Professional Suicide in One Easy Step

[Hawker rider]

Freedom of speach



yeah right, like we ever had or will have it...

 

[bobbysamd]

Meigs letter

I wish that free speech was free, but it's not.

No, as a practical matter, free speech has a price. I have not seen or heard anything that profound in a long time. Well said, Enigma.

One must be willing to put their money where their mouth is. I would find a way to fire an employee who said/did something that was detrimental to my business. Why should an employeer keep someone who is harmful to the business?

I tend to be worker-oriented and have trouble seeing many management viewpoints, but in this case I'm afraid I have to agree. Fair is fair. The long and short of it is while Capt. Johnson might have a point he chose the wrong forum to express it. He should have submitted his viewpoint to AOPA, which has been agitating to reopen the airport. Or he could have written his congressman or something. Not go public in the fashion he did.

Airlines, and especially the majors, want company people. Capt. Johnson certainly did not help his personal cause in that regard with his letter.

 

[T-Gates]

Wow.....

I'd hate to be there for the insuing carpet dance.....

 

[100LL... Again!]

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talk about encrouchment [sic] on personal liberties and freedom.
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Sorry to shout, but:

THIS STORY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!

If you think that it does, you need to learn more about the Constitutional basis for free speech.

What about slander and libel? Are those protected forms of speech? Racist or sexist remarks in the workplace? Lying in a court of law? Sedition? Court issued gag orders? Sealed verdicts or settlements? Threatening a public opfficial?
Not ALL speech is free.

Freedom of speech does not equal the right to say anything whenever or wherever you want. IT NEVER DID!!!

Also, it is the government that cannot prohibit this type of speech. Your employer is not the governemt. They can make your employment conditional on this type of issue. Totally legal. I'm not sure ALPA could save someone in this position.

The primary reason for protection of speech is to permit criticism of the government.


By mentioning his employer in this fashion, he subjects them to possible economic consequences. Even though he does not claim to speak for them, the argument could easily be made in court that such statements would be perceived by the public as having the weight of an official company position.

This was not very smart at all. It also seems to state an OPINION that the continued viability of ATA operating out of that airport is at stake. Comments like that can affect stock prices. This could potentially be a very serious issue.

Point is, his company manual very likely prohibits the type of letter. By accepting employment, he agrees to the terms of that manual. Don't like it? Work somewhere else.

 

[FN FAL]

P.S.--FN FAL, great screen name. They are a real work of art. A friend had several including a folding stock Braziallian model.

Thank you! Yes, they are great...along with the US M1A1 and the GDR G-3.

Sorry about the slam on Illinois, but I get peeved about the loss of Meigs field as much as the next guy, and I really get peeved when people allow the taking of rights by the government, because a small group of people have convinced the masses, that they don't "need" something.

Next thing you know, they will come to your house and make you take in a homeless person or government troops, cause you don't "NEED" that spare bedroom in your house. They will come and make you get a smaller vehicle, cause you don't "NEED" that big Escalade in your driveway. And on and on.

I don't like it when someone is hogging the left lane and talking on their cell phone without using the cruise control and without using reasonable care while driving, just as much as the next guy! But I do not support the banning of them while in vehicles...legislating common sense...more rules and more rules.

I'm not against rules and government, but when you give up a right to something for no reason at all...I SAY BAH HUMBUG!!!

Merry Christmas to all...Whether you like arguing about religion or politics or airplane stuff. And yes...Merry Christmas to the people of ILLINOIS...Ding pies are done!

 

[TurboS7]

He had the balls to stand up for something and sign his name. That is a lot more than I can say for a bunch of others.... I would like to think that ATA would pat him on the back and request that he use more discretion next time.

 

[bandit110]

Because he identified himself as a pilot for the airline can his remarks be equated to a captain loudly talking about mechanical concerns or "scarry" weather while pax are boarding? Did his remarks fail to instill confidence in the traveling public? I'm not sure, I'd have no trouble traveling through Midway as a passenger, but my views / opinions are tainted. I have a hard time empathizing with lay folk when it comes to air travel. I agree that closing Meiggs was horrible and increased traffic at MDW. As a professional I would not make public remarks in the manner he chose. Oh well, just wait till a post from flight info shows up on CNN.

 

[Typhoon1244]

I would like to think that ATA would pat him on the back and request that he use more discretion next time.

You can't be that naive!

Every organization I've worked for (Hilton Hotels, U.S. Army, FlightSafety, Atlantic Southeast Airlines) had very strict policies about their employees making public statements. They'd cook you alive for doing something like this.

This guy basically said, "if you fly out of Midway, home to ATA and Chicago Express (the ATA Connection), you could die. Not only that, you could die late."

You think ATA should pat him on the back for that?!?

You must work for a more forgiving company than the rest of us!

 

[350DRIVER]

He had the balls to stand up for something and sign his name. That is a lot more than I can say for a bunch of others.... I would like to think that ATA would pat him on the back and request that he use more discretion next time.

Yeah, some fools have to speak their minds I guess. Pure stupidity, nonsense, and lack of good judgement. Pat on the back.? Get real man, he did nothing more than insult many when in reality he should have kept his mouth shut to begin with. Meigs Field is history folks (common sense), time to get over it and move on. His "personal" opinion & agenda went before his "profession" & "company", he surely does not deserve anything close to a pat on the back from anyone involved in this. Turbo, I think most realize that what you are advocating surely will not happen for the obvious resaons...

3 5 0

 

[capt. megadeth]

All you guys bashing Russ for speaking his mind are exactly what corporate America wants....for you to shut up, do your work, and the executives to stuff their golden parachutes.

Also, I am curious as to where all the "scared off" pax are going to go to? ORD???? Well, if they like Chicago Express blazing by them while they are on a ground hold in the pad for 3 hours they might. Or maybe Peotone???? Get a grip...I don't think it was that big of a deal, but then again, I have done my fair share of carpet dances.

Capt. Megadeth

 

[bart]

There is no question that he took quite a risk in posting his statement.

I would chalk it up to meaningless heroics.

My battalion commander once told me that the Army has no need for bullet stoppers, they are not effective. What we need are good bullet launchers.

I think Russ qualifies as a bullet stopper. A heroic deed, however ineffective in the end. His statement will have no effect on the situation other than to stir emotion in the pilot community. The situation will not change until Daley is booted or someone he is more scared of than his wife threatens him with loss of political power.

 

[FN FAL]

1. No matter how eloquently you write a letter about something technical, whether it be flying, skydiving, or the insanity of the Clinton 1994 assault weapon ban, it will always go over the top of whuffo's heads.

2. F.I.S.H.T.A.B.'s deserve Daley.

3. I don't care how backed up things are at Midway. We'll build a bigger terminal, lengthen a few runways and those planes can come to MKE.

 

[TurboS7]

You proved my point perfectly. In this country corportate structure and insecure and lousy leadership use a person's income to control them. That goes for the military also. Every person has the right to their own say, that expression shouldn't affect their job situation. If leadership were what it should be than any insuing fires should and could be easily handled. The leadership in this country is always looking for someone to blame and to become the fall guy. More than likely a result of too much T.V. and of Hollywood. The reality is that Chicago Miegs really didn't have that much traffic compared to Midway, it was more of a "neat" thing. Fly to Dupage and take the train downdown like the rest of humanity.

 

[flyingchicago]

The General Operating Manual of Chicago Express forbids any pilot from speaking to the media about any element of our operation. Considering Russ identified himself, our company, and the fact that he felt that safety was reduced on our flights into MDW (every single flight starts or ends there) it was clearly a wrong thing to do and in violation of the manual. I don't think he should expect to be fired and would be stunned if he was, but I think someone likely told him what he did was serious and not to do it again.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

And people wonder why it is a good thing to have a union on the property. Here's an excellent example for you nay sayers.

 

[chawbein]

And people wonder why it is a good thing to have a union on the property. Here's an excellent example for you nay sayers.

Huh?

I hope that ALPA is not in the business of keeping idiots working.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

He would have been better off not signing his name...but if his company decides to fire him for speaking his mind, the union will be there to fight for him. Otherwise, he is on his own, and that is a no win situation for any of us in similar situations.

I don't know the guy, do you? He may be a helluva good guy to work with. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and so will the union if he is in hot water for this.

 

[brew3departure]

A little off the topic...

Fn Fal,

I think somewhere like Rockford or the phantom third airport are a heckuva lot more likely than MKE. It's great for all the rich folk who live in the Northern Burbs, but that's about it.

I hope the guy doesn't get fired - it's rare to see a statement like this in today's day and age - I respect him for making his statement, but I hope he had an idea of what he was getting himself into!

Take care,
-(a former) brew3

 

[capt. megadeth]

Hey, I um hate to break the excitement, but I saw Russ at work yesterday and he is not fired. Also, as for the ATA interview rumor....Russ doesn't have his application in at ATA.

 

[Typhoon1244]

...I saw Russ at work yesterday and he is not fired.

Did they give him a pat on the back and tell him to keep up the good work?