Where a ALPA fell short was on the internal Age 60 debate program. It was not as neutral a program as it should have been and was slanted to side with the change. This led to a skewed poll with commensurate results.
Yes the change had occurred elsewhere. The proper way to implement it would have been to do a "look forward" with an implementation date certain and no reach backs. I realize this inflames many of the people who were able to come back, but the simple and inescapeable fact is that each one of us signed on for this career ride of our own free will. We knew that there could be furloughs, failures and shutdowns. We also knew what the rules of the game were when we signed on...60 and out. To be able to jump back in with a mulligan was wrong.
These are the same guys who would have had a screaming fit had this happened to them in the 80's and 90's. To make the argument that. "well the junior guys will now have an extra five years to make up for this" is spurrious. If their airline fails, they bust a medical or the economy tanks...duh...they're on the street and won't have the chance.
ALPA should have been more forceful with this and said, "If you're past 60, sorry."