Ranger

Coincidentally, I got my first retirement estimate from the retirement administration folks on Monday. I'm still a ways off but I have this strange habit of planning ahead and wanting to know what the hell is going on. Anyway, when I do retire at age 60 I'll have 21 years of pensionable service with the company. And there is no mention of an early retirement penalty because the age is now 65. I'm no contract expert (understatement) but a lot of the content is based on both language and intent. If the contract was signed with the "intent" that the retirement age is 60 then the contractual retirement age is 60. I sure hope that's right because it'd screw up 30+ years of planning and what's-her-name would be irritated about that.

KnightFlyer

It's not greedy. It's merely maintaining what we have. What's wrong with standing up and fighting for what we have? I'm with you.

TheBaron

I agree that we have a lot of Captains (and senior F/O's) that look fairly well beat to hell, but a lot of that has to do with the circumstances you are seeing them under. In the short term, everyone looks a little worse for wear at 3:00am (unless you have beer goggles on.) I doubt your dad and his friends would look much better after a week of hub turns...something that you can recover from after a few nights of normal sleep.
I'm not arguing that our constantly shifting sleep patterns, out of sync with our circadian rhythm, aren't bad for our long term health. There are enough studies out there to show that it does have numerous health consequences, but most of them are associated and not causal. People that work overnight and rotating shifts tend to eat poorer diets and get less exercise; knowing that, how we treat our bodies on layovers has a huge impact on how well we will survive into our retirement years.
Last point...I don't want to be forced to work until I'm 65, regardless of the shape I'm in. When I started this career it was with the understanding that age 60 was the mandatory retirement age. I thought (and still do) that being forced to retire at 60 was unfair but I accepted it for what it was. Now that it has changed, I have no problem with people that choose to fly to the new regulated age. My only complaint is that so many seem willing to acquiesce to a change in the "normal" retirement for fear we will have to give something up to keep it. The choice should remain with the pilot, not the company, and we as a group should not give up anything to keep it that way. Anything less deserves a "no" vote.

Busboy

WRONG!!!!!!

Read the contract. Read the PBB. "Normal retirement date" is age 60.

Laughing_Jakal

Pay Raise and Retire at 60....that's what I'm talking about.

You can argue all you want about whether or not working past 60 in this business kills you sooner.

But I can tell you it will play hell with your time off..........and your retirement........

If you think our choices are all about either owrk or death, then please stay the heck away from our negotiating committee....there is a lot more to life than work and death....particularly when that work primarily lines someone else's pocket.

md11phlyer

I vote all three.

25 years= full retirement.
Age 60 remains
Pay raises continue beyond mere inflation

Call it a pipe dream but with our current union leadership I'm going to need a lot of convincing that we don't deserve otherwise.

steel

Everyone has always said the contract states age 60 as the retirement age. Where does it say it?

FDXLAG

Contract says no changes unless agreed upon. Contract also says the benefits are defined in the PBB. The PBB says normal retirement is age 60. PBB retirement section can't be changed with out our approval. https://pilot.fedex.com/contract/pbb...nt_dates.shtml

purpledog

I'm with you. Although 20 would be nice. Buh bye at 52! Pipe dream with the current front office.

BonesF15

2nd hand rumor...
Was told today by a friend of our new Neg Chairman that JL will be negotiating on the company side next contract and the first order of business is new retirement age = 65 or earlier with penalty.