Archie Bunker

Actually, I appointed AV8OR head bemoaner in charge of all things pertaining to age 65 legislation, and I think he's doing a fine job representing the frustration felt by MOST Brown pilots that just got 5 years added on to their upgrade time, along with being displaced out of their current seat.

Do we have to clear it through you in order to have an opinion?

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

I’m not sure why my reply upset you so much. If you really think the junior folks will celebrate the new law then you're dreaming; for most of us it'll never happen. The junior folks were/are just as upset about that event as the senior folks were/are upbeat; many are still celebrating their victory and rightfully so. There’s no secret our views on the subject are totally opposite but we lost and you won. Yet we can still get along and do our job out there.

The discussions and the disgruntlement you see here are typical message board discussions – no one brings those to work – I certainly am not and have never witnessed anyone else doing it either.

My reply was not about who "deserves a flying job or not." Far from it. I said 'unfortunately' in my post because I know freightpuppy and since I know she's pretty junior I figured she was, just like myself and many other junior folks, hoping the rumor was true. Thus I replied to HER post that unfortunately the rumor is not true.

For the record - many of us were simply hoping some of the senior folks would decide the extra hassle of training, etc wasn’t worth it and would retire instead. I don’t see any harm in that.

As far as my distaste for 'vicious posts' - I believe I've used that term only once when someone posted a very negative message to a long term poolie basically saying that since he/she was flying for Astar/Abx he/she would never be hired (because of the UPS/DHL contract). I felt the comment was wrong because poolies need encouragement, not negative predictions. That’s all.

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Well, I do appreciate your vote of confidence. However, considering I haven't said anything about the age 65 regulation for several months I'm not sure why you'd want me to be the 'person in charge' of that subject? You wanna talk about the Russian invasion in Georgia, etc, I'm all for it... Age 65? Nah, Roberto won that battle long time ago...

Rottweiler

While we're on the subject....

Yesterday on the crew bus, one of the Herpes was moaning about how much he hates this place (SDF), hates the company (UPS) and life in general about having to come to work. I so bad wanted to tell him..

"Well, why don't you just retire and then you can do whatever the heck you want with your days."

Really. We don't want you here any more than you geezers want to be here. Do both of us a favor and go back to Shady Pines

Rott

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Rottweiler - I wanted to clarify a few things. I think the age-65 legislation was unfair because the other side said it was about discrimination. My view was/is that if it was truly about discrimination then why now and not 20, 30 or 40 years ago? Most of all – why stop at 65? Doesn't that new policy discriminate against the 66 year olds? (crap, maybe I’m giving them wrong ideas, huh? )

So basically it was more about the timing and also about how the new law was implemented (over night versus gradually) and the logic, or actually lack of it, behind the new legislation. If it was truly about discrimination then we should've done it like in Australia - no age limit for as long as you pass your medical (a tough one, not from your 'buddy doctor’ you've been using for years).

Having said that, even though I think terms like herpes, etc they use at United might sound funny I never use them because frankly it's just not right. It might sound funny and some of the jokes are actually hilarious but I think they're only doing what most people would’ve done if they found themselves in their shoes.

I'm simply against the legislation not the folks themselves. I've had some disagreements with Roberto for example but I do respect his views and I think he respects mine - I've never called him herpes, or anything similar (even though he thinks I’m a Young'en ) because that's just not right.

I wanted to clarify this before I'm being accused of name calling, etc.

Night_Hawk

I was flying w/ a guy who turns 60 the end of august. I have to say he was a great guy and I enjoyed working w/ him. But, when he said " I got screwed because I had to bid all my vacation before my 60th birthday. Then they changed the law, and now i do not have any vacation left between sept. & dec."
I had to laugh and say " yes you were screwed all right."
He laughed and said. " yes, I better shut the heck up."

b2pilot186

I didn't realize that you'd done such a thorough study of Brown pilot opinions. Heck, we can't even get all of our folks to register to vote electronically on our C&B changes and yet YOU think you've got the pulse of nearly 3000 guys and gals in our group? Yeah right, Archibald.

...and no you don't have to clear your drivel through me...I trust you'll allow me the same courtesy?

B2P

b2pilot186

It seems like you're backpedaling to me. Your post didn't upset me so much as it made me roll my eyes. Being a junior guy myself, and nowhere near age 60, this affects me as much as it does you and Archie. I think the junior folks spend way to much time wishing ill will on those people who have the good fortune to fly at a great company for another five years. It seems to me that you have more sympathy for the folks who picketed our company than for the folks who work for our company and our union, and who made it the successful business it is today. I think it's based on purely personal selfishness that goes something like this..."Hey this old guy is in my way...I wish he'd just retire or die so that I can get what I want." Pretty ugly sentiment if you ask me. The simple fact is, you'll get what you deserve in life based on your own merit, even in a seniority-based system like ours...not what one of your union brothers "takes away" from you. Appreciate what you have and stop whining about what others have that you don't...until you do, you'll never be happy. Someone will always have more luck, more toys and more money than you...that's life.

B2P

dudewannabe

Only 5 years? Boy aren't you optimistic.

CactusCrew

If this affects you as much as it affects Archie and me, when is your training and displacement to ANC effective ? How's the new 6-12 hour commute going to be ? Find a new crashpad ? Or did you just lose a few numbers in current seat and equipment ?

My whole sarcastic point is that the large majority of the seniority list has seen very little effects of the Dec 13 rule change. You are most likely in that large group.

Then there are these fringe groups that have been ... downgraded from Capt to FO ... trained for 2 or 3 types to stay Capt in the last year ... moved bases from SDF to MIA to ONT to ANC to try to stay "local" ... hired into ANC then downgraded to FE in SDF ... and finally the group that went from the panel to a front seat for a handsome pay raise and a few more years of glory.

And NO ONE that I know is wishing anyone ill will. That small group that is moving forward is doing the same thing that nearly everyone here would do given the same opportunity.

But those in the abused fringes certainly don't have to be happy about the good fortune of others ...