Originally Posted by
TonyC
Captain Webb clearly stated his position during the April 18 meeting, and there was no outrage. A couple of people made passionate pleas to continue to fight against Age 60, and that was to be expected. I recapped Capt. Webb's remarks in a thread here (
Does ALPA get a "say"?), and it got little feedback. (Perhaps I should have put it in the Cargo forum instead of the Age 60 forum?) What has changed now that makes it necessary that we abandon the representative democratic process that has been serving us so well to take a vote on just this issue?
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Tony, I've re-read you post recapping the April 18 Joint Council Meeting, (ref the link above) and draw a different conclusion. Your first line of the recap reads:
"Captain Webb recognizes that ALPA policy is to oppose any change to the regulated age. There is no compromise or equivocation on that point. He also recognizes that the change to Age 60 as the regulated age is inevitable."
Based on your recap notes why should the overwhelming majority be outraged? Nothing threatening in above three sentences. Nothing threatening in the MEC Chair's stance onj the subject. However, the overwhelming majority is outraged when the MEC Chair did a 180 on the subject.
A lot has been made of the phrase: "change is inevitable". The MEC hangs a major portion of its position on this phrase. Heck, death is inevitable too and I don't imagine the MEC would race to catch it before it left the station.
Beginning the second para of your recap:
"Having said that, Captain Webb is committed to vote against any change to the ALPA Age 60 policy at the upcoming Executive Board Meeting. While that is possible, he feels that it would be unwise for such a decision to be made at that level, especially given the widespread opposition to change."
What pray tell, caused the change in Captain Webb's position from a no vote to a yes vote? Oh and bye the way lets invite everybody back into the cockpit who is less than 65.
Just a few quick thoughts after reading the first part of your post. Had to respond in a hurry, hub turning tonight. Hope to meet ya at tommorrow's meeting.