Or, how about the AME's doing thier jobs??! That way, anyone not medically qualified (regrdless of age) will be "gone."

BTW, "Democrat GONE!!" Please.. you never inhaled either, I bet.

 

[QUOTE= I just wish we could get our UPS bretheren on Board. Think of it.....Cargo takes over ALPA National."

Please don't wish that upon the Brown Brotherhood. I was ALPA at another cargo carrier and would as soon vote for Hillary as join ALPA. No disrespect intended, just that I've seen theri act and don't want to ever play with them again.

TH1

 

Why do we need a pettition? ALPA did a very comprehensive survey last year, attempted to skew the results as far in favor of changing the age 60 rule as they possibly could, and the results still showed that the MAJORITY of ALPA pilots are in favor of retaining the age 60 rule.

We shouldn't need a pettition for our "leader" to have some balls and character and strongly project the will of the MAJORITY of his constituents to Congress, the new committee, the media, and whoever else will listen.

The MAJORITY at ALPA has spoken. Will our "leader" do the right thing and listen?

 

Fox I actually agree with you!, I didn't say or mean to imply the B plan was the "Holy Grail" to our retirement woes. People feel it is more secure since the $$ are in their Personal account. Assuming, and lately it has been with a Captial "A", that one's Company remains economically viable, the A-plan is buy far a better deal, especially if there is a Lump Sum option.

B plan you have to ugrade at earliest possible date to maximize it.
A plan you just need a High 5

When you run the numbers The A Plans ( historically that is) pay out more.
I am not a successful Day trader and our B plan doesn't have very many investment options anyway.

The FDX retirement as it stands is will be a very good balance. 2% A plan and 7% B plan ( if TA passes).

We are all wary of what could happen to our A paln and justifiably so.

 

Just because the majority polls in a certain direction does not make it the "Right Thing".

 

The "right thing" in this case is a subjective standard. 65 may be the "right thing" for the pilots who need a few more years to make up for the defined-benefit plans they lost. It may be the "right thing" to those few who could fly well past 60 or even past 65 owing to genetics, or to those who have one of many other reasons.

Is it the "right thing" to a late-50-something captain who should've given up buttered rolls years ago and probably wouldn't pass the additional scrutiny that will be legislated? Grandfather their retirements in order to allow them to retire "early" at age 60? How much negotiating capital must we burn through to make that happen?

No one has said raising the retirement age is the "right thing" for the profession. I don't hear so much talk about "defending the profession" anymore. This smacks of "I've got mine...." Which is rational (don't get me wrong), but let's just admit what's at work here.

 

The "right thing" would be for you to back away from the pie plate and let someone else get a bite. I don't hold my breath on that happening. If 60 goes away, a lot of folks will get a huge windfall, and you're probably one of them. Eat it up you old greedy bastards. A bunch of us will be looking for our money and job satisfaction in other side gigs...because our airline careers just took a 5 year hit if things change. Yeah...you earned it all right...by following a generation of guys who retired at 60 to make room for YOU.

 

Reposted from the "Major" side.

This is one of those contentious issues that is a "I'm right and Your Wrong" thing...........kind of like Pro Life PRO Choice.

The bottom line is it is really pointless to bicker about it since none of us really have any say. Sure you can write your Senators and Congressmen.

More to the point ALPA can't really dictate anything one way or another. Sure they can lobby, thats what we pay them for.

Is there really anyone on this thread that doesn't think it will happen?
Just my opinion, it is not if but when.

If it happens, junior and Furloughed folks will probably become further stagnated as growth by attrition will slow for 5 years.

FAA physicals might become more stringent......many under 60 might find themselves with a problem.

I am not hard over one way or the other as I had always planned to retire at 60 and unless things change,I am still planning on retiring at 60.

Everyone take a Chill PILL......

All you can really do is Write your elected Leaders and State your cause. Bickering about it here won't really have much effect on it way or another, except raising your Blood Pressure, and we don't want that.

 

Maybe the right thing to do is lower the retirement age to 40 that way new hires won't have thier career progression stymied. Makes as much sense as any other arguement. Albie, according to previous posts sounds like you found "money and job satisfaction in other side gigs" already. I may have the wrong impression but it sounds like you drop most of your trips anyway.

Consider yourself lucky, you got on with a stable, well paying carrier right out of the military. So hopefully you will never see the furloughs, downsizing or be a part of a failed airline like so many others have. Not everyone for age 60 change is greedy, some just want the option to keep working.

 

Albie, seems to me you're the greedy younger bastard. You move from a full time Air force job to a company like FedEx. You could be a wide body after only a few years, or possibly a narrow body Captain. No fear of furlough, no keeping your options open because you know the other shoe will drop either next week ornext month.

There a a lot of people around FedEx that had their careers change. People from Braniff, PanAm, Continental, Frontier and many others. I've been lucky, but still got to spend 8+ years on furlough. I also bid Captain first chance, because I had learned in this business the second chance is not guaranteed. BTW that was 16 years after my original DOH.

Yes, the generation before was forced to retire at age 60 although their union ALPA fought it. Just because they were forced to retire it did not make it right then, and it is not right today.