Alaska Airbus Training
03-19-2019, 06:10 AM
#71
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
Originally Posted by WutFace
An identically proficient, faceless, nameless, interchangeable professional who even wears the same clothes as you do. That's what makes you blue collar.
A blue collar worker does what the boss tells him to.
A professional performs his craft in accordance with his education, training and judgement, and owes a duty to the public and the government. That duty supersedes his responsibility to his employer of the moment. He is certified, regulated and monitored by the government.
His craft requires significant judgement, and if he fails there can be serious or deadly consequences. Doctors, lawyers, civil engineers, architects, pilots, etc.
In blue collar there's always a right answer, and you can't make up your own. A professional in some circumstances may have to create a best solution in accordance with his judgement... and the regulations allow this. Doctors and lawyers do it all the time, pilots occasionally, engineers rarely.
We are professionals whose jobs have some blue-collar characteristics. Best of both worlds for the most part.
03-19-2019, 01:00 PM
#72
Banned
Joined APC: Apr 2017
Posts: 627
Originally Posted by rickair7777
No.
A blue collar worker does what the boss tells him to.
A professional performs his craft in accordance with his education, training and judgement, and owes a duty to the public and the government. That duty supersedes his responsibility to his employer of the moment. He is certified, regulated and monitored by the government.
His craft requires significant judgement, and if he fails there can be serious or deadly consequences. Doctors, lawyers, civil engineers, architects, pilots, etc.
In blue collar there's always a right answer, and you can't make up your own. A professional in some circumstances may have to create a best solution in accordance with his judgement... and the regulations allow this. Doctors and lawyers do it all the time, pilots occasionally, engineers rarely.
We are professionals whose jobs have some blue-collar characteristics. Best of both worlds for the most part.
A blue collar worker does what the boss tells him to.
A professional performs his craft in accordance with his education, training and judgement, and owes a duty to the public and the government. That duty supersedes his responsibility to his employer of the moment. He is certified, regulated and monitored by the government.
His craft requires significant judgement, and if he fails there can be serious or deadly consequences. Doctors, lawyers, civil engineers, architects, pilots, etc.
In blue collar there's always a right answer, and you can't make up your own. A professional in some circumstances may have to create a best solution in accordance with his judgement... and the regulations allow this. Doctors and lawyers do it all the time, pilots occasionally, engineers rarely.
We are professionals whose jobs have some blue-collar characteristics. Best of both worlds for the most part.
All other professions that you listed have some way where individual talents are on display. A good lawyer, a good heart surgeon, a good architect will achieve individual recognition for superior work. Our profession, by design, is faceless. You are either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are a cog in the machine, and managers will treat you like the interchangeable resource you are.
So all this talk about being a white collar professionals and being treated as such does a disservice to the mindset we need going into negotiations. Too many pilots think they're a cut above a blue collar employee and it costs us unity. Our strength is in collective bargaining. Embrace it.
03-19-2019, 04:24 PM
#73
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
Originally Posted by WutFace
While all the things you listed may be true, but I guarantee that management does not share this ego-flattering interpretation of the job.
All other professions that you listed have some way where individual talents are on display. A good lawyer, a good heart surgeon, a good architect will achieve individual recognition for superior work. Our profession, by design, is faceless. You are either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are a cog in the machine, and managers will treat you like the interchangeable resource you are.
So all this talk about being a white collar professionals and being treated as such does a disservice to the mindset we need going into negotiations. Too many pilots think they're a cut above a blue collar employee and it costs us unity. Our strength is in collective bargaining. Embrace it.
All other professions that you listed have some way where individual talents are on display. A good lawyer, a good heart surgeon, a good architect will achieve individual recognition for superior work. Our profession, by design, is faceless. You are either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are a cog in the machine, and managers will treat you like the interchangeable resource you are.
So all this talk about being a white collar professionals and being treated as such does a disservice to the mindset we need going into negotiations. Too many pilots think they're a cut above a blue collar employee and it costs us unity. Our strength is in collective bargaining. Embrace it.
I don't disagree that management considers us widgets.
My point has nothing to do with ego, I've long ago satisfied any professional ego requirements that I may have had. Point being don't forget that sometimes you have to say no or insist on certain operational conditions. The FAA expects you to, and so do the pax. If you're not a professional you're just seat meat, ie along for the ride.
03-19-2019, 09:17 PM
#74
Banned
Joined APC: Apr 2017
Posts: 627
Originally Posted by rickair7777
I didn't say otherwise, I said we have some blue collar characteristics. Organization and unity are critical. Other than that I enjoy most of the blue collar aspects of the job.
I don't disagree that management considers us widgets.
My point has nothing to do with ego, I've long ago satisfied any professional ego requirements that I may have had. Point being don't forget that sometimes you have to say no or insist on certain operational conditions. The FAA expects you to, and so do the pax. If you're not a professional you're just seat meat, ie along for the ride.
I don't disagree that management considers us widgets.
My point has nothing to do with ego, I've long ago satisfied any professional ego requirements that I may have had. Point being don't forget that sometimes you have to say no or insist on certain operational conditions. The FAA expects you to, and so do the pax. If you're not a professional you're just seat meat, ie along for the ride.
03-19-2019, 09:59 PM
#75
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by WutFace
While all the things you listed may be true, but I guarantee that management does not share this ego-flattering interpretation of the job.
All other professions that you listed have some way where individual talents are on display. A good lawyer, a good heart surgeon, a good architect will achieve individual recognition for superior work. Our profession, by design, is faceless. You are either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are a cog in the machine, and managers will treat you like the interchangeable resource you are.
So all this talk about being a white collar professionals and being treated as such does a disservice to the mindset we need going into negotiations. Too many pilots think they're a cut above a blue collar employee and it costs us unity. Our strength is in collective bargaining. Embrace it.
All other professions that you listed have some way where individual talents are on display. A good lawyer, a good heart surgeon, a good architect will achieve individual recognition for superior work. Our profession, by design, is faceless. You are either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are a cog in the machine, and managers will treat you like the interchangeable resource you are.
So all this talk about being a white collar professionals and being treated as such does a disservice to the mindset we need going into negotiations. Too many pilots think they're a cut above a blue collar employee and it costs us unity. Our strength is in collective bargaining. Embrace it.
03-20-2019, 10:23 AM
#76
Banned
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Position: 7th green
Posts: 4,378
Originally Posted by WutFace
You are either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You are a cog in the machine, and managers will treat you like the interchangeable resource you are.
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