Fri, Mar 27, 2009
Airline Says Wearing Uniform To Union Events Is Against Policy,
Whatever The Reason
The Board of Directors of the National Pilots Association (NPA)
said Thursday it "strongly condemns" what it calls the wrongful
suspension of an AirTran Airways pilot, and appealed to the public
in demanding that he be reinstated immediately and paid in
full.
According to the union, AirTran Vice President Steve Kolski
called NPA President 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 an NPA-sponsored family day at the circus in
Atlanta on February 21, 2009.
AirTran's rules clearly state all employees are not to wear
company uniforms while attending union-sponsored meetings or
events... but NPA counters the pilot was on his way to work when he
stopped briefly 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 NPA spokesman Tim Baker. "The
circus started at 3 pm, and he had to be at work at 4:30 pm. He was
leaving on a four day trip and wanted to spend as much time with
the kids as possible."
Baker also says the pilot in question "will soon be deployed
overseas" as a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, "and is focused on
spending time with his family."
In its response, AirTran pointed out the 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,"
and claims "NPA union leadership had the opportunity to avoid this
suspension on several occasions, and they chose not to."
AirTran pointedly concluded it "will not conduct labor relations
through the media."
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