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AirTran FO suspended for dropping family off at circus in uniform...WTF?
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Cobraair75drvr
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Qoute of the year!!!
Regardless of what I think of ALPA, this should generate as close to a 100% turnout and vote for ALPA.
Stupid f-ing management. It must be a requirement of management to come from at least the third straight generation produced by incest...
TC
Lear70
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ALPA is probably a done deal, anyway, but I bet this gives another 10 point boost to the vote numbers...
I am hoping that, with ALPA on property, the AirTran ALPA MEC will organize the pilots to attend the next shareholder's meeting... IN UNIFORM. Go ahead, suspend 100-150 line guys and see how staffing works for THAT.
I am hoping that, with ALPA on property, the AirTran ALPA MEC will organize the pilots to attend the next shareholder's meeting... IN UNIFORM. Go ahead, suspend 100-150 line guys and see how staffing works for THAT.
samballs
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Before the strike Comair pilots were showing up at the welfare office in uniform, to pick up stamps.
The pilot in question has been at Airtran since the fall of 2005. He was not on probation. If he was I'm sure he would have been fired. They threatened to fire all the probabtion guys last year until the union caved and management agreed to furlough them instead of fire. Then promptly started calling them back 4 months later.
b707guy
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Is there some sort of statement in the CBA with AirTran that prohibits wearing the uniform at union or union-sanctioned events? I'm no contract expert, but the three that I've operated under had no such provision (at least not to my recollection...), and, can't we all wear union pins on our uniforms? If this is the case here, then it would seem the crew member in question shouldn't have a problem winning this battle. And to go with it, the pilot group as a whole has a golden opportunity to stick it back in their faces. Take advantage of it! Unity goes a looooong way, especially in cases like this.
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Lear70
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The problem is the company "Policy and Procedures Handbook" that came out a while back.
Our "stellar" legal counsel, despite NUMEROUS warnings from previous NPA officers to IMMEDIATELY notify the company the handbook was contrary to the contract in several areas and would cause problems later, failed to challenge that handbook at the time. Now, after so much time has passed, it becomes VERY difficult to do in court.
The company has slowly started using that handbook to discipline pilots. One of the policies is that the uniform, unless permission is obtained from management, in writing, in advance, may not be worn ANYWHERE away from work.
I would argue that a STRICT interpretation means you can't even put it on at the house and drive TO work or go home AFTER work with it on. Seriously, how absurd do you have to get? A guy can't stop at the circus on his way in to drop off the fam? How about stopping for gas so you don't run out on your way IN to work?
I don't know how many times I've jumpseated home, ditched the tie and epaulets, and walked into the grocery store before I get home, but the wings are still on the shirt 'cause I hadn't thought to take them off. So that gets someone a permanent mark on their record?
I'd like to know who issued the suspension... Klaus? Kolski?
What a disgrace this company's management is... Shameful, and right before the guy goes back on Mil leave and heads over to the sandbox. What a way to say "Thanks for your service".
Our "stellar" legal counsel, despite NUMEROUS warnings from previous NPA officers to IMMEDIATELY notify the company the handbook was contrary to the contract in several areas and would cause problems later, failed to challenge that handbook at the time. Now, after so much time has passed, it becomes VERY difficult to do in court.
The company has slowly started using that handbook to discipline pilots. One of the policies is that the uniform, unless permission is obtained from management, in writing, in advance, may not be worn ANYWHERE away from work.
I would argue that a STRICT interpretation means you can't even put it on at the house and drive TO work or go home AFTER work with it on. Seriously, how absurd do you have to get? A guy can't stop at the circus on his way in to drop off the fam? How about stopping for gas so you don't run out on your way IN to work?
I don't know how many times I've jumpseated home, ditched the tie and epaulets, and walked into the grocery store before I get home, but the wings are still on the shirt 'cause I hadn't thought to take them off. So that gets someone a permanent mark on their record?
I'd like to know who issued the suspension... Klaus? Kolski?
What a disgrace this company's management is... Shameful, and right before the guy goes back on Mil leave and heads over to the sandbox. What a way to say "Thanks for your service".
Lear70
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Nice. Not even a meeting with Floy where he can explain he wasn't conducting a "work action", just dropping the kiddos at a union function, and he just gets the suspension letter in the MAIL...?
I'd ask to back the suspension up to days off, over his next 5-day trip, and take a vacation with the fam over that 9-12 day period. Might as well take advantage of it.
I'd ask to back the suspension up to days off, over his next 5-day trip, and take a vacation with the fam over that 9-12 day period. Might as well take advantage of it.
HalinTexas
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Max Powers
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So is a racist fool such as yourself either a present scab or are you a scab in training.....Hmmmmm let me see if I review some of your post can I figure out who you are?
What is the company saying? Anyone know?
Heard he just didn't drop kids off, he went in for awhile.?
Did another pilot turn him in? In the contract it should say where and when we can where the uniform. We pay enough for them. Anyone paid for prescriptions lately with AT new insurance. Get ready- to spend alot more money. Insane!!
Heard he just didn't drop kids off, he went in for awhile.?
Did another pilot turn him in? In the contract it should say where and when we can where the uniform. We pay enough for them. Anyone paid for prescriptions lately with AT new insurance. Get ready- to spend alot more money. Insane!!
SFR
Pilot Guy
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Honesty, why would anyone want to wear their uniform anywhere else except for work?
I am the one in the employee bus putting on the tie and stripes.... I would never even wear it to the grocery store.
Kinda toolish don't you think. It is like those airline employees that wear their ID around their neck in plain clothes......I don't get it
I am the one in the employee bus putting on the tie and stripes.... I would never even wear it to the grocery store.
Kinda toolish don't you think. It is like those airline employees that wear their ID around their neck in plain clothes......I don't get it
Lear70
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Who the fu*k cares if he got out of the car or not...?
From what we're hearing, the company is telling people he had put t-shirts on his kids that said "Fu*k AirTran". Not true, he had the union-provided shirts that either said "My Daddy needs a fair contract now" or "Say NO to corporate greed". Many, many other kids had them on, as well. Just more "spin" from management, just like DL and myself, the goal being to sow just enough misinformation to make people think twice about believing the union.
Luckily, the NPA was already out in front of it and put that official email out to the pilot group BEFORE the disinformation could start, something the NPA failed to do in the past and realizes they need to do moving forward. The pilots, resultantly, are very supportive and management's story is being discounted from Day 1.
From what I've heard (2nd hand), he took the kids inside to leave them with the family of a friend before he went to the airport. Still completely unacceptable to suspend the guy, he is free to wear his uniform on his way to work and, if he wants to stop and get gas, pick up his other dry cleaning shirts, drop the kids off at child care or wherever, that's his business, not the company's. NO other airline does this, anywhere. It's a shot across the union bow before the shareholder's meeting so the union (and the line pilots) think twice before showing up in uniform.
Pure "fear and intimidation" tactics, from the "best management team in the business".
Incidentally, I understand some people don't wear the uniform anywhere else. That's your choice, and I agree, a guy wearing it on his day OFF just to go out is very toolish. However, when going to wor, I put it on before I leave the house. Sometimes I drive straight to work, sometimes I need to make a stop or two on the way in. Who gives a rat's, it's not anybody's business, the company is overstepping their bounds and the pilot group has had enough.
From what we're hearing, the company is telling people he had put t-shirts on his kids that said "Fu*k AirTran". Not true, he had the union-provided shirts that either said "My Daddy needs a fair contract now" or "Say NO to corporate greed". Many, many other kids had them on, as well. Just more "spin" from management, just like DL and myself, the goal being to sow just enough misinformation to make people think twice about believing the union.
Luckily, the NPA was already out in front of it and put that official email out to the pilot group BEFORE the disinformation could start, something the NPA failed to do in the past and realizes they need to do moving forward. The pilots, resultantly, are very supportive and management's story is being discounted from Day 1.
From what I've heard (2nd hand), he took the kids inside to leave them with the family of a friend before he went to the airport. Still completely unacceptable to suspend the guy, he is free to wear his uniform on his way to work and, if he wants to stop and get gas, pick up his other dry cleaning shirts, drop the kids off at child care or wherever, that's his business, not the company's. NO other airline does this, anywhere. It's a shot across the union bow before the shareholder's meeting so the union (and the line pilots) think twice before showing up in uniform.
Pure "fear and intimidation" tactics, from the "best management team in the business".
Incidentally, I understand some people don't wear the uniform anywhere else. That's your choice, and I agree, a guy wearing it on his day OFF just to go out is very toolish. However, when going to wor, I put it on before I leave the house. Sometimes I drive straight to work, sometimes I need to make a stop or two on the way in. Who gives a rat's, it's not anybody's business, the company is overstepping their bounds and the pilot group has had enough.
Amish RakeFight
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Max Powers
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LowlyPropCapt
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That's hillarious!
SFR
Pilot Guy
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You are allowed to do what you want, you may not like the consequences, but you can do anything.
BTW, I don't wear my tie in the breakroom. In fact, I have been to the breakroom once this year to get my Jepps (had 5 of them)... I can't wait for EFB!!!!
Whine Lover
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The North American Airline Management Klown ( Cocktosucktus Incompetus Circulius) is an interesting species.
Known for nesting in small groups, generally out of sight of respectable Human Beings, they are a forlorn and somewhat tense group.
Threatened by even the slightest disturbance amongst their tenuous and back-stabbing ranks, they have a tendency to over react to even the slightest stimuli.
The Cocktosucktus is highly territorial and will exhibit bizarre behaviours when threatened.
Should another individual within the sub-group ( such as Airlineas Pilotus Exactor ) show his or her colours within range of the Cocktosucktus, surely agression will ensue.
Particularly abhorrent to the North American Airline Management Klown is the ability of normal individuals to think and act for thermselves.
They try to regulate all such behaviour through ridiculous edicts and pamphlets, none of which are paid attention to..... By anyone. Anywhere.
An interesting Species nonetheless.
Related material:
- Cockroach
- Mother********************er
- P.O.S
- Human waste
- Landfill
- Garbage bags
- SPINELESS AMOEBAS
Known for nesting in small groups, generally out of sight of respectable Human Beings, they are a forlorn and somewhat tense group.
Threatened by even the slightest disturbance amongst their tenuous and back-stabbing ranks, they have a tendency to over react to even the slightest stimuli.
The Cocktosucktus is highly territorial and will exhibit bizarre behaviours when threatened.
Should another individual within the sub-group ( such as Airlineas Pilotus Exactor ) show his or her colours within range of the Cocktosucktus, surely agression will ensue.
Particularly abhorrent to the North American Airline Management Klown is the ability of normal individuals to think and act for thermselves.
They try to regulate all such behaviour through ridiculous edicts and pamphlets, none of which are paid attention to..... By anyone. Anywhere.
An interesting Species nonetheless.
Related material:
- Cockroach
- Mother********************er
- P.O.S
- Human waste
- Landfill
- Garbage bags
- SPINELESS AMOEBAS
Last edited:
Angrypoodle
Member
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- Oct 7, 2005
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- 8
Released today,
ATLANTA, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the National Pilots Association (NPA), which represents the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways, strongly condemns the wrongful suspension of one of their pilots, and asks the public to join them in demanding that he be reinstated immediately and paid in full.
AirTran Vice President Steve Kolski called NPA President, First Officer Linden Hillman last week to inform him that management's position is that the pilot was in violation of AirTran's flight operations manual and would face possible discipline for wearing his uniform while dropping off his wife and two young children at a circus in Atlanta on February 21, 2009. The NPA sponsored a family day at the circus, and the pilot was on his way to work when he stopped at Philips Arena to help his wife with their kids.
"He was wearing his uniform so that he could get to work on time," said First Officer Tim Baker, spokesman for the NPA. "The circus started at 3 p.m., and he had to be at work at 4:30 p.m. He was leaving on a four day trip and wanted to spend as much time with the kids as possible. He will soon be deployed overseas and is focused on spending time with his family. He only stayed at the circus for a few minutes. The rules even state that he can wear his uniform to and from work."
The AirTran pilot in question is a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, where he has served for thirteen years.
NPA President Hillman said, "It is intolerable for our pilots to be exposed to this type of intimidation. We have tried to resolve this issue directly with management. However, we continue to find management unreasonable. It would be nice to see management focused on returning to profitability, instead of threatening their hardworking crewmembers. You don't see other airlines treating their employees like this."
National Pilots Association -- representing the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways.
SOURCE National Pilots Association
Thursday, March 26, 2009 5:40 PM
ATLANTA, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the National Pilots Association (NPA), which represents the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways, strongly condemns the wrongful suspension of one of their pilots, and asks the public to join them in demanding that he be reinstated immediately and paid in full.
AirTran Vice President Steve Kolski called NPA President, First Officer Linden Hillman last week to inform him that management's position is that the pilot was in violation of AirTran's flight operations manual and would face possible discipline for wearing his uniform while dropping off his wife and two young children at a circus in Atlanta on February 21, 2009. The NPA sponsored a family day at the circus, and the pilot was on his way to work when he stopped at Philips Arena to help his wife with their kids.
"He was wearing his uniform so that he could get to work on time," said First Officer Tim Baker, spokesman for the NPA. "The circus started at 3 p.m., and he had to be at work at 4:30 p.m. He was leaving on a four day trip and wanted to spend as much time with the kids as possible. He will soon be deployed overseas and is focused on spending time with his family. He only stayed at the circus for a few minutes. The rules even state that he can wear his uniform to and from work."
The AirTran pilot in question is a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, where he has served for thirteen years.
NPA President Hillman said, "It is intolerable for our pilots to be exposed to this type of intimidation. We have tried to resolve this issue directly with management. However, we continue to find management unreasonable. It would be nice to see management focused on returning to profitability, instead of threatening their hardworking crewmembers. You don't see other airlines treating their employees like this."
National Pilots Association -- representing the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways.
SOURCE National Pilots Association
Thursday, March 26, 2009 5:40 PM
Angrypoodle
Member
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- Oct 7, 2005
- Posts
- 8
Airtran's response,
ORLANDO, Fla., March 26 FL-AirTran-suspension
ORLANDO, Fla., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today issued the following statement regarding the suspension of a pilot and member of the National Pilots Association (NPA):
The suspended pilot wore his uniform to a non-work, NPA union-sponsored event in clear violation of the Flight Operations Manual and the collective bargaining agreement.
This policy has been clearly communicated to the airline's 1,700 pilots and is standard practice throughout the aviation and other industries.
The NPA union leadership had the opportunity to avoid this suspension on several occasions, and they chose not to.
AirTran Airways is dedicated to dealing equitably with all Crew Members, and to exempt pilots from the policy would be unfair to our other hard-working Crew Members.
The airline has no further comment on this issue and will not conduct labor relations through the media.
Media Contacts: AirTran AirwaysTad HutchesonChristopher White678.254.7442
SOURCE AirTran Airways
ORLANDO, Fla., March 26 FL-AirTran-suspension
ORLANDO, Fla., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today issued the following statement regarding the suspension of a pilot and member of the National Pilots Association (NPA):
The suspended pilot wore his uniform to a non-work, NPA union-sponsored event in clear violation of the Flight Operations Manual and the collective bargaining agreement.
This policy has been clearly communicated to the airline's 1,700 pilots and is standard practice throughout the aviation and other industries.
The NPA union leadership had the opportunity to avoid this suspension on several occasions, and they chose not to.
AirTran Airways is dedicated to dealing equitably with all Crew Members, and to exempt pilots from the policy would be unfair to our other hard-working Crew Members.
The airline has no further comment on this issue and will not conduct labor relations through the media.
Media Contacts: AirTran AirwaysTad HutchesonChristopher White678.254.7442
SOURCE AirTran Airways
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