Eighteen Months of Hell!!!
This posting is a cautionary tale about what happens when a totally ineffective Fleet Manager refuses to discipline a lady first officer for sexual harassment. I have spent the last ten out of sixteen months of sick prior to early retirement. My family and partner have been through hell.. .. .Some background information about the circumstances, the lady is question flew with me in late July/early August 2000. She refused to comply with the Operations Manual regarding the use of the shoulder harness, refused to comply with SOPs and broke the speed limit in the descent and on the SIDs on several occassions. She also insisted on using a clip board that had pictures of partially clad males in clear view. . .. .She was well below the standard expected of someone of her experience and I contacted the Training Manager in order to arrange for some extra training. She was of the opinion that Training Captains should not train on line flights but only on line checks.. .. .During late August/early Septeber 2000 she remarked to at least five line captains that she flew with, one of whom gave me statement, advising them that" confidence has gone as a result of me staring at her breasts instead of training her". I contacted the Fleet Manager and the rest is history and appears below.. .. .The lady in question later freely admitted in a meeting on the 19th January 2001 when the Fleet Manager, a Personnel Person and myself were present, that she had made up the entire story and that it was malicious, false and entirely without any foundation. NO action was taken against her.. .. .Due to Fleet manager's procrastination in September/October 2000 I started the formal grievance procedure based od on her alleged remarks. Even before a formal hearing I was advised by letter dated the 11th Dec 2000 " In respect of your reservations and potential refusal to fly with First Officer ******* on your return I do not see this to be an acceptable or workable option." I had gone sick with acute stress, anxiety and depression by this time so it was not a problem!. .. .Prior to the letter of the 11th Dec at a meeting with the Fleet Manager and the Personnel Person on the 23rd November 2000 I was advised by the latter that should I refuse to fly with the lady in question "they would have to consider letting me go". I was so shocked that I asked for this to be repeated. It was repeated verbatum.. .. .Around about this time another first officer, listening to the rumour machine, wrote to the local Magistrates Court where I sit and advised them that I had been suspended from work and was being investigated for sexual harassment, both of which were untrue. The Operations Director refused to take any action against this individual.. .. .I received aletter dated 15th February from the Fleet Manager advising me that they had decided to take no action against the lady, inspite of her admission. I was advised in this letter that the January meeting with the lady in question was " to enable you to initiate the re-building of a good working relationship with ****** and I expect this to be maintained in a consistent manner in the future". I was also advised in the letter that I didn,t have to fly with her for three months as a "cooling-off period".. .. .I had to visit the CAA psychiatrist before returning to work as they were concerned about the stress that I had suffered. At the end of the three month freeze I knew that we could be rostered together. I was concerned that she may try to make more allegations on a formal basis and be believed by the company as the easy way out. When I went to my AME in September 2001 for renewal I was told that I was under too much stress and that as long as the threat of dismissal was hanging over me I would not fly I took early retirement in February 2002.. .. .The level of harassment is assessed in law as perceived by the victim. All I wanted was an apology and a guarantee not to fly together. This was not an option. When I sugested a apology to the lady at the 19th Jan meeting she demanded an apology from me and stated that "I would do the same thing again if I threatened and considered it justified." Nice lady!!. .. .The strain on my family has been incredible. When you see your dear old mum of eighty breaking down in tears over this lot you'll know why I want to pass this message on.. .. .A BIG BIG Thank you to all my colleagues for seeing me through a very difficult time. I would not have made it without you. I've given up the job I love but at least I have my health, sanity. .and support of a lot of very good people.. .. .Safe flying. .. .MP <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />