As I said above, nothing new. I had an agent board an aircraft in my absence back in the 90's after telling them not to and why (IAM in negotiations and daily check was going to take a lot longer than normal - the only indication of mechanic action when I told the agent was a toolbox sitting under the plane). I came back, found the passengers boarding, and asked the agent why only to learn that the ramp tower guy "in charge" of my flight had ordered the plane boarded. So I called him and was told point blank that my job was to fly the airplane and nothing else. So I told him that when the plane was on the runway ready for takeoff to call me and I'd come out to fly it, hung up, and immediately called the CP. When I stopped by the CP's office after the trip, I was informed that the ramp tower guy was relieved of duty immediately and wouldn't be working there any more.
If there's a problem, you have the senior VP of flight ops phone number and the FAR's - use them if necessary to resolve the problem since that's what they're there for.
Jim
