vonFlieger

I keep hearing guys say they are just staying until they see what the retirement enhancements will be on the new contract. Sorry, but I have to call bull....they are staying because they like the money or don't have a life outside of work. Don't get me wrong, that is their prerogative and I respect that decision to hang out and make the big bucks. Just be honest. The latest I heard is "well I could get a lot more money in retirement if they raise the 260 cap".....really the 350 a year you have made for the last 3 60+ years does not cover the little extra you will make if they raise it. Are you seriously naive enough to think there will be a contract in the next 24 months before you turn into a pumpkin, or are you hoping that there is another bump in the age to 67? The other one I heard was "I am just sticking around for the travel benefits" yep, seriously you can't make this crap up.

soonersig

You are not alone I hear the same story all the time. I agree just be honest!!!!

BTW the company would be stupid to change the current retirement section. If they agree to make it better 300-600 pilots are going to retire as soon as we ink a new deal and if they try to make it worse the same number will retire before the deal gets done. Either way the company can't afford to lose that many pilots.

Sorry to burst your bubble but I just don't see much if any change to the current retirement section.

kc10/c130

300-600 won't retire. They can't afford to due to they are living paycheck to paycheck

Gunter

As you mentioned they don't owe anyone a reason why they want to work. Considering that it's funny when these oddball reasons come out without prompting.

I sense fear of being ridiculed about not wanting to retire.

No ridicule from me. However, failure to plan is planning to fail.

vonFlieger

That's is what drives me nuts I think. They seem to feel the need to justify their staying. Maybe they just feel guilty for not finishing under the rules they started under. Maybe they are sad there is not life outside of work....who knows, but It is comical to say the least. I think a great deal of them are living paycheck to paycheck as was brought up earlier. Hey they say the longer you work, the less time you live after retirement....I guess that just helps to insure our money will be there when the time comes.

MD11HOG

Before the old guys pile on, retiring is a life change and its a big one. Everyone wants to hang on to their prime and if they are justifying their actions to you, maybe you should appreciate that they are kind of opening up to you in a way and not judge so harshly.

Let's let this thread die. We don't need any distractions among us because the company seems to be focused. After the dust settles from negotiations we can return to anonymous and parochial sniping in the normal APC way.

md11phlyer

Baby Boomers will long be known as The Greediest Generation, not just within our industry.

That being said, if you're healthy and mentally still capable of flying the jet why the hell would you retire? Great job, great pay and benefits and half the year off. Hard to tell a guy to leave that gig...

Bill Kilgore

This . . . . . +1

boxboy

I rarely post here but this subject is where I am. I'm 59 have 28 years in with the company did the high 5 thing, and never thought I'd be here a day after 55. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life if I retire. Health care from 60 to medicare is about a grand a month. I'm senior which makes life easy, I know the younger guys want me out of the way, I did too when I was younger. I know 60 is what I signed up for, I wasn't involved in changing the rules but they have changed leaving me options. What I'm saying is it's not an easy decision.

ThePurpleScrew

EMPLOYEE NOTICE:
Due to the current financial situation and lack of cost savings caused by the slowdown in the economy, excessive bonus’s and stock options, The Company has decided to implement a scheduling scheme to make workers more efficient. This Scheme will be called PIBS (Pilot Interactive Bidding System). Why you ask, “Because PIBS allows us to more accurately determine vacation usage and in turn improve monthly staffing accuracy, which leads to greater overall efficiency and savings for the airline.”
If you’re of age 60 or above you will be enrolled in one of two mandatory retirement programs. The first program is reserved for the elite and will be called SHAFT (Special Help after Forced Retirement); all others will be forced into the RAPE (Retirement of Aged Pilots Early) program.
Persons selected to the SHAFT program can apply to The Company for new opportunities in Flight management, Flight Training or Contract Administration, after a 90 day cooling off period. All candidates must have been or be close friends of flight managers and be in the GOB-N (Good Old Boy-Network). All other pilots enrolled in the RAPE will enjoy days off and retirement with their special buyout package and increase retirement amount.
All other employees will be enrolled in the SCREW (System Covering Regular Employed Workers) program. Employees can be SHAFTed or RAPEd once but can be SCREWed multiple times through “Increase pilot' satisfaction with bid period schedules”
Persons who have been SHAFTed could get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependents & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance). 

Obviously, persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SCREWED any further by The Company. 


Persons who are not RAPEd or SHAFTed and are staying on, will receive as much S#!T (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. The Company has always prided themselves on the amount of S#!T they give their employees. 

Should you feel that you do not receive enough S#iT, please bring this to the attention of your Fleet Manager or Fleet Captain, who has been trained to give you all the S#!T you can handle. 

Sincerely, The Committee for Economic Value of Individual Lines (E.V.I.L.)


PS - Due to recent Cost Saving and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.