AA fires mechanics for sleeping on duty

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

I'm willing to bet, that if these "very senior" guys are at least 55, with 15 or more years of company seniority, that the firing will be changed to Early RETIREMENT.

(That is if the TUL sleeping case is not successful in arbitration)

AND these guys ...A U T O M A T I C A L L Y ...need to hire their own "mouthpiece", and NOT the stooge that the TWU will supply !!!!

 

[nbmcg01]

Especially when there are plenty of us out there who would never think of kicking back and grabbing a nap while on duty. The fact that this is even being defended gives the rest of us a bad image industry wide. What is wrong with this picture?

What is wrong with your statement is the fact that all members have the right to union representation. That is the number 1 reason you pay dues...job protection. It is no different than having someone have a defense attorney. You are "innocent" until proven guilty. Personally, I would have had them into the Dr., called the EAP, you name it. It there is documented past precedent of allowing this practice, I would be lining up witnesses to the point of having them deposed under oath.

Many would never do this practice but I know of very few employees that haven't at one time in their careers done something that could possible lead to termination. This industry is no different than any other nor are the practices any different from "line" to the office. When we were first acquired, AA sent several FSMs to STL. They were shocked at the way the former TWA f/as were always in the Supverisors offices and the both heated and friendly exchanges. (it came from our participatory management agreements) Long story short, I wandered back after a Sat. flight to report a problem and the AA FSM was sound asleep in her little cube. I laughed and told her not to worry, I'm sure some of the flight attendants liked to "pray" too. I also made certain I had her name, the time and date.....just in case.

I do not condone this practice but bottom line, they have the right to good representation.

 

[Mrs. McFly]

Especially when there are plenty of us out there who would never think of kicking back and grabbing a nap while on duty. The fact that this is even being defended gives the rest of us a bad image industry wide. What is wrong with this picture?

What is wrong with the picture is that apparently some think sleeping on the job had been previously condoned, and now this practice is not allowed. I highly doubt snoozing while on duty was as overlooked as mentioned, and those who engaged in this were just never caught. Regardless of what was then, this is now, and sleeping on the job should not be allowed in any industry if the work rules clearly state so. It is ridiculous that this is even being argued and defended. Your irritation is understandable if you have been "playing by the rules" while others have not.

 

[Bob Owens]

What is wrong with the picture is that apparently some think sleeping on the job had been previously condoned, and now this practice is not allowed. I highly doubt snoozing while on duty was as overlooked as mentioned, and those who engaged in this were just never caught. Regardless of what was then, this is now, and sleeping on the job should not be allowed in any industry if the work rules clearly state so. It is ridiculous that this is even being argued and defended. Your irritation is understandable if you have been "playing by the rules" while others have not.

What you and others dont seem to get is that looking the other way for 60 years then all of a sudden turning around and terminating people for it is simply wrong. You doubt that it was overlooked, well I can tell you that it was, you probably never worked nights for any length of time. I've worked nights in both union and non-union jobs, while it was never expressly permitted in writing (it has been orally permitted by management) it was most certainly condoned as long as the assigned work was completed. If the company doesnt want people to sleep on shift, fine, its a reasonable demand, but they easily could have put a stop to it without setting up a sting operation and terminating anyone. The flip side to that is that working night shift 5 days a week is an unreasonable schedule and the company/industry must finally deal with it like most other industries have ie 3-12hr shifts for 40 hrs pay, 20 year retirements, fair premiums for working nights,etc.

 

[Duke787]

The problem with unions is we're going to have to use our unions cash reserve to defend these mechanics, who thinks it's there wright to sleep at work. How many times were these guys warned not to sleep!!!

 

[Crapdog]

The unwritten rule is do not go horizontal and take your shoes off. Sitting in a chair in the break room with your chin on your chest has been OK for 40 years. I'm only talking about line maintenance because we have a little more free time at the end of the shift. We all know (except for upper management because they have never worked nights) that working a night shift can be detrimental to your health. All the older guys who stay on nights have a lot of health problems. Trying to balance your family life at home can be very difficult. AIDS (Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome) is rampant in aviation. Getting 1 hour of sleep at the end of the shift can actually save lives especially when driving home. If the management of AA has any real brains they would allow rest periods of 30 to 60 minutes after your work is completed at the end of the shift. What I can't believe is the safety posters that were put up on the walls throughout the system that said we should get as much sleep as possible in order to stay healthy and then management comes in and walk people out. There's know doubt in my mind that the other people commenting on this topic who are against sleeping while on the clock have never worked a night shift.

 

[local 12 proud]

I've walked in on my supervisor drooling on mids, eyes closed and red from the eyelids getting heavy from the unnatural body clock.

Next time I will get a union steward and have his ASS FIRED!

 

[The Goose]

snip ...
... If the management of AA has any real brains ...
...snip

You're smoking crack - right?

 

[local 12 proud]

The problem with unions is we're going to have to use our unions cash reserve to defend these mechanics, who thinks it's there wright to sleep at work. How many times were these guys warned not to sleep!!!

Union Cash Reserve?

Wright, as in the brothers?

Its No wonder we get bent every contract...

 

[The Goose]

The problem with unions is we're going to have to use our unions cash reserve to defend these mechanics, who thinks it's there wright to sleep at work. How many times were these guys warned not to sleep!!!

Cash reserve? You mean the many millions the TWU has collected for misrepresenting its membership? Cash reserve - that's rich.

There's no defense needed. Since the company chose to only give a letter to J. A. Rae, a mechanic crew chief of 60 years who was caught sleeping and assuming these other 5 hadn't built a nest to intentionally sleep in, the company should mete out the identical consequences.

There's also the issue of tacit approval for years by the so-called management. Salaried heads need to roll regardless of the outcome.

Granted - intentional sleeping on the job has always been a no-no anywhere I've ever been employed, but - people will have a bad day occasionally and nod off at the break table. Wake 'em up and truck on. If they built a nest, God help them if caught, management through worker. Same offense, same treatment - period. Anything less than this is deserving of a DFR suit against the TWU.

Now - duke787, you sound more like a cubicle-dwelling management wanna-be than a worker. Learn a little about "your" union and learn how to spell. Joined the board in Feb. '08 and 1 post?

 

[The Foreigner]

This is interesting ...




The full story is here

Wasn't there a thread that talked this to death a week ago? Can't seem to find it now, titled " Mechs walked out by security for sleeping." Oh well lets hear it again!! Shouldn't wouldn't didn't don't won't can't sleep :blink:

found it "Corporate Security Raids LGA Locker Room " locked at 30 pages shall we start all over again?

 

[The Goose]

Wasn't there a thread that talked this to death a week ago? Can't seem to find it now, titled " Mechs walked out by security for sleeping." Oh well lets hear it again!! Shouldn't wouldn't didn't don't won't can't sleep :blink:

found it "Corporate Security Raids LGA Locker Room " locked at 30 pages shall we start all over again?

It may be a new round of the company going by the book - really hard to say.

At any rate, work to rule without exception.

 

[AMFAMAN]

It may be a new round of the company going by the book - really hard to say.

These are the same terminations that were on the other thread a few weeks back. At the time there were 8 caught, but 3 were allowed to retire.

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

Wasn't there a thread that talked this to death a week ago? Can't seem to find it now, titled " Mechs walked out by security for sleeping." Oh well lets hear it again!! Shouldn't wouldn't didn't don't won't can't sleep :blink:

found it "Corporate Security Raids LGA Locker Room " locked at 30 pages shall we start all over again?

http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41664

http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41664

http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41664

http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41664

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http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41664



Close the thread. We can discuss it again when they all get their jobs back

 

[Duke787]

I apologize for my earlier spelling error, but the major problem is that some mechs think that sleeping is a right. I'm a line mechanic at ORD and I see first hand how guys "work" to get their down time, I've also seen how management uses sleep to their advantage, but we're in a different time, and I'm not going to start a fight with management over guys sleeping. We need to act like the professionals we can be, rather then a bunch of slackers worrying about our down time. If we want to be paid like professionals we should act like professionals.