In regard to PHL, some of the PHL issues exist at other locations too. There are many good employees who are working very hard, but let me tell you about two situations I personally witnessed last week, regardless of what Mark King indicates.
On December 23 in Philadelphia we witnessed a FSA driving a baggage cart back and forth between two gates and the unloading area with his carts empty. This happened for about one-hour and not only was unproductive, but a clear violation of his duties.
In Boston we were the last flight out to New York on December 26 due to a blizzard with eight of inches of snow falling and 35-knot winds.
We originated our flight with an aircraft we received and there wwere no utility employees immediately available to clean the aircraft. The CSA and the flight crew cleaned the aircraft because the airport was going to close its runways for snow removal, and there was not a lot of time to depart.
After the aircraft was cleaned a utility worker showed up and angrily addressed the flight crew, but it was later determined the utility worker elected to not show up when the aircraft arrived.
The CSA worked extremely hard to process the passenger's, FSA’s did a nice job loading baggage, and maintenance did a nice job on push back and de-icing.
However, while we were waiting for loading and catering, with different employees helping each other out, we sat and watched the three utility workers from the cockpit through the break room window watching TV, while other aircraft needed their service.
The First Officer on the trip, who had supported the IAM in their struggle, told me that he no longer supported the IAM when he witnessed 3 people simply watching TV and not doing their job during a difficult period.
Separately, a colleague of mine told me about a disturbing story in PHL. He said, "I just got back from a 3 day trip, went through PHL on our way to YYZ late on Wednesday evening. A Captain told me that his F/O, whom is a Check Airman, offered to load some bags, and as he approached the bags, was told by a ramp guy, that if he even tried to load a bag on the aircraft, he would be dragged to one of the rooms underneath the terminal adjacent to the gate, and he would be dealt with in a harsh manner (physical beating) . This was a very serious threat to him, these thugs are in their last breath and don't even know it, like fish out of the water, but have and are doing a lot of damage....."
I believe there have been management mistakes and labor mistakes too. But those employees who called in sick and do not have a legitimate excuse or simply refuse to work need to be fired without back pay, period. As ALPA MEC chairman Bill Pollock said today, “I assure you that your union will demand that the atrocity that occurred in PHL will be fully investigated and those responsible for the damage to our airline will be held accountable for their actions.â€
Regards,
USA320Pilot
