Originally Posted by
dckozak
Do you really believe that removing ALPA and returning to FPA is a logical response to this issue?? Is this about lack of trust in DW and company, or is this issue of retroactively so important that is worth risking the unforeseen, potentially damaging aspect of going back to an in house union?? Maybe you weren't here, pre contract or pre ALPA two or One. Do you remember FPA and the travisty it became?? Clearly the issues involved in the age 60 debate has created a major fissure in the way it has been dealt with by FDX ALPA. Is it about the leadership or the issue?? If you believe the fact of retroactively (pilots returning from SO to Capt) will really adversely affect your career progression, I think your way off base. There are a lot of negative issues related to increasing the retirement age, impeded seat progression at FedEx is minor relative to the legacy pax carriers. Growth has always been the major driver to upgrades at FedEx, retirements, while increasing (or did until recently) will for the foreseeable future play a smaller part in seat movement than at slower growing (or contracting) pax carriers.
Again regarding the issue of age 60 legislation or FAA action. ALPA has not been at the forefront of this impending change. Thank the Europeans and your fellow pilots (outside of the ALPA structure and within at SWA) for helping bring this issue to our door steps. The solution is political, ALPA has determined that change is going to happen and is trying to mitigate damage to it members while respecting the rights of all members regardless of age.
This is not an issue where seniority triumphs over the less senior. I voted with the majority because I see this as a loss to all pilots. Assuming the change happens, we all will have the opportunity to shorten our retirement by five years. Thats the real loss.
For me, there are several issues. The first, primarily, is the lack of respect for the wishes of the majority by the union "leadership", both local and national. You say that pilots outside of the ALPA structure have been gunning for this and that is true, but so have pilots within ALPA national despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of ALPA members oppose a change. Plus our entire MEC and LEC "leaders" have just told the membership to pound sand on both issues. If they refuse to represent the will of the majority that is their right but is also ours to demand representation and recall them if we feel they aren't providing it.
Believe it or not, I don't really have a problem with our backseat guys coming back if the law changes and allows for it. I would prefer that the law not change at all. I don't believe we (ALPA National) should have ever backed off our stance that it is a safety issue. If, however, the law changes and it specifically denies FEs the chance to go back up front, then I feel that our MEC and National should support that feature. The FEs would have no basis for seniority in that case. It sucks to be them, just like it sucks to be me because either way I lose if the law changes (as do most of us).
Finally, if you don't think that even one FE going back to the Captain/FOs seat won't slow down advancement for those of us still waiting our turn you are on crack. You can try to minimize it by saying it won't be that many (that is what DW said the other night) but that doesn't change the fact that even one of them will delay a significant number of other folks junior to them.
If the law changes I think ALPA ought to be fighting to have the pilot under 60 be the Captain, and thus allow over 60 guys the RIGHT SEAT ONLY. I don't care what you pay them, but the guy who has to be there to babysit the old guy should be the PIC.
RIGHT SEAT ONLY!