Cool How APA Abandoned Retired Pilots
 

If you are a faithful union member, line pilot who flies the contract for 30+ years, and pay your union dues all the while, this is what loyalty looks like from the "Allied Pilots Association" when the storms come:


ATTENTION RETIREES
In bankruptcy, retired employees are governed under a separate part of the bankruptcy code (Section 1114) from active employees (Section 1113). Due to the potential for conflicting priorities and interests, APA has elected not to represent retired pilots during the AMR bankruptcy proceedings. As an administrative result of the decision, retirees are restricted from accessing the members’ side of alliedpilots.org. As a convenience to retired pilots, retiree benefit information has been moved to the public side of alliedpilots.org and may be accessed by clicking here.

About APA

Anyone suprised? What active union represents retirees over active employees?

Its actually a portion of the law and process. Under the RLA retires are not considered union members and don't pay dues. The union would face a DFR lawsuit if they choose to support retires from active members.
Retires in this situation have to put together their own group to represent their interests. Its simply how the law and the RLA function. The group representing the retires at Delta were able to effect many changes beneficial to retires and still have some things that are working. Most retires at Delta came out better then active pilots.
Chapter 11 sucks for everyone. Everyone has to be alert to represent their own interests.

Everyone respects and thanks the retirees for their work over the years. This isn't a choice for the APA to make. It's a law.

Nothing to see here...

Not only is it the law but the vast majority of retired pilots at AMR have nothing to fear from the filing. Their retirement could be taken in a 100 percent lump sum. Even if they choose a annuity in the A plan if they are over 60 its likely that the PBGC will cover very close to 100 percent of the expected benefit.

Sailing - not sure where you got your numbers but PBGC is NOWHERE CLOSE to covering the A-Plan.

Maximum Monthly Guarantee Tables

Age2012 Straight-Life Annuity2012 Joint and 50% Survivor Annuity** 65 $4,653.41 $4,188.07 64 $4,327.67 $3,894.90 63 $4,001.93 $3,601.74 62 $3,676.19 $3,308.57 61 $3,350.46 $3,015.41 60 $3,024.72 $2,722.25 59 $2,838.58 $2,554.72 58 $2,652.44 $2,387.20 57 $2,466.31 $2,219.68 56 $2,280.17 $2,052.15 55 $2,094.03 $1,884.63 54 $2,000.97 $1,800.87 53 $1,907.90 $1,717.11 52 $1,814.83 $1,633.35 51 $1,721.76 $1,549.58 50 $1,628.69 $1,465.82 49 $1,535.63 $1,382.07 48 $1,442.56 $1,298.30 47 $1,349.49 $1,214.54 46 $1,256.42 $1,130.78 45 $1,163.35 $1,047.02

There are the numbers and the link to the actual data. I sincerely doubt that 60-65 y.o. pilots are only getting that small of a pension (which I presume most have 25-30 years). PBGC guarantees were not made for white collar professionals and don't come anywhere near what their pensions should have paid. Find anyone who had substantial benefits (even most NB CA have 20+ years and lost a lot of money with Pension termination.

are these the age 65 retires who stayed in their seat just because they could. Now they are whining ?

gotta love the animal called "A Pilot"

No those are the ones who brought us all the B-scale. Good luck to them.
Not!!

I am surprised as a Delta pilot you don't have a better understanding of how the PBGC works. The maximums you quote are from the insurance component of the PBGC only. There is also a recovery component that varies with each handover to the PBGC. Many senior Delta pilots will receive more then 7000 a month if they start to draw at 65. Even taking the money at age 60 many will be over 5000. I am well over the quoted PBGC maximums on my benefit.
In the case of a retired AMR pilot a friend said that almost 100 percent took the lump sum option. They could get 100 percent in a lump. They have nothing to lose. If they did not take the lump on the A plan most get about 30 percent of final average earnings. If a pilot had a 200,000 a year FAE his benefit would be 60,000 a year. Add in the 11 percent B fund lump for his career even if he only got the PBGC numbers you listed he will not starve.
In addition to the above the calculations are different for employees already retired. I know a Delta pilot who retired with a 80,000 a year benefit from the Delta retirement fund. His PBGC payment covers all but about 300 a month. He retired in 2000 at age 60.