Overmanning issue
The issue here is truly an emotional one that affects every pilot at FedEx and probably many other airlines as well. I'll limit my comments to FedEx issues exclusively though.
In better economic times, we left ourselves open for more "interpretation" by the company regarding downsizing. Put the blame on the economy that was carrying us on the crest of the wave or on our overwhelming attempts to benefit the senior pilot group by focusing on retirement issues that the majority of the membership did not rate high on the list of things to be worked. Put the blame on ourselves for voting for DW.
When polled, the membership did not support the over 60 issue. Yet DW saw that the uninformed pilot group had made a critical mistake and he corrected our error.
When you look at the numbers that Capt Cassel put out regarding the anticipated retirements, you can clearly see that the "traditional" retirement rate (before the old fogey law was passed...) could have relieved us of nearly 1/3 of the stated overage simply by not hiring. But DW saw the error of our ways and correct it for us.
When you look at the over/under issue, there is a manning issue that raises it's head there also. Wouldn't be a factor if the old fogey law had not passed. But DW saw the error of our ways and voted to support ALPA's efforts to get the law passed.
So when you're sitting in your seat and the old guy stows his walker, just remember that he's made the decision to get his and the heck with the rest of us. Just like those that chose to fly a few years back and purchase red Corvettes as the rest of us toed the line. How can the old fogeys complain about those red Corvettes now????????