Again...the anger isn't over age 60. It is over the apparent being "ambivilent" towards age 60 changing to being suddenly not only PRO change but going beyond what the current FAA adminstrator is even asking for...all without any input from the body.

Even if you agree with the decisions--the manner in which this was presented to the membership comes off as arbitrary and without any input. Even if you support the message--the way is was delivered was abrupt and insensitive. It would not have been that difficult to have done a better job of explaining the hows and whys verses just making their own mind up and announcing it to the body.

I was one of those guys who told Zman "chill--and call the union" about the whole passover issue last year. I've championed the unions's mantra on these boards many times. I'm not a rabble rouser or a malcontent. However, if you can--put yourself in some of the very junior guys shoes a second. You were denied passover pay and contract enforcement didn't go to mat for you--and told you "keep the big picture". Senioirty, while important, could be tweaked or affected by LOAs and previous precendents. As soon as senioirty issues affect the senior membership, however--WHAM--senioirty is critical.

Now--before you explain the situations were "different"--I know they were. Remember--I was one of the guys who said "Zman--shut up and color on this one". However--I can see how he feels jacked around by his MEC on this issue. A little better bedside manner and education by our own MEC would go a long way on this.

Also--with agency shop--the perception is our MEC might be feeling invunerable. I have always said we hold the union to a higher standard than we do the company...because the union is US. We have to be transparent, lilly white, and open to input. The perception--right or wrong--is that a cadre of of senior guys is selectively fighting for principals which only benefit the senior members. Guys...the union belongs to all of us...and we HAVE to find a way to make sure even these "ungreatful whippersnappers" feel like the union has their back too. If we don't--the erosion of support will hurt all of us...junior and senior alike.

And again--wherever you are on the issue--we need to stick together on the back side of this.