Northwest ALPA, Execs oppose change to age 60

[Andy]

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/05/07/daily14.html?b=1178510400^1459362

NWA to Senate: Don't delay pilots' retirement

Memphis Business Journal - 4:41 PM CDT Tuesday, May 8, 2007


In a rare partnership, Northwest Airlines Corp. and the Air Line Pilots Association are lobbying to stop legislation that will alter the age restriction on active pilots.
In a letter to Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), NWA CEO Doug Steenland and ALPA's David Stevens write that they're strongly opposed to the legislative proposal to replace the Age 60 Rule for pilots. The proposed Age 65 Rule will replace one arbitrary age limit with another with no criterion-based process for determining pilot fitness, the two state in the letter. In addition, the new age restriction may jeopardize safety.
NWA (Pink Sheets: NWACQ) and ALPA claim there's no medical evidence to support later retirement for pilots.
If passed, the rule will delay the retirement of numerous pilots, they say, and consequently delay the promotion of younger pilots.
Northwest employs about 1,500 in its Memphis hub.

 

[Superpilot92]

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/05/07/daily14.html?b=1178510400^1459362

NWA to Senate: Don't delay pilots' retirement

Memphis Business Journal - 4:41 PM CDT Tuesday, May 8, 2007


In a rare partnership, Northwest Airlines Corp. and the Air Line Pilots Association are lobbying to stop legislation that will alter the age restriction on active pilots.
In a letter to Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), NWA CEO Doug Steenland and ALPA's David Stevens write that they're strongly opposed to the legislative proposal to replace the Age 60 Rule for pilots. The proposed Age 65 Rule will replace one arbitrary age limit with another with no criterion-based process for determining pilot fitness, the two state in the letter. In addition, the new age restriction may jeopardize safety.
NWA (Pink Sheets: NWACQ) and ALPA claim there's no medical evidence to support later retirement for pilots.
If passed, the rule will delay the retirement of numerous pilots, they say, and consequently delay the promotion of younger pilots.
Northwest employs about 1,500 in its Memphis hub.

Exactly!!
Good On ALPA!!

 

[Occam's Razor]

Is Arpey on-board?

You'd be surprised at who is helping defeat Age 65 on behalf of the majority of ALPA members....and who's paying for it.

 

[The Prussian]

Desperate times makes for strange bedfellows???

NWA to Senate: Don't delay pilots' retirement./quote]

OK....What's so surprising with this statement???? It pretty much goes along with what NWA management has been demonstrating for decades..."The only good pilot is a retired pilot."(!!!?!!) If you find a friend here...best beware!!!

 

[Andy]

If you find a friend here...best beware!!!

LOL! You must be getting nervous; if the industry weighs in against a change, the odds of a change decrease exponentially, eh? You gotta love the plot twists.
What's the difference between how senior pilots and airline management? At least when airline management pisses on a junior pilot's back, they're not going to lie to him and tell him it's raining. They'll tell you straight up that they're pissing on your back.

 

[Schwanker]

Is Arpey on-board?

You'd be surprised at who is helping defeat Age 65 on behalf of the majority of ALPA members....and who's paying for it.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear ALPA National is on board with supporting the majority of ALPA members!

 

[GuppyWN]

That's big picture right there! Sacrafice a few to the gain of thousands vs. saving a few to sacrafice thousands. Bout time.

Gup

 

[rtseatrich]

Would someone please post the NWA ALPA MEC resolution

I saw the NWA MEC's resolution on another website; but it was deleted by someone.

I thought the resoultion was very well written.

I would like to see my MEC and Management team adopt a similar stance against any change to the long standing age 60 rule!

What happened to majority rule at ALPA?

 

[thor2j]

I saw the NWA MEC's resolution on another website; but it was deleted by someone.

I thought the resoultion was very well written.

I would like to see my MEC and Management team adopt a similar stance against any change to the long standing age 60 rule!

What happened to majority rule at ALPA?

It went away when self centerd scab sympathiser Prater was elected!

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Darth Prater Sucks!!!!!!!!

 

[Occam's Razor]

I saw the NWA MEC's resolution on another website; but it was deleted by someone.

I thought the resoultion was very well written.

I would like to see my MEC and Management team adopt a similar stance against any change to the long standing age 60 rule!

What happened to majority rule at ALPA?

Here's the NWA resolution:

SUBJECT: Opposition to Any Change to the Mandatory Retirement Age 60 Rule

NWA MEC RESOLUTION #07-7

WHEREAS the current ALPA policy supports the Mandatory Retirement Age 60 Rule in the interest of public safety, and

WHEREAS the new ICAO age 65 standard arbitrarily replaces one age limit with another, and

WHEREAS ICAO did not conduct a safety risk analysis to evaluate the impact of the change in the standard on safety, and

WHEREAS the new ICAO standard would reduce the current U.S. airline safety standard, and

WHEREAS no mitigations have been offered that would provide for an equivalent level of safety if the ICAO standard were adopted over the existing Age 60 Rule, and

WHEREAS before initiating a rulemaking that could change the Age 60 Rule, ALPA recommends the FAA conduct a safety risk assessment with the participation of ALPA, airline, and Aeromedical representatives, and

WHEREAS the FAA will be in compliance with the new ICAO standard, without changing the existing regulations because the standard does not preclude the FAA (or any ICAO State) from setting a lower maximum age limit, and

WHEREAS the membership of ALPA was extensively polled and clearly rejected any change to the current ‘age 660’ rule by a 55/45 margin overall, and

WHEREAS the Group “A” carriers, including NWA, who comprise more than 80% of ALPA’s overall dues income, rejected any proposed change to the “Age 60 rule” by a 64% to 36% margin, and

WHEREAS the pilots of NWA rejected any proposed change by more than 70%, and

WHEREAS there is no evidence to suggest any significant change in the perspectives and opinions of the membership in regard to this issue, and

WHEREAS any change to the current “Age 60 rule” could have far reaching and significant negative consequences for the majority of NWA pilots,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the NWA MEC opposes any change to the Mandatory Retirement Age 60 Rule in the interest of public safety, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the MEC directs the MEC Chairman and NWA Executive Vice President to submit resolutions to the Executive Board and Executive Council, respectively, requiring the explicit support for the Age 60 Rule and prohibiting support of any public or private effort to change the Age 60 Rule by all representatives and employees of ALPA International, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the MEC directs the resolution request a $2 million grant from the MCF to initiate, organize and lobby for legislation to oppose any change to the Age 60 Rule and active opposition by ALPA International of any waivers to the Age 60 Rule,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the MEC directs the Executive Board and Executive Council resolutions prohibit any expenditure by ALPA International in support of changing the Age 60 Rule including, but not limited to, FPL, polling and lobbying.

 

[Falconjet]

Wouldn't it be nice if the FedEx MEC has this kind of stones.

FJ

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Wouldn't it be nice if the FedEx MEC has this kind of stones.

FJ

Copy it... wordsmith it... show up at the next LEC meeting...

Who knows... the career you work for might be your own!!

 

[afhercdriver]

Where does SWAPA stand? I heard there was supposed to be a vote but I have not heard anything about the outcome.

Jim

 

[Falconjet]

Rez: You are such a broken record. I participate in the union activities and meetings. Recall that I walked with you in front of your airline's headquarters on my day off. You think I am just on here bitching, at least I am engaged in the process and not a sheep waiting for slaughter.

I attended a meeting in the hub the other night from 0030 to 0230 and listened to my MEC chair tell the group that he was going to go against what the majority of pilots at our carrier want him to do because he is convinced that he is right and knows more about the issue than us.

I am involved, and if I want to vent on this board and attempt to educate others about what I feel is going on in MY union than I will.

Your constant admonishments for us to get involved are uncalled for and growing increasingly tiresome. How about a cup of STFU about followship and involvement, ok. We want to follow someone who will listen to those of us who show up and express our concerns, not follow their personal agendas.

You aren't adding a thing to the debate, and I know you would rather be known as somebody working for change instead of a nagging biatch preaching to the choir.

FJ

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Rez: You are such a broken record. I participate in the union activities and meetings. Recall that I walked with you in front of your airline's headquarters on my day off. You think I am just on here bitching, at least I am engaged in the process and not a sheep waiting for slaughter.

I do recall... I'll do the same when needed. I don't think that will happen with that sweet CBA you guys got...

I attended a meeting in the hub the other night from 0030 to 0230 and listened to my MEC chair tell the group that he was going to go against what the majority of pilots at our carrier want him to do because he is convinced that he is right and knows more about the issue than us.

Was that his justification? I'm right? Did he have understandable logic?

I am involved, and if I want to vent on this board and attempt to educate others about what I feel is going on in MY union than I will.

Saying you wish your MEC had stones doesn't sound productive.. rather fustrative (is that a word?)

Your constant admonishments for us to get involved are uncalled for and growing increasingly tiresome. How about a cup of STFU about followship and involvement, ok. We want to follow someone who will listen to those of us who show up and express our concerns, not follow their personal agendas.

Yeah it gets old.. but mixed messages are tuned out... and linit effectiveness...

You aren't adding a thing to the debate, and I know you would rather be known as somebody working for change instead of a nagging biatch preaching to the choir.

Valid point.... I am under advisement....

 

[Falconjet]

Go over to a p c dot com if you want a blow by blow of the hub turn meeting. There is very lively discussion all about it over there.

FJ

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Go over to a p c dot com if you want a blow by blow of the hub turn meeting. There is very lively discussion all about it over there.

FJ

Can you guys do a LOA to keep age 60 at FDX? What is the companies position? What is the for/against ratio amongst the pilots?

Rez

 

[Falconjet]

Our current contract will not be affected, retirements at age 60 will continue to be the basic retirement scenario.

The problem will be in trying to negotiate the next contract when we will have to fight the company to keep our age 60 retirement and our B fund.

We just spent a lot of negotiating capital getting retirement enhancements and in fact got improvements in health care for already retired pilots. Now it seems we wasted all of that capital because evidently the old guys don't really want to retire.

Looking up from the bottom quarter of the seniority list it really makes me sick.

FJ