The elephant in the room
 

The negotiating committee's weekend missive suggested that social media is doing a disservice by providing a biased, un factual smearing of the TA. Maybe so, but as noted here, some glaring omissions have been allowed in the union "talking points". I did not attend a road show, but have reviewed the power point that is available on the ALPA website. I was specifically looking for information related to section 28, retirement. Eleven slides, several being the, "Show me the Money" presentation that is also available elsewhere. No mention of the defined portion, no explanation or apologies, no justification of how the B plan bump makes up for it. And lastly no, "Show me how I make up for the define benefit freeze" slide. :rolleyes:

If the negotiating committee wants to convince the crew force that the improvement in B fund % makes up for the declining value of the A plan, than put out some numbers. A full and open discussion of the define benefit, its limitations (federal law and accounting requirements) and a frank omission of any shortcoming (if, as is assumed by many here) of our retirement plan. Just come clean and not pretend it doesn't exist.

The Elephant is in the room, pretending it isn't there, won't make it go away. :mad:

There are 4 more ALPA phone-ins available this week. Why not attend a road show where this was discussed?

I missed the roadshow in Newark :rolleyes: a call in could work. If the issue has been brought up, I'd like to hear the explanation. The diminishing value of the defined benefit has huge implications for near retirees, maybe less so for younger pilots. I'd like to hear the defense and explanation. I know the cash offer for over 53 pilots is part of it, as is the retirement cash out for unused (if you have any ;)) sick time. Someone put out a spreadsheet showing how I'm suppose to make up the money. I don't see an online defense or explanation that would get me to change my mind about this TA.

It was briefly discussed at a MEM Midnight hub turn mtg last week

The MEC Chairman said he'd like to spend $$ hiring outside financial consultants to analyze this question

Yep --- as in the future

I think it will be job #1 if/when the TA is voted down

Retirement will remain the 800lb gorilla that needs to be more adequately addressed

However, there are plenty of other little monkeys running around the room too

That 800 pound gorilla left the building in 2006.

If you seriously believe that, I would suggest that the slightly smaller, 700lb gorilla is about to leave the building via our TA's healthcare and SLR/PBS sections being ratified.