Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

Fact 4: ALPA strongly opposed any change to the age 60 rule, then openly backed the increase to age 65. More proof of ALPA's poor job ... .

Carl

Originally Posted by rjlavender

SWAPA did not take just one poll. SWAPA has taken numerous polls, multiple surveys, and had two national votes.

SWAPA DID allow full debate and information dissemination through its union publications, its forums, company box-stuffers, and a special referendum publication. It did NOT do a union education program wherein the union doled out information as it saw fit, without input from outside the union offices. SWAPA then took a national vote. SWAPA has done this not once but TWICE. No other union allows such freedom to its members with regard to debating an issue and disseminating information on that issue. No other union has had the balls to conduct a vote. No other union has done it once, much less twice.

The results of the vote were 60-40 in favor of changing the Age 60 Rule. Recent polling shows 70% support., At SWAPA, even many F/Os see the gain in prolonging a career and having more productive working years. The dollars are huge.

Contrast to ALPA: A single poll was taken No input was allowed by parties outside the union offices. The poll results were 'balanced' after the fact. Individual airline pilot groups (even if they voted in favor of changing the rule) are held hostage by ALPA National and are not allowed to do what their membership feels is best for their unique circumstances.

Contrast to APA: Information, deliberately biased and misleading, is fed to its pilots. NO other input is allowed. Sampling of pilots shows support for maintaining the rule. Duh!

Paul Emens, Founder/Government Liaison
Airline Pilots Against Age Discrimination
Captain, Southwest Airlines[/I]