Originally Posted by Falconjet

I too was pretty upset with the tone of DW's email the other day and I attended the meeting last night. Although I wasn't as smitten with DW's responses as SomeGuy was, I at least understand DW's position better.

My take: ALPA National and Capt Prater have been back-dooring this thing all along and now they are coming out in the open and asking us to help them fast track the issue. I simply don't believe that we won't have a voice if we continue to oppose the change.

DW and the rest of the pro-change MEC and national officers believe that we are better off with a NPRM process of change as opposed to the legislation that is pending in the FAA reauthorization bill. I can buy that. They also maintain that our best chance of stopping the legislative efforts of Congress and influencing the NPRM process is to suddenly change our 50 year history of opposition to the age change. This I don't buy.

So, if we want to have the FAA make the change and hopefully include language that protects our disability and pension programs we need to suddenly pretend like we are in favor of the change. That is what they are going to do regardless of the results of the polls they have been taking because that is what all their advisers and lobbyists in DC are telling them to do.

FJ

Originally Posted by Falconjet

One more thing about last night that really infuriated me is the fact that DW and the other pro-change crowd refuse to admit that his change will have a negative impact on the junior members. Yes he admits that the change is coming from external forces and that it sucks, but he doesn't sell that very well because you can tell that he is really in favor of the change. He said that everyone, particularly the junior folks, will get another 5 years of earnings to recoup lost pensions from their former carrier or make their high 5. A couple of folks in the audience stated the obvious that sure they'll get 5 more years, but it will be as an FO. He seems to think that most guys won't be able to hold the class 1 medical that will be required or won't want to go to training so the impact probably will be minimal and likely none at all.

I guess he hasn't taken a look at the training letters in the -10 and 72 lately because they are full of over 60 guys going to the back in hopes of making it back into the left seat.

If he wants to talk about unity and respect he ought to at least be honest enough to publicly acknowledge the fact that this is a windfall for the senior guys who we just propped up in the last contract and a definite blow to the career progression to those who are not yet widebody Captains. The senior pro change crowd refuses to even admit that some will suffer while they gain and that is what really makes my blood boil.

They want our support down the line to continue to protect their retirement benefits (that don't even want to use) but they won't even sweet talk or kiss us after they finish up spuging up our backs. Unity has to be a two way street, and they are only going one way.

FJ