Question Dignity and Respect?
 

Question Dignity and Respect?


Is it me or do I have a right to feel slighted and once again slapped in the face by the company?

April 13 was my twenty year university with Continental. A week or so ago I had a form letter in my v-file stating how great an employee I was and how I was to be recognized for my hard word etc etc etc and to come in to the office to pick up my twenty year pin, and at the bottom it was wasn't signed but in a females hand writing the name ROB (my assistant chief pilot) was neatly printed where the letter should have been signed. I know Rob XXXX is in training but you mean to tell me one of the other assistants or base chief pilot couldn't sign the letter?

Then on Thursday I went in to the Chief Pilots office to pick up my pin. I asked one of the secretaries about my pin, with food in her month she motioned to me to wait while she washed her hands. She then when into Rob's office found the box and handed it to me and congratulated me on my service. Not that I don't appreciate the EWR CPO office staff but was this a totally classless act and slap in the face or is it just me?

I was pretty upset when it happened and I just left the office but at least one assistant chief pilot and the base Chief Pilot were both in their offices.
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Yeah it sucks, but it's not surprising given the way that things have gone over the past few years. I've seen worse though...

My furlough letter after 5 years of employment was delivered by the post man. Even worse it was signed by an administrative assistant.

And I didn't even get a pin...

Sorry to hear about it, but if you have the respect of your peers and coworkers, who gives a crap about what the CP thinks.

well I know of some 20 year pilots who had to take a 40% paycut from their company....

I bet the cold shoulder from you CP office is not that bad....

Did you want a parade? I understand where you are coming from, but a little too sensitive I think.:confused:

Sorry.. that's pretty funny :D No breaks in aviation is there?

It's not about me being sensitive, it is about all the BS they mouth at our airline about dignity and respect etc etc.

Like Prater says it's time to take it back, not just at CAL the entire industry. It's not just about pay and benefits as a whole in our industry Captain's authority and overall respect for all pilots has gone down the toilet. One contract at a time we do need to take it back. Do you think this would have happened thirty years ago? Don't fall into the trap and allow our careers to continue to be degraded just because it seems in todays world it's acceptable or the norm.

I do my job today as I did yesterday and I will do tomorrow as a professional. I don't take this issue to seriously it is what it is but it is a slap in the face never the less and it motivates me even more to job my union job and help our pilots negotiate a real contract 08.

I concur, too sensitive. I hope my ACP says who's that guy at my retirement party.

Or any time else.

Your ACP probably won't show up unless he likes the stale free cake.

I had the same thing happen to me (different company). Pin and form letter tossed into the v-file, nothing says "we invest in things - not people" like that.

Award
 

Over here they just throw it in your locker, if they remember to give you one at all.

Amen!
 

Amen brother!

I do agree it is being a little bit too sensitive since other people had it worst like not even getting one.

But I am 100% with you that our career has degraded and pilots don't walk with the same pride and respect that years ago. As you said "it would not had happened 30 years ago". And the only people who can fix it are US (and I meant all 597,109 F.A.A active pilots) by being unified and showing all the different companies from flight schools to corporate, cargo and airlines that airplanes without pilots are grounded; and a grounded airplane means not business.

So let's start by being pride of ourselves and show that we are the blood making run our companies.

I grant it, it is not real respectful, but after 28 years I lost about $1M from my retirement........think I like your treatment better.

Yes, it is you! Sorry to say that, but unless you called and scheduled your visit with the chief pilot, or their replacement, what did you really expect? Regardless of the circumstances of the event, did you truly expect that the office staff would come to attention when you walked in the room? As well, if that type of thing had happened to me and it bothered me as much as it appears to have bothered you, I'd have walked into the chief pilots office and made him aware of it, right then and there.

As well, looking at the big picture might give a different perspective on the treatment you endured. Maybe everyone was actually busy doing other important stuff (then again, maybe not.) What happened to you is (IMO) only an example of what goes on in a large corporation, and was not meant as a slight or a slap in the face.

Regardless, Congratulations on your 20 highly successful years at Continental Airlines, and by the way, I assume that CA did send you your pay check. Take your wife out and celebrate this milestone.

Just passed 20 years in military aviation (22 January 07) and not a word was said. I guess I didn't expect it either. Just another day.

Interesting thread

I don't think he's being too sensitive.

Either make it worth something or don't do it at all.

9999: you may have let 20 go by without a pin, but normally we make a big deal about handing out good conduct ribbons or meritorious service medals or a good score on CDC's or whatever else. Normally more of a big deal than the decorated member would like (I have to put my service dress on and stand at attention in front of everyone?)

Just my opinion

You are not being overly sensitive. As men, and a few women, we need a pat on the back, or an attaboy, every now and then and the occasional ugly tie from Jr. doesnt' cut it. We need recognition too. I'm sure you are a great pilot. The assistant should have told you to have a seat, finished stuffin her cake hole, and done it right. The chief pilot should see you and congratulate you with a handshake with your peers present, or at least the office staff.

With all of the above being said, ALL I want is for the fire department to NOT screw up my final flight hose salute ... If I make it and the company doesn't go T.U.

Tom

Sorry,

20 years makes you an 87 hire and a scab. No parade for you.

uh oh..this could get ugly...

If the above is true, please disregard the third paragraph of my earlier post. If it's not true, then disregard this post.:confused:

Hmm, have things gone south under Larry?

I was a ramper in IAH for CAL. My supervisor came to me, gave me my 10 year pin, shook my hand and said thank you for your hard work, all in front of my crew no less. That was just after Gordo departed, and just before I got my first flying gig.

Either rampers have more respect for one another, or LK wants to make CAL as warm and fuzzy as AA.

Read "Flying the Line Vol 2" by George Hopkins, which chronicles ALPA history, see page 174, last paragraph. Oct 31st 1985 Judge Roberts entered an Order and Award on Lorenzo to reinstate striking pilots with seniority, or paying severance pay or allowing striking pilots to litigate after pilots waived thier rights to seniority or severance pay. 1987 came nowhere close to the strike. Please get your facts right ...sorry no parade for you either :mad:

If that is the worst injustice you suffer over the course of your lifetime consider yourself a very fortunate individual.

I apologize if this is a little off the topic, but I feel compelled to say something. I agree with CAL EWR that overall respect has gone down the toilet, and I think some in our industry are partly responsible for that trend.

I was just on the Regionals thread and saw a thread titled Republic Promo. In a nutshell, it is a compilation of videos taken by what appears to be an E-170 f/o and placed on youtube.

I don't mean to sound anal-retentive about this, but when I see videos like that being posted on youtube, all I can think about is some kid in a pilot's uniform with Shiny-Jet Syndrome with a "this is so cool" attitude.

What the hell are you talking about you uninformed POS.

First off our strike went from November 1983 to October 1985.

Secondly the pilot that wrote this heads up our strike preparation committee and is one of the finest Union activists we have.

Your post reminds me of this turd-ball UAL Pilot I once had the miss-pleasure of meeting at a hotel by LAX.

We used to layover at this flea-bag hotel called the Viscount that had non-existent van service. One day, a full-term striker Captain, A People Express First Officer and myself a lowly 1987 hire caught the hotel van from a neighboring property, As we exited the bus, this fat-slob in a United uniform is waiting to get on the van and waits until we were at least 50 yards down the road and yells at the top of his bovine lungs "SCABS".

I immediately dropped my bags and turned around with the intent of confronting said swine when my Captain grabbed me by the arm and said "Don't bother, that guy will never know what its like to walk a picket line for 2 years and ain't worth breaking a sweat for".

Words of wisdom from a man whom I admire to this day. Try and remember that over 90% of us at CAL didn't cross a picket line and many of us walked the walk and talked the talk for almost two years.

Still waiting for LCC's public apology. Typical, make a false accusation, then just fade away.

maybe he's still trying to escape from his LCC...

I'm sorry if I offend anybody or generalize but I don't have the past knowledge and experience like you guys have in aviation since I'm in my 20s and only 440tt

But in my opinion LCC pilots are the present scabs of the industry. I hate to see how these pilots (especially B6 pilots) diminish our career by accepting not representation and in contrast accepting contracts that drive down the salaries and work rules of the industry. And the most funny and sad at the same time is accepting to clean the airplane after each flight. (I know many of you are familiar with the famous blue gloves).

So LCCescapee please look your back before you look someones else's.

C'mon FLYING HIGH as big a cheesedick LCC escapee maybe, he hasn't crossed a striking picket line yet. Maybe he needs a little education on past events, but he's not a scab in the truest sense....

And that make you an uninformed idiot. Back to class for a little history.
Till then, just shut up.

[QUOTE=FLYING HIGH;151629]I'm sorry if I offend anybody or generalize but I don't have the past knowledge and experience like you guys have in aviation since I'm in my 20s and only 440tt

But in my opinion LCC pilots are the present scabs of the industry. QUOTE]

You hardly have the background to know anything, but I guess you're entitled to your opinion. Be careful how you spread it around without hiding behind the keyboard, though.

CAL scabs were hired 1983-1985. And it's still more complex than that. "scab" is a pretty heavy word to throw around without doing some research.

I don't expect to get anything on my twenty year university.

Of course, I got similar treatment on my ten year anniversary at Fedex, and wasn't upset or surprised by it. Can't remember a 10 year university.

Get em bro.

You bring up an interesting point. We had a thread about it not too long ago. Maybe we would get more respect as professionals if we could spell and use proper words in their proper places. Not high and mighty, just an observation.

WOW , YOU GOT A PIN !!!

O.K. I got a pin too when I made Captain. The chief pilot in LAX gave me a certificate for making captain in front of a room full of pilots, flight attendants and secretaries. It was so nice I was embarrassed to tell him I had been a captain for five years already. Oh well, better late than never.

I got a pin from AOPA for 30 years of membership which I paid for, so? They mailed it to me with a letter signed by Phil Boyer (no doubt not his real signature).

When ever I have to fly domestic I fly CO. I get good treatment, nice service, etc. Even if I pay more for the ticket, and I often do, I don't care. I like CO, and always pay a compliment to whatever crew is standing there when I leave the aircraft.

Now, does 20 years of paid service require some recognition? Not really, especially these days, BUT, if you are going to give recognition, do it right. Something worth doing is worth doing well. But, what exactly is the right way?

If I were the CEO of CO (CAL if you prefer) I'd take some time each month, maybe a few hours, and just sit there and personally sign a bunch of letters for those who have achieved a significant employment milestone with the company. 10 years, 25 years, 30 years, whatever. It does not have to be on the exact day, just during the same month. Yeah, my hand might be sore afterwards, but...

Then, perhaps, I'd have that letter along with the pin mailed to the residence of the employee. Yes, that would cost some money, but might be better than the alternative mentioned above.

Of course, as CEO, if I did that, I am quite certain there would be someone to complain that it wasn't "personal" enough.

Perhaps best not to do anything at all. ;)

Back in Feb, I got a letter congradulating me for "10 years of Oustanding service to NWA" (funny, that's not what Doug Steal'in says). I had my choice of a pin, a letter of appreciation, or something else (cant remember). I ordered the pin, and when it came, found it in my mail box in checkin. Just as planned, I walked over to the trash can, and added it to the other 11 boxes that were in there.