Empathy ????
Panza : Drop the insults please and let's try and hold and adult conversation.
Raven :
ASL was a !!!!e deal for you and your colleagues. Having gone through a huge reduction in your career earnings, please look at what any retirement age extension means to current FOs and SOs. Also please remember we are not saying no way no how, but I cannot see that the Co. is going to come to the table with anything that would compensate. I still cannot see why they would when they have complete control at the moment.
As a comparison though, even after ASL you get 10 years in the LH seat. If we extend you could get up to 20. If we extend current FO/SOs will be lucky to get eight years in the left seat TOTAL. Some SO/FOs may even get more time in the left seat under the current contract. Seems hard to believe but the system will basically stop if 65 goes through. The only upgrades will be through expansion, and I think we can all agree that we will not be expanding again in the next 5-8 years. If it is status quo (and extensions stop) then those close to command could get in and possibly have 10 or 12 years (depending on their age of course) .
Having the majority of what prior to ASL ? Level headed diplomats ? What I mean is that we can talk all we want but this should come to vote (if not get ready to go to court!) and if so as the majority of our pilots will be negatively affected then, unless the compensation is interesting and fair, a retirement ar 65 deal will not pass.
I completely agree with you that those taking early frieghter commads have increase my time to a decent paying left seat ! The logic being that if somehow nobody took the frieghter commands then that would force the company to get rid of freighter payscales and give 747-400 commands vs pax and frieghter.
Ironically, this only makes the 65 issue more difficult as those that have not taken "early" commands will be more affected than those who did.
Finally Raven, I categorically tell you that I do not want to be working past 55. Under the current contract (you remember the one we all agreed to) I have half a shot at retiring at 55, if Retirement 65 happens leaving early will be more difficult to say the least. I certainly know a few who have gone at 55, they all seemed to have great plans and were looking forward to new things.
Peace Out