a Courier position in JCATS with only one year of seniority next to impossible - in the Memphis area. Ask around MEMH, find out what is the typical number of years required for ANYONE at the hub to be able to transfer to a station in the Memphis area. I'd like to know the answer as much as you need to know the answer. I believe that if you want out of the hub, you'll have to transfer to a station quite a distance from MEMH to not be competing with so many of the employees at MEMH for open positions - especially since you have so little seniority. As a handler, forget about all the talk going on here about unionization - it is focused on the ability of Couriers to be able to organize - and to what means Express will go to in order to prevent Couriers from unionizing. If you are a handler, you've got other problems. The advice to get into a non-handler position is sound - but don't think you'll move up the "preferential treatment totem pole" any - the only thing you'll be gaining is less of a beating to your body, and something that involves a bit more use of your head. I held just about every job position a wage employee in AFGS can do, and the best from my stand point (wages excluded from consideration), is that of DG agent. Team Leaders get paid the same as DG agents (don't know if they have changed the pay grade for DG agents again from when brought them into the same pay grade as Team Leaders back in late 2005 if I remember correctly). You DON'T want to work as a Team Leader - the pay is only about a buck an hour more than a handler, and the headaches are worse than the body aches you've experienced as a handler. In order to move into a Ramp Agent position, you'll need to gain some experience with aircraft operations (Material handler usually) - or the better way is to work as a DG agent on the aircraft side of operations rather than sort side. As a DG agent, you'll learn the operation, be focused on a small segment of activity (DG processing), will be given all the various odds and ends tasks that need doing (doc sorting in ramp locations, non-DG paperwork) and have the best opportunity to learn the operation, rather than moving packages or containers around. If you are going to stay in AFGS, you might as well commit yourself to becoming a Ramp Agent sooner rather than later. The pay scale is the same as Ramp Transport Drivers and Swing Couriers - it is about a buck an hour higher than regular DOT-Couriers. If you really get some seniority, you can bid on some of the more esoteric positions, that involve auditing International Shipments and shuffling all the paperwork that goes along with meeting all the FAA requirements and regulations. You usually need at least 10 years in before you can even hope to get a position like this. Ramp Agents, Team Leaders and (at least as of a few years ago) DG Agents are interview positions - they are NOT selected on the basis of seniority. Someone can spend 10 years handling packages or loading cans into an aircraft - that doesn't mean they have the mental capability to handle the more "cerebral" tasks. If you have the brains, get into a DG position (I did so VERY rapidly), then if a Ramp Agent position opens up and you have gained enough knowledge about the operation to possibly fill a Ramp Agent position, your manager (if they are worth their salt and looking out for THEIR own best interest), will let you know if they think you can handle the position. [/QUOTE]
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