Where do your Union leaders stand on the age 60 issue?

And, where do they stand on retroactivity for your current age 60 S/O's?

The IPA is officially "neutral". The letter below, to a crewmember who filed an EEOC complaint against the IPA, outlines our leadership's position.
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April 10, 2007

Dear Captain XXXXXXXXX:

I am in receipt of your correspondence dated March 20, 2007, concerning the pilot age 65 retirement issue. As you are aware, the Association has not taken a position on either extending the pilot retirement age or on keeping the current rule. I do not believe you will find any Association minutes in which we have taken a position on this issue. The Association’s neutrality does not mean, however, that the issue lacks importance. On the contrary, all pilots have a stake in the current debate. Our failure to take sides is a reflection of the fact that the issue is divisive and works to serve the interests of competing demographic groups within the membership.

Because our members hold strong views on both sides of the question, the Executive Board has not made an endorsement nor have we expended Association funds for lobbying efforts. Because we represent the entire pilot group and collect dues money from all members, the Executive Board has to date not thought it appropriate to choose sides. I have personally reviewed the issue of our neutrality on this issue with Association legal counsel. The Association is not in violation of either the IPA Constitution and By-Laws nor any applicable statue by virtue of our neutral position. We have created a committee to deal with implementation issues should the rule change.

Having said the above, a couple of addition points are in order: 1) The current age 60 rule was a product of the carriers and government working hand in glove. I believe energy spent blaming IPA (formed in 1990 after the rule had been in place for decades) is misdirected. To allow controversy over this rule to weaken and divide the very organization that speaks for and represents all UPS pilots would be absolutely wrong. 2) Individual IPA members have the capacity and are encouraged to become as active as they wish in supporting or opposing the rule change. Advocacy organizations have sprung up that are focused on lobbying efforts supporting each respective point of view—individual IPA members are free to participate.

As a 60 year old pilot, I have personal experience with the rule, and, not surprisingly, have strong personal views on the subject. As the president of the entire organization, however, I have a responsibility to the group as a whole—not to one demographic group. Thank you for sharing your views on this subject.

Fraternally,
Robert M. Miller,
President, IPA
cc: Executive Board

If I send Robert Miller 1.95% of my paycheck, will he run our MEC? Let's see...IPA is neutral, SWAPA is for the change, NWA MEC is against it, and APA is against the change. I guess our leaders are the only ones who "want to do what's right..."

I flew with Bob Miller in Vietnam. He wheeled his cajones around in a wheelbarrow then and I strongly suspect that he still does today. My kinda slick pilot.

Uhhh...That could be taken different ways.

Are you saying that's a good thing?

He does it for less than that!
Glad we have him back after a horrible mistake.

I did a little research and couldn't find the latest statement, but I believe that our union position is also neutral. Last comment I could find on the subject was that 75% of our membership has consistently opposed changing the age 60 rule.

Our 3-crew fleet is down to a handful, so over-60 S/O's is not an issue for us.

ALPA members pay 1.95%. I take it IPA members pay less.

Do APA and SWAPA members pay less too?

1.5% when we are out of negotiations, 3.0% when in. It probably avearages out a little less than you but maybe not as much as it seems. You certainly have more resources available for your dues dollar though. You have the Major Coningency Fund to tap into if you need it, we have ourselves.

Not intended as a Slam on IPA but name one thing IPA successfully lobbyied for on the Hill in Washington. Name one thing CAPA has successfully Lobbied for?

If I am not mistaken, Bob Miller is over 60 and President of the IPA so where do you think he stands on the issue?This was one of the main reasons the Fedex Pilots felt it was important to return to ALPA.

Currently the Big Players in CAPA are:

1.American's APA which are pro Age 60 (Opposed to any change)
2.Southwest's SWAPA which is Pro -AGE 65 (Anti-Age 60)
3.UPS" IPA which is Nuetral?? (Talk about the easy way out)

Some of you might be mad at DW and the FDX MEC but atleast you know where they stand.