JJ, if you are so out of tune with reality, and honestly think that we should cheer the fact that you and your fellow geezers get to stick around for another 5 years maybe it truly is time for you to retire--you've lost it!!!

As opposed to the arguements on this board against it? Are you saying the anti-change crew has no financial motive?

A300Dude,

I had promised myself that I'd not get involved in this type of debate, due in large part to the fact that every single pilot is somehow affected by this rule change, and to make matters worse, said affect is directly related to $$. What's more, it pits younger guys against older guys, not just here but at all airlines. At companies that still operate 3-crew jets, old guys from the back seat will now be able to reclaim any seat their overall seniority can hold. For the younger/junior guys at FedEx, UPS, NWA Freight, etc, this is, understandably, a really tough pill to swallow. Then again, for the majority of airlines, with only 2 person cockpits, the issue will be that now guys turning 60 will be able to stay, thereby causing the same problems for their younger and junior guys. However, for those airlines which have eliminated their pension funds, it will allow guys who are close to age 60, some more time to rebuild their savings/retirement funds. For that I'm grateful.

Here at FedEx, and especially on this board, guys tend to only concentrate on over 60 flight engineers returning to a front seat. Lots of very provocative statements have been made about these over-60 guys. What about guys who will be: turning 60 next week; next month; or next year? Are they also to be blamed? For the vast majority of us had nothing at all to do with this law, except for being lucky enough to be employed during its creation. I can understand the frustration of guys when they look and see that it will take longer for them to progress, however, life's like that. At some point, this issue will have to be let go, or guys who hold on to it will be a bunch of very, very unhappy troopers, for the entire rest of their careers. That's why I said in a previous post, that some will possibly need to change professions.

For me personally, I wrestle daily with the decision to either come back to work, when I'm able, or to just retire. As for guys welcoming me back, my friends will and for the rest, I just don't care. If I decide to return, I'll do my job, whatever that is, the best I can, and then enjoy some time off, just like I've always done. If I elect to just retire, I'll be sure to let you guys know so that you can feel a little better knowing that you've just moved up one number.

Again, I really didn't want to post on this issue, and hope again that I can hold my tongue when I read some of the stuff that some of you write. But I've gotta tell you, it's tough.

JJ

Honestly, all of us younger guys will have to deal with this for the rest of our careers. The million dollar windfall for the vast minority will be felt by the majority because we will have to work til 65 to make up for career earnings lost.

Now I understand where you're coming from. Your previous post was a bit harsher from my perspective, and I still don't quite get if I've written anything before that has set you off.
Dude out

Just look at the title of the thread: Elder care? Seriously, fellas, get your emotional venting out of your system. One has a hard time thinking logically, and planning for the future with vitriolic attacks. Albie is right...take a step back, buy each other a beer, and let's figure out a good strategy of where we go from here. We are where we are. The longer we commiserate about how we don't like this, the more likely we are to continue to be caught with our pants down, calling each other names.

....just wondering, do you believe there needs to be a vacancy bid for SOs to reclaim their seats or are you of the opinion they can demand that now without a bid?

...just wondering...??

What JJ "believes" doesn't really matter. They can demand all they want, but the CBA rules. As far as I read the CBA, there must be a posting of some sort to reclaim the seats. DW & the rest have communicated this also. I think it's up to the company at this point. If they see the utility of jamming the school house full of re-alignment bids...well that's their choice. If FDX truly wants all those 60+ guys back up front, all they need to do is declare a large excees on the 10 & 27 panel seats. I don't see that happening. More likely the manning folks might be trying to figure out how to make smaller future adjustments to the front seats, while filling the FDA's, while freezing out the ropes. What a mess!

Anyway, I took JJ's comment to be in general, not FDX specific.

Oh, I think it will be very telling...especially as we move forward with the implementation phase.

Cheers!

D,
I certainly understand the malfeasance expressed toward an AAPAD guy. I didn't think JJ was one of them. Either way, I don't think you'll get the same rise out of him as you would FH. Pedantic and condesending isn't JJ's stlye.

We'll see...

Bueller, Bueller....