Wanchai Butterfly,
I have always placed a lot of faith in the opinions of the ground engineers. However, unlike BA and QANTAS, the engineers here are placed under tremendous pressure to get the airplanes signed off. I have had several engineers complain to me about this pressure.
The drivers are bitching to you because things are not being fixed. Yours management does not respect your professionlism, otherwise you would be given the time and facilities to fix these aircraft. If your professionalism were respected, you would have descent rest facilities, be adequately compensated for your efforts, and be allowed to carry out your job to the professional standards you would prefer. Professionalism isn't just about doing your job come hell or high water, it is also about having it recognised and appreciated.
Regarding the 49ers, there are several of these guys who I don't want to see back, but I fully support the unconditional reinstatement of these aircrew. Why you might ask, the answer is simple. Every regulatory authority in every state gives the operating crew of an aircraft a significant amount of independant authority regarding the acceptance and operation of that aircraft, an authority that is denied to the company because of the potential for abuse. If a company is allowed to sack without cause, any aircrew, than this authority is effectively compromised.
Should the 49ers be reinstated and the grievance procedure implemented, the company will have the opportunity to air their misgivings and the employee will be put on notice to lift his or her game. I don't think any fair minded person could complain about that. The grievance procedure needs to be recognised by any company that claims to be a career airline.
The "Lunatic Fringe" need not reply.