American Airlines harassing pilots for speaking out, pilots' union says
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American Airlines harassing pilots for speaking out, pilots' union says
from this link:
http://www.nandotimes.com/business/s...-2815485c.html
By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer
MIAMI (April 2, 2002 7:45 p.m. EST) - The Allied Pilots Association said Tuesday that American Airlines is harassing pilots by taking disciplinary action against those who speak out on flight safety issues.
Union officials said American has given letters threatening termination to three pilots, taking issue with them wearing their uniform while off duty. All were wore their uniforms while speaking to the media about safety concerns.
Pilot Rich Rubin, a 22-year American Airlines veteran, said he received a letter after he gave a TV interview criticizing American chairman and chief executive Donald Carty for opposing a Federal Aviation Administration plan for stricter working-hour limits for pilots.
The two other pilots, Sam Mayer and Glenn Schafer, received letters after they spoke to the press about their concerns over the investigation into the safety of the A300 Airbus following the Nov. 11 crash of American Flight 587 in New York, Rubin said.
"We believe that American's focus on our uniforms is nothing more than a ruse, an attempt by management to intimidate our representatives and silence our safety concerns," said Rubin, who has been outspoken on pilot working conditions that lead to pilot fatigue.
American specifically allows its pilots to wear their uniform while on the job, traveling on American flights, attending funerals for American employees or other sanctioned company events.
Karen Watson, an American Airlines spokeswoman in Dallas, said the pilots' allegations of harassment are baseless.
"The only thing that we've addressed with them is the wearing of the uniform," she said. "There have also been pilots who have appeared in a media forum not in uniform. And those pilots have not received (disciplinary action)."
The company does have some rules on the books that address employees disparaging the company, Watson said, adding that the company counts on pilots to raise any safety issues.
Rubin said other American pilots who have spoken to the media while in uniform, including a pilot photographed in The Los Angeles Times, were not issued disciplinary letters.
Watson said American enforces its uniform policy when it discovers one of its 12,000 pilots or other employees violates the rules.
Rubin said the union has filed grievances with American in hopes of reversing the disciplinary action against the pilots.
While no pilots have been fired or suspended over the issue, the letters are the start of an official "paper trail" that could lead to the pilots being fired, he said.
The paper presented to the FAA/NTSB et al, can be downloaded in Word format (0.4mb) from this link:
http://www.iasa.com.au/folders/Publi...ed%20final.doc
(additional submission appendices not included)
http://www.nandotimes.com/business/s...-2815485c.html
By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer
MIAMI (April 2, 2002 7:45 p.m. EST) - The Allied Pilots Association said Tuesday that American Airlines is harassing pilots by taking disciplinary action against those who speak out on flight safety issues.
Union officials said American has given letters threatening termination to three pilots, taking issue with them wearing their uniform while off duty. All were wore their uniforms while speaking to the media about safety concerns.
Pilot Rich Rubin, a 22-year American Airlines veteran, said he received a letter after he gave a TV interview criticizing American chairman and chief executive Donald Carty for opposing a Federal Aviation Administration plan for stricter working-hour limits for pilots.
The two other pilots, Sam Mayer and Glenn Schafer, received letters after they spoke to the press about their concerns over the investigation into the safety of the A300 Airbus following the Nov. 11 crash of American Flight 587 in New York, Rubin said.
"We believe that American's focus on our uniforms is nothing more than a ruse, an attempt by management to intimidate our representatives and silence our safety concerns," said Rubin, who has been outspoken on pilot working conditions that lead to pilot fatigue.
American specifically allows its pilots to wear their uniform while on the job, traveling on American flights, attending funerals for American employees or other sanctioned company events.
Karen Watson, an American Airlines spokeswoman in Dallas, said the pilots' allegations of harassment are baseless.
"The only thing that we've addressed with them is the wearing of the uniform," she said. "There have also been pilots who have appeared in a media forum not in uniform. And those pilots have not received (disciplinary action)."
The company does have some rules on the books that address employees disparaging the company, Watson said, adding that the company counts on pilots to raise any safety issues.
Rubin said other American pilots who have spoken to the media while in uniform, including a pilot photographed in The Los Angeles Times, were not issued disciplinary letters.
Watson said American enforces its uniform policy when it discovers one of its 12,000 pilots or other employees violates the rules.
Rubin said the union has filed grievances with American in hopes of reversing the disciplinary action against the pilots.
While no pilots have been fired or suspended over the issue, the letters are the start of an official "paper trail" that could lead to the pilots being fired, he said.
The paper presented to the FAA/NTSB et al, can be downloaded in Word format (0.4mb) from this link:
http://www.iasa.com.au/folders/Publi...ed%20final.doc
(additional submission appendices not included)
Join Date: May 2000
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Sorry: have to agree. If representing a union, you shouldn't be wearing a uniform inferring you are at that moment representing the airline. Unless, within reason, you have just walked off the aircraft and are asked for an opinion by a TV crew, but even then judgement should apply.
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Trouble is, AA has double standards regarding uniforms worn "outside work hours". AA made a big deal to get as many pilots as possible to fly to D.C., on their days off (in uniform), when AA was attempting to gain flights to China.
AA can't have it both ways - acknowledge that a pilot in uniform is a credible figure if you agree with them but NOT if you disagree with them.
If (god forbid) there's another incident, AA management will not have the opportunity this time to say "Why didn't you tell us!" as this subject is now on the front page of USA Today and the Wall St Journal, to name a few.
AA may not appreciate it but these guys have all raised valid concerns. If nothing else, these subjects must at least be considered and not just swept under the proverbial rug.
That's gotta be a good thing.
AA can't have it both ways - acknowledge that a pilot in uniform is a credible figure if you agree with them but NOT if you disagree with them.
If (god forbid) there's another incident, AA management will not have the opportunity this time to say "Why didn't you tell us!" as this subject is now on the front page of USA Today and the Wall St Journal, to name a few.
AA may not appreciate it but these guys have all raised valid concerns. If nothing else, these subjects must at least be considered and not just swept under the proverbial rug.
That's gotta be a good thing.
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Can I just confirm that AA pilots have nothing written into their contracts/employment regs preventing them speaking to the media without the written consent of the company?
I have my reasons for wanting to know if freedom of speach overrides such clauses. Thanks
I have my reasons for wanting to know if freedom of speach overrides such clauses. Thanks
Good point, concerning freedom of speech in the land of freedom. In the US, this freedom does not exist in uniform without the company's written approval, but without it, you can't win in court. That's why these companies have so many regulations with fairly detailed chickenfeed built into them. In many other ways, to paraphrase a recent article by Mr. Richard Drury (author of "My Secret War": Skyraider missions in...) which was in either "Airways" or "Airliner" magazine, 'the attorneys and beancounters are attempting to fly our planes' from their large mahogany desks.
Heck, at a certain major airline, the crew had to keep all paperwork from any flight which lasted over about six hours, so that the company could easily find a mistake if any incident took place.
Ja, don't ya know. OK now, hold it down Ole...
Heck, at a certain major airline, the crew had to keep all paperwork from any flight which lasted over about six hours, so that the company could easily find a mistake if any incident took place.
Ja, don't ya know. OK now, hold it down Ole...
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Dallas Dude;
We in the far east (HGK) have been watching the situation with growing concern; as you well know the coming conference on the 24th will address these and many other pressing problems in the world aviation community, I urge all those concerned with aviation and health safety to attend! Look forward to conversing.
Reptile
We in the far east (HGK) have been watching the situation with growing concern; as you well know the coming conference on the 24th will address these and many other pressing problems in the world aviation community, I urge all those concerned with aviation and health safety to attend! Look forward to conversing.
Reptile
Does anyone know....
