I came accross this a while back. I blieve it was on a United pilot board (Edited for our situation), but it is appropriate none the less;
I am an Army of One (or 2, or 300, ...)
I am an army of One - A Captain in the Cathay Pacific army. For years I was a loyal soldier in Swire's army. Now I fight my own war. I used to feel valued and respected. Now I know I am mere fodder. They (CX) used to exhibit labor leadership. Now they exploit legal loopholes. They used to enjoy my maximum. Now they will suffer my minimum.
I am an army of One.
I used to save CPA a thousand Kilos of fuel per leg; finding the best FL, getting direct routing, throttling back when on-time was made, skimping during ground ops, adjusting for winds, being smart and giving the company every effort I could conjure. Now, it's "burn baby,burn". I used to call maintenance while airborne, so the part would be ready at the gate. Now, they'll find the write-up when they look in the book. I used to try to fix problems in the system, now I sit and watch as the miscues pile up. I used to fly sick. Now I use my sick days, on short notice, on the worst day of the month.
I am an army of One.
I used to start the APU at the last possible moment. Now my customers enjoy extreme comfort. I used to let the price of fuel at out-stations affect my fuel orders. I still do. I used to cover mistakes by operations. Now I watch them unfold. I used to hustle to ensure an on-time arrival, to make us the best. I used to call ATC for rerouting, to head off ground delays for bad weather. Now I collect overs, number 35 in line for takeoff.
I am on a new mission - to demonstrate that misguided leadership of indifference and disrespect has a cost. It's about character, not contracts. It's about leading by taking care of your people instead of leadership by bean counters (Oxy-morron).
With acts of omission, not commission, I am a one-man wrecking crew - an army of One. My mission used to be to make CPA rich. Now it's to make CPA pay.
When they fire more pilots than the rest, pilots that cost them 60 cents on the dollar - I will make them pay. When they under-staff bases and over-work reserves to keep pilots downgraded or downtrodden - I will make them pay. When they force pilots, who have waited years to become captains, to be FOs again - I will make them pay. When they constantly violate the letter and spirit of our contract - a contract that's a bargain by any measure, and force us to fight lengthy grievances. I will make them pay.
My negotiating committee speaks for me, but I act on my own. I am a walking nightmare to the bean counters that made me. Are you listening? This mercenary has a lot of years left with this company; how long can you afford to keep me bitter? I'm not looking for clauses in a contract, I'm looking for a culture of commitment and caring. When I see it, I'll be a soldier
for CPA again.
Until then, I am an Army of One, And I'm not alone!!!!
Do you want to be an Army of one and send a message??
Fresshen up that resume. The company provides us with reference letters. Imagine if all the fleet offices received requests for reference letters from just about all pilots in the period of one month. That would send a strong message. These sort of things would surely rip the dollar sign reflections from their eyes and bring them back to reality.
So come on guys. Pardon the language, but it is time to let the sack hang.
