Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightflyer
The special deal was given to the guys over 53 in the last contract.
I am just trying to get that same deal for the rest of us.
JJ, I understand the purpose of the fund. I also understand that we would have to negotiate that benefit again in the future for the guys that didn't get it. All I am saying, is if this NC didn't negotiate to give the next generation the same deal the last generation got, then I will vote no.
I see nothing sad about that.
It's just business.
I won't vote yes, for a contract that does not treat me equally to guys that are still on the property.
Let me guess, JJ, you got the 25K, didn't you?
"I've got mine", ring a bell?
Nightflyer,
Yes, I did get the 25K. I was the recipient of that very good deal, along with everyone else who was 53 or older at the time of the last contract.
From what I remember, that good deal was supposed to be an incentive for guys approaching retirement age (Age 60), to actually retire, instead of flushing back to a F/E seat, in part to avoid spending retirement money on health care, because, as you know, Medicare didn't start until one is 65. Of course, the vast majority of guys who got that windfall didn't retire as was hoped, but instead, either went to the back seat, until (Dec '07 I believe) when the age limit was raised, or because they hadn't reached Age 60, they just stayed where they were, and enjoyed their new found money and their seniority.
I understand your wanting all generations of FedEx pilots to have all the benefits of previous generations, but in this case, the reasoning behind the original benefit no longer is valid, either for guys who got it, who are still on the property, or anyone else who didn't get it to begin with.
Just the way I see it. As for my "very sad" comment, it was because a contract has a million parts to it, and to vote either "Yes" or "No", based on only one element of the whole contract seems both sad and shortsighted to me.
JJ
And just to add a thought, that money sits in an account, under the pilot's name, but cannot be accessed until he or she retires, and can then only be used for medical/dental/prescription/approved health-related items.