roughneck said:Southwest pilots as a whole don't support age 60 going away in my opinion. SWAPA says we do, but we haven't voted recently on the issue. 60% of the seniorty list wasn't even on property when the last vote was held.
SWAPA leadership and a few over zealous guys are making the push. Not SWA pilots as a whole. They had 40 something guys turn out to lobby congress. Not an overwhelming turnout if you ask me. Most guys I talk too don't want the rule to change.
It is a matter of some wanting their cake and wanting to eat it too. Unfortunately for most of us, it probably will change.
Last vote on Age 60 at SWAPA, closed on 15 April 2003. Here's some information to correct your statement (just trying to provide some clarification)
"M
ore than 60 percent of the membership decided they wanted the association to continue its efforts to have the Age 60 rule repealed when the election closed on April15. Nearly 60 percent, 2,431pilots, of the total membership turned out to cast their vote on the issue.
The number of pilots voting yes to the question on whether they wanted SWAPA to continue its efforts to repeal the Age 60 rule was 1,458 or 60.25 percent, with 962 or 39.75 percent voting no."
The number of pilots voting yes to the question on whether they wanted SWAPA to continue its efforts to repeal the Age 60 rule was 1,458 or 60.25 percent, with 962 or 39.75 percent voting no."
Additionally as of today (24 July 06) there are 5097 pilots on property. The number of new hires on the property that have arrived on 1 March '03 to today that have not voted on the issue totals 898. I don't believe that number equates to the percentage you mentioned in your post below.
While only 60% of the pilots who were on property at the time voted in the referendum, it was offered up to the membership for a vote. I suspect it may come back up for another vote sometime in the future if the restriction isn't lifted this year, if so the membership will have another opportunity to speak on the issue. Not trying to be a pain, just wanted to correct any misconception someone might gain from your post.