True. But the efficiency with which we do our jobs (or not) does have an impact on the operation and the ultimate profitability of the corporation.

I would like that too. Unfortunately, we've all seen how that's worked out over the years. :(

No but they have to be removed from whatever year they would have gone out later. I think we have around 600 retirements planned for 2018. It 300 of those leave between now and 2017 that planned number is down to 300 for 2018 when you start the year.

I.understand where you are.coming from but why should we give.up or.trade anything?

We need to.keep.what we have and make.historic gains.

This is not a concessionary contract.

Your numbers sounds very reasonable and you are probably right. I think they will be higher.

Thanks for the post.

Why are the pilots who still have the full defined benefit plan staying beyond age 60?
Is it a medical coverage problem?

Their pay rates as a senior captain might be pretty good but by giving up the retirement benefits they could be receiving, they are essentially working for a fraction of that pay rate.

Is it really worth the few dollars a month extra to work full time?
Help me understand the reasoning. I think if it were me, I'd be out fishing instead of working.

First, very few have a "full" defined benefit plan. Most were frozen at substantially less than anticipated. Despite Mr. Obama's claims, private health insurance is very expensive. One of the reasons I took the last early retirement package was that the company put close to $50K in a HSA for me to pay for health insurance until I turn 65. There is much more to the decision to retire than just a paycheck.

I have a friend who is a 85 hire at NW. His retirement package is about 80,000 a year from the DB plan. His currently averages 270 k a year plus the DC plan. Total over 300k. He would be very surprised to find out he is working for a fraction of his pay.

Wow! Kinda puts it in perspective. Easy to say retire when your making 1/3 of that with no DB.

Not the only guy...

...It's just a lack of long-term memory amongst the pack. Prior to C2012, we only had one year where profit sharing had put anything meaningful in our wallets.

I think that there is more than one way to make our next contract just as valuable to pilots while removing the variables associated with profit sharing.

Does anyone honestly believe that this period of economic expansion will continue unabated? Does anyone really want their pay tied to managerial performance? I would rather eliminate uncertainty during the next downturn, and beef up our work rules, which are notoriously hard to change in negotiations.

I think this will be a tough sell to the membership. Probably an impossible sell if the projection for next year's profit sharing is correct.

I'm just one pilot, anyway, I'm sure there are about twelve thousand other guys with better ideas...

And I hope you are underestimating the number. It would serve our interests.