AirTran Airways Issues Statement on Suspension of Crew Member

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ORLANDO, Fla., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) , today issued the following statement regarding the suspension of a pilot and member of the National Pilots Association (NPA):

The suspended pilot wore his uniform to a non-work, NPA union-sponsored event in clear violation of the Flight Operations Manual and the collective bargaining agreement.

This policy has been clearly communicated to the airline's 1,700 pilots and is standard practice throughout the aviation and other industries.

The NPA union leadership had the opportunity to avoid this suspension on several occasions, and they chose not to.

AirTran Airways is dedicated to dealing equitably with all Crew Members, and to exempt pilots from the policy would be unfair to our other hard-working Crew Members.

The airline has no further comment on this issue and will not conduct labor relations through the media.


Big picture FO suspended for dropping his kids off at a family fun union sponsored event while in uniform, ON HIS WAY TO WORK!!!

That is rediculous. What is even worse is someone at the union sponsored event took it upon himself/ herself to rat him out. This is why we are paid so little. That person deserves all the bad luck that comes their way in this life and the next. Holding someone hostage with his kids is horrible.

I feel alot more angry than I am letting on, but I will maintain an even keel while on this forum. I am thinking socks with bars of soap!

 

edited for content

 

Probably someone with a beef against the FO. Looking to stick anything he/she could on that gentleman. A ridiculous rule to be sure, and very poor conduct on the behalf of the rat.

 

man, what a tard

 

Nah! There's no reason to have a union, the company will take care of you.

 

Those that work there know how the company plays the game. They have an established method of operatiing. Hey a bear is a bear don't mess with it. The guy who ratted him out is another issue.

All that said the company has been known to employ private investigators to do their bidding in which case, they throw away more good will.

Again that said the company is playing hard ball and the union had better not bring it weak.

 

Press Release
AirTran Airways Unfairly Suspends Pilot for Dropping Children Off at Circus While in Uniform, Shortly Before Being Deployed Overseas.
Atlanta, GA. - The Board of Directors of the National Pilots Association (NPA), which represents the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways, strongly condemns the wrongful suspension of one of their pilots, and asks the public to join them in demanding that he be reinstated immediately and paid in full.
AirTran Vice President Steve Kolski called NPA President, First Officer Linden Hillman last week to inform him that management's position is that the pilot was in violation of AirTran's flight operations manual and would face possible discipline for wearing his uniform while dropping off his wife and two young children at a circus in Atlanta on February 21, 2009. The NPA sponsored a family day at the circus, and the pilot was on his way to work when he stopped at Philips Arena to help his wife with their kids.
"He was wearing his uniform so that he could get to work on-time," said First Officer Tim Baker, spokesman for the NPA. "The circus started at 3 p.m., and he had to be at work at 4:30 p.m. He was leaving on a four day trip and wanted to spend as much time with the kids as possible. He will soon be deployed overseas and is focused on spending time with his family. He only stayed at the circus for a few minutes. The rules even state that he can wear his uniform to and from work."
The AirTran pilot in question is a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, where he has served for thirteen years.
NPA President Hillman said, "It is intolerable for our pilots to be exposed to this type of intimidation. We have tried to resolve this issue directly with management. However, we continue to find management unreasonable. It would be nice to see management focused on returning to profitability, instead of threatening their hardworking crewmembers. You don't see other airlines treating their employees like this."
Interviews with President Hillman are available.

 

Wow. That is truly despicable display of intimidation by the so-called company "leaders." Rule by fear and intimidation.

The union ought to pull out the stops to find the rat that snitched on him.

 

It is not the first time and will not be the last time they do something to one of your pilots. They have a long history of unfairly reprimanding and terminating you guys.

 

Take the short flight down to FLL to NKS HQ and Airtran tactics will look like childs play.