Thanks for posting that. Do you also have a copy of that handy template/form letter you posted several months ago?
I'll PM out some stuff late today/early tomorrow.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Thanks for posting that. Do you also have a copy of that handy template/form letter you posted several months ago?
I don't delight in this at all FlopGut as you know my personal opinion on the issue. The limited scope of the Panel is real. We were tasked with a specific mission and we are accomplishing that mission. The policy and politics of the issue are being dealt with well above my pay grade. Do you know where the CAL MEC is on this issue? Have you talked to Captain Donaldson about where he thinks this issue should go? He will be representing CAL at the Executive Board and voting on this resolution on behalf of all CAL pilots. I suggest you point your frustration in the appropriate place...I'm not the right target unfortunately.
-Neal
You'd actually be wrong in your bet then.But the only time we discussed our personal opinions was in the first 5 minutes of our first meeting. After that we never brought it up again (rightfully so). The BRP is not about the merits of changing the age or not changing the age. That is a common misconception unfortunately. We are just technicians studying the effects of a possible change and what ALPA should do IF the age does in fact change.
-Neal
This could come into effect as early as September this year. There is a possibilty it will be sometime next year, but it's very unlikely to take the full 18-24 months. This recent polling, the BRP, and the latest revelation that the rule may be unilaterally changed by National is nothing more than an effort to expedite the change. Nothing has changed with the membership's support of age 60, they simply re-phrased the question.
Can some one provide me with an intelligent (ie. no immature rants) on the opposition to raising the retirement age to 65? I guess I just am not understanding why this is a bad thing.
learherkjay said:While I can see the argument in the list that you gave me, it seems to me that the arguments you provided are collective group think; as for the individual pilot - raising the age seems to be mostly a reward versus a cost.
As an individual pilot (especially with today's life expectancies); I would think everyone would want the option to work past 60. Nobody says you can't retire early, but it seems for those who are interested, it is an extra 5 years of income into your bank and into your retirement fund - extra wealth building or maintaining until you have to start drawing retirement. While I can see the argument in the list that you gave me, it seems to me that the arguments you provided are collective group think; as for the individual pilot - raising the age seems to be mostly a reward versus a cost.
Changing the retirement age from 60 to 65 provides a career windfall to those 55-59 pilots Andy mentioned. They will have benefited their entire careers from the seniority advancement Age 60 provided, only to gain 5 more years at the top those before them didn't have, at the expense of those on furlough and those making their way up through the ranks.
Changing the retirement age from 60 to 65 provides a career windfall to those 55-59 pilots Andy mentioned. They will have benefited their entire careers from the seniority advancement Age 60 provided, only to gain 5 more years at the top those before them didn't have, at the expense of those on furlough and those making their way up through the ranks.
Windfall....schmindfal l!!!!! When I got hired, there were lots of guys in front of me on the seniority list who were already millionaires. Their timing was great, and I thought- good for them...their timing was great, and in this industry, timing can be everything. I didn't begrudge them that, nor do I now.
But, we need to put class envy aside.
Presently, I see some union diehards trying to protect the vestige of a world that is fast vanishing. For me, I would love to see a world that is protected from the ills and hurts of the real world. Whether some of us call that nirvana the Railway Labor Act, or something else,...I think everybody needs to
open their eyes to what reality is. The reality is that many, if not most of ALPA's pilots have lost very sizable percentages of their pensions due to the harsh realities of free market competition. And whether anyone wants to open their eyes and recognise that fact or not...those forces that were
set in place back in 1978 are still in force, and not abating anytime soon....if ever.
Therefore....IMHO, though it is a harsh reality, those of us that recognize those facts, and adjust their game plans to accomodate these new realities are the ones to benefit the soonest. To disregard these new forces and realities is to do so at your own peril. Therefore, I think it behooves
the pilot community as a whole, to embrace this new reality and adopt a policy that accepts the concept of additional earning years as a very beneficial option, if needed.
Just got off the phone with ALPA National. Had a very candid discussion with a person familiar with what's going on.
Neal: You got 5 minutes, everybody else knew exactly what they were going for. I'm sorry to say, you've been duped! Prater sought to trade on your reputation and it worked. There's no way you could have known what was going to happen, so don't feel bad. You were the token FO and carried great credibility.
I wasn't trying to sound as snide as I guess my question did, I beg your pardon. I am quite frustrated. About two weeks ago you suggested I start calling national and that I would be pleased with what I learned was going on around this issue. I put two calls into national 9 days ago. I talked to one person in R&I and left a message for a guy with a last name that starts with J. I've followed up every other day since and heard nothing, but I wil continue to try.
Neal, you must feel some frustration with this too? Your collective bargaining reputation is outstanding. You've been put on this panel with a very limited scope and are the only FO. The polling isn't even done and a Fastread goes out telling the membership that ALPA may change the rule in spite of any official polling results. How can that be anything but frustrating? I think Prater wanted to trade on your reputation but really never intended to allow you input.