And, who wants to apply....? WTF

[patron]

Holiday Season and Absenteeism


On Dec 16, 2010, at 10:40, XXX wrote:
Attn: Captain XXX, B767,

Hi,

Hope all is well. Just a quick note. Your name has come up on a short list of people who had booked off sick over the Christmas period the last couple of years. I've noted that you're on vacation and start a pairing on the 27th this year. I don't believe this will be a problem this year, but if you do have any concerns or any problems with the schedule, please call/contact me. Wishing you all the best in 2011 - I am hopeful that your year will be good.

Regards,
xxx
Air Canada




From: xxx
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 05:11
To: xxx
Subject: Re: Christmas

Attn: Captain xxxx

Hi xxx. I am glad to see that I am on a list somewhere.

1) Are you directing me to report for duty if I am sick?

2) I am beyond offended by your remarks. In fact, I am so angry that I almost called in sick today, except that my name is on the "available for draft" volunteer list and I have already accepted additional flying assignments earlier in the month. Is there a special course you can take on how to “kill employee morale and motivation”?

3) I am a little "punchy" right now from fatigue because I accepted a volunteer "move up" in London on Tuesday, late at night to protect the 2:00am body time early morning departure; due to cancelations elsewhere in the system.

4) You will note that my attendance in recent months has been exemplary; even though you are fully aware that I have carried a burden of getting my spouse through 30 rounds of radiation and two months of chemotherapy during her treatment for cancer. You are also aware that I have been attending, as best I can, to her medical needs for the past two years. I cannot convey to you how much courage it took for me to shave her hair off. As you know, I shaved my own hair off at the same time.

5) Two weeks ago, I approached you in flight planning to volunteer to assist any other pilots that may also find themselves struggling in the cancer business. I have also made the same offer at the Air Canada Medical Clinic.

5) You will recall that I have already attended a disciplinary hearing in March instigated by First Officer xxx and attended by yourself and xxx about absenteeism. The net result was that you placed a "Letter of Discipline" on my file that will remain in effect for the remainder of my career. All of this during the challenges of cancer management.

6) The Crew Manning department has assisted me with this medical responsibility by moving vacation time to match chemotherapy weeks. The Training department has also helped out by tagging my flights for training or line checks, where possible. Odd, that the best that the Flight Operations department can manage is a "drop flying with no pay".

7) It appears that you have chosen to initiate pre-emptive discipline on my behalf in case I call in sick. Your explanation to me that you have no real authority in your position as Base Manager and that you are only following orders from your immediate supervisors, is starting to sound lame.

I take particular care of passengers, crew members, and employees traveling on my flights. Further, I take pride in conducting a sweet, beautiful, and efficient operation. Yesterday, I volunteered to ride in the flight deck to allow one extra passenger to travel on a flight with no seats available.

10) My trust in you and your office has been misplaced and I do not want to interact with you in any way for any reason. I will ask you to move my file over to MLO, Captain xxx who has a growing reputation for using common sense and good judgment in these matters.

11) In November of this year, during a routine cardiology exam, it was discovered that I have three nodules in my lungs. I will begin diagnostics and staging for cancer in the new year. The Air Canada Medical department has a copy of the initial report. Based on this news, your bullying harassment to me has no meaning and appears petty and small.

13) It had not occurred to me to take any time off over the holidays. But now that you mention it, I will reconsider. I will commit to give the employer about an hours notice before I make up my mind. I am so angry right now that I cannot see straight, so I will take my current vacation time to cool off a bit.

14) I would like to make this clear. I am a Boeing 767 Captain with Transport Canada approved training and licensing. I am responsible, along with other crew members, to manage the operation and voyage of a thirty year old $125 million dollar aircraft, weighing 180,000 metric tonnes, from one side of the planet, over open waters, to the other side of the planet. I have over thirty years of experience with Air Canada and forty years of experience in the industry. All without a single accident. If the employer can so easily disrespect me and finds so little value in my licenses or experience, that it would allow this type of administrative abuse, surely I won’t be missed for a few days.

15) I was trained for my Captaincy, by experienced Captains at Air Canada many years ago, to lead and to stand firm when required. I will not devalue that training nor will I disrespect those that have gone before me now, by allowing you to harass me over a blinding thirst for profit. There may be other pilots who are being subjected to this type of abuse, who may not be able to stand up for themselves. You have left me with no choice but to do it for them.

16) Based upon your note, if asked, I would encourage each pilot at Air Canada to take a long, clear, and thoughtful look this Holiday Season at whether their unique technical experience is really of any value to the success of the billions of dollars of gross income at the airline. Perhaps it is time for the pilot group to find out if they are really of any value at all. Perhaps, the first calendar day of every month should be designated as a “stress day” where each pilot might choose to review their individual stress levels prior to reporting to work.

18) My sense is that this exchange is not really about you, or me, or absenteeism; but is part of an overal systemic, and endemic, disrespect from the corporate offices on down, for the Airline Transport Pilot profession and specifically for our pilot group. My overwhelming instinct is that it is time to bring this to a stop.

19) I appreciate the employers efficient use of resources as witnessed by the 9% increase in productivity of the fleet and pilot group during the past year. The current management practice of bullying pilots to go flying when they are not fit to fly is bad business and is illegal. I will ask you to stop it, please.

20) There are a dozen ways that you might have broached this subject. This is not one of them. I believe you are better than this, xxx.

Best of the season to you.

B767 Captain xxx,

Cc:
CEO
VP Flt Ops
ACPA - YYZ all, YVR, YUL, YWG Chairs
CIRB - Canadian Industrial Relations Board
Media - Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen


//real names xxx'd by Sulako

[Mig29]

ouch!!!

On that note, this proves that it's not the place and people you work with but those who run the game that make a company good or bad.

I still believe that AC is a good place to be at the end of the day...

[OceansEdge]

ouch!!!

On that note, this proves that it's not the place and people you work with but those who run the game that make a company good or bad.

I still believe that AC is a good place to be at the end of the day...

I've heard it said in management seminars more than once, and it keeps being proven true to me... 80% of people who've resigned don't quit their job, they quit their manager

[Johnny767]

Snotty reply deleted...

Not sure this was meant for a public forum. Since the moderators already had to remove names, maybe they can please delete the original post.

Thanks

patron - a little restraint might be in order, nice 1st post.

[bluemic]

Gotta agree with Johnny, this post/thread should be deleted.

From what I hear, the correspondence was originally posted on a PRIVATE forum and – unless BOTH the parties involved gave permission to do so – copying it over to this public forum is, at the very least, out of line.

"Patron", the pilot who is at the center of this has enough on his plate. By making this exchange public you run the real risk of heaping even more on it.

Mic

[B-rad]

This thread does not need to be deleted.

Everyone should be able to see behind the scenes and have their own judgment. Don't like it? Don't read it. I say it's an eye opener for all those who don't know of this kind of things going on. It was sent to the media and I think personally the airlines don't need any bad press but you can't hide it from yourselves! smarten up and open your eyes! Pilots do need to stand up for themselves more often and I'm glad to see some pilots taking the stand. Big business is big business but the little guys gotta look out for #1!

[North Shore]

Ouch!

Media - Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen

Unless this has been added after, it seems as if Captain XXX did want this to go public?

Disclaimer: *Strictly my thoughts on this.*

[truedude]

Personally, I think this is awesome. Good for him for standing up for himself, and in the way he did it. Receiving a letter like that from a manager IS harassment, and should not, on any level, be tolerated.

And for those who have an issue with this going public--it's because most people don't bring things like this to light that crap like this is allowed to endure. People who write and send letters like this are bully's, and bully's will continue to bully until they have been called out of the shadow's. If everyone did as this pilot has done, you would never see a letter from a manager like this ever again--as it should be.

Edited for spelling.

[onspeed]

100% agree with the OP. I'm surprised to see this type of game being played a such a high level. One would think when you get that far up these sort of things would go away, or at least be a private HR issue.

[crazy_aviator]

I agree with most of what the poster has said in the letter HOWEVER, IF he was calling in sick and WASNT he is a deceiver and a lier and receives NO tears from me regardless of his personal situation !

[morefun]

I agree with most of what the poster has said in the letter HOWEVER, IF he was calling in sick and WASNT he is a deceiver and a lier and receives NO tears from me regardless of his personal situation !

You're really are a compassionate crazy aviator...

[Squid]

Harassment true dude! Lol. Grow up. Do you know the other side of the story?

There is two sides to the story - patron only shows us what he wants us to see. There was a reason and an approval by acpa when he got an official kick in the butt before(discipline hearing) - they don't do these for fun. Like I said there is two sides to the story. Fortunately this forum won't see the company side. Maybe there is quite a history there and if he has that many troubles on his plate he shouldn't be flying that airplane anyway. A little too much on his mind perhaps? I think so. This is seriously immature for him to do this. There are avenues for help. Use them. Start with efap.

[truedude]

Harassment true dude! Lol. Grow up. Do you know the other side of the story?

There is two sides to the story - patron only shows us what he wants us to see. There was a reason and an approval by acpa when he got an official kick in the butt before(discipline hearing) - they don't do these for fun. Like I said there is two sides to the story. Fortunately this forum won't see the company side. Maybe there is quite a history there and if he has that many troubles on his plate he shouldn't be flying that airplane anyway. A little too much on his mind perhaps? I think so. This is seriously immature for him to do this. There are avenues for help. Use them. Start with efap.

Whether the poster has received a "kick in the but" in the past, is immaterial. For a manager to send him a letter of this nature, IS harassment, and never should have been sent. It's purpose and intend was perfectly clear, in its not so settle undertones.

As for your comments regarding his fitness to be in an airplane--unless along with your pilots license, you also hold a degree in psychology, i doubt your qualified to make those sorts of judgments.

[pika]

1) Are you directing me to report for duty if I am sick?

Nowhere does the form letter from your supervisor say you are to report for duty if sick.

2) I am beyond offended by your remarks. In fact, I am so angry that I almost called in sick today, except that my name is on the "available for draft" volunteer list and I have already accepted additional flying assignments earlier in the month. Is there a special course you can take on how to “kill employee morale and motivation”?

Emotional response. Irrelevant.

3) I am a little "punchy" right now from fatigue because I accepted a volunteer "move up" in London on Tuesday, late at night to protect the 2:00am body time early morning departure; due to cancelations elsewhere in the system.

Emotional response. Beyond irrelevant.

4) You will note that my attendance in recent months has been exemplary; even though you are fully aware that I have carried a burden of getting my spouse through 30 rounds of radiation and two months of chemotherapy during her treatment for cancer. You are also aware that I have been attending, as best I can, to her medical needs for the past two years. I cannot convey to you how much courage it took for me to shave her hair off. As you know, I shaved my own hair off at the same time.

Attendance at work is expected. No gold stars for flying your schedule. That is what you are paid to do. I'm sorry for your personal situation. Poor me card surfaces.

5) Two weeks ago, I approached you in flight planning to volunteer to assist any other pilots that may also find themselves struggling in the cancer business. I have also made the same offer at the Air Canada Medical Clinic.

Irrelevant and poor me II. You can't fly your block but you have free time to volunteer?

5) You will recall that I have already attended a disciplinary hearing in March instigated by First Officer xxx and attended by yourself and xxx about absenteeism. The net result was that you placed a "Letter of Discipline" on my file that will remain in effect for the remainder of my career. All of this during the challenges of cancer management.

Irrelevant and poor me III. Time to laminate that card.

6) The Crew Manning department has assisted me with this medical responsibility by moving vacation time to match chemotherapy weeks. The Training department has also helped out by tagging my flights for training or line checks, where possible. Odd, that the best that the Flight Operations department can manage is a "drop flying with no pay".

Poor me IV. Put the card away before the corners get dog eared.

7) It appears that you have chosen to initiate pre-emptive discipline on my behalf in case I call in sick. Your explanation to me that you have no real authority in your position as Base Manager and that you are only following orders from your immediate supervisors, is starting to sound lame.

Emotional response? Irrelevant. Over thirty years in and you don't know the system?

9) I take particular care of passengers, crew members, and employees traveling on my flights. Further, I take pride in conducting a sweet, beautiful, and efficient operation. Yesterday, I volunteered to ride in the flight deck to allow one extra passenger to travel on a flight with no seats available.

martyrdom
1. the condition of being a martyr.

10) My trust in you and your office has been misplaced and I do not want to interact with you in any way for any reason. I will ask you to move my file over to MLO, Captain xxx who has a growing reputation for using common sense and good judgment in these matters.

Emotional and irrelevant.

11) In November of this year, during a routine cardiology exam, it was discovered that I have three nodules in my lungs. I will begin diagnostics and staging for cancer in the new year. The Air Canada Medical department has a copy of the initial report. Based on this news, your bullying harassment to me has no meaning and appears petty and small.

Sorry for your situation. Emotional response and irrelevant.

13) It had not occurred to me to take any time off over the holidays. But now that you mention it, I will reconsider. I will commit to give the employer about an hours notice before I make up my mind. I am so angry right now that I cannot see straight, so I will take my current vacation time to cool off a bit.

Emotional response and bitter. Laminated poor me card is now dog eared.

14) I would like to make this clear. I am a Boeing 767 Captain with Transport Canada approved training and licensing. I am responsible, along with other crew members, to manage the operation and voyage of a thirty year old $125 million dollar aircraft, weighing 180,000 metric tonnes, from one side of the planet, over open waters, to the other side of the planet. I have over thirty years of experience with Air Canada and forty years of experience in the industry. All without a single accident. If the employer can so easily disrespect me and finds so little value in my licenses or experience, that it would allow this type of administrative abuse, surely I won’t be missed for a few days.

Indeed, you are so great. Irrelevant.

15) I was trained for my Captaincy, by experienced Captains at Air Canada many years ago, to lead and to stand firm when required. I will not devalue that training nor will I disrespect those that have gone before me now, by allowing you to harass me over a blinding thirst for profit. There may be other pilots who are being subjected to this type of abuse, who may not be able to stand up for themselves. You have left me with no choice but to do it for them.

martyrdom
1. the condition of being a martyr.

16) Based upon your note, if asked, I would encourage each pilot at Air Canada to take a long, clear, and thoughtful look this Holiday Season at whether their unique technical experience is really of any value to the success of the billions of dollars of gross income at the airline. Perhaps it is time for the pilot group to find out if they are really of any value at all. Perhaps, the first calendar day of every month should be designated as a “stress day” where each pilot might choose to review their individual stress levels prior to reporting to work.

Emotional or bitter? Damn the employer who has paid you every two weeks for the last thirty years!

18) My sense is that this exchange is not really about you, or me, or absenteeism; but is part of an overal systemic, and endemic, disrespect from the corporate offices on down, for the Airline Transport Pilot profession and specifically for our pilot group. My overwhelming instinct is that it is time to bring this to a stop.

Opinion and irrelevant.

19) I appreciate the employers efficient use of resources as witnessed by the 9% increase in productivity of the fleet and pilot group during the past year. The current management practice of bullying pilots to go flying when they are not fit to fly is bad business and is illegal. I will ask you to stop it, please.

Opinion and irrelevant II. If illegal as you claim you have a union and labour laws to protect you.

20) There are a dozen ways that you might have broached this subject. This is not one of them. I believe you are better than this, xxx.

Opinion and irrelevant III.

You have options if you have such serious and fundamental disagreements with what an employee/employer relationship should look like.

Stress leave, sick leave, retirement. Care for your wife, buy a boat, restore a hotrod, spend time with your children/grandchildren.

Unless of course you are part of the crowd supporting fly til you die?

[MackTheKnife]

I would have to agree with PIKA's comments above. Almost everything he said is irrelevant to the letter sent to him. Companies just don't pick names out of thin air and send off missives like the above if there isn't a reason to do so in the first place. I would bet $$$$ there has been an on going history here that hasn't been explained.

FACT:

A good Human Resources person will eat this guy for lunch and he will regret the day he ever wrote the letter.

[Squid]

So if you think a letter like that is harassment, what or how in your mind if you were a manager address a situation like this? There is a history here and no I don't hold a degree in that area but I do posess common sence. Tribunals are a second or third step in the progessive process after the individuals have met with health and wellness people and or third party contracted agencies. Sick time is tough to validate BUT there are abusers that ruin the party for the legitimate cases. Putting this up here on a board like this makes me think that all credibility is lost. Put it this way, Would you want your family flying in the back with this dude in command with all that luggage on his mind. Put it to a vote.

[Localizer]

So if you think a letter like that is harassment, what or how in your mind if you were a manager address a situation like this? There is a history here and no I don't hold a degree in that area but I do posess common sence. Tribunals are a second or third step in the progessive process after the individuals have met with health and wellness people and or third party contracted agencies. Sick time is tough to validate BUT there are abusers that ruin the party for the legitimate cases. Putting this up here on a board like this makes me think that all credibility is lost. Put it this way, Would you want your family flying in the back with this dude in command with all that luggage on his mind. Put it to a vote.

Squid .. in the matter of the manager's letter .. it should not have been sent. The manager should have waited to see the outcome of the situation rather then preempt it. In labour terms this letter is harassment .. it has left this person with the impression that he better not book off, (that's what I got out of it .. and I'm sure others as well) and that is against the labour code and CARs. (602.02) If he feels in anyway unfit, he has no choice but to remove himself from duties. The other side to the regulation is that the company can also remove you from duty if they feel you are unfit. With that in mind and all the information this person has offered up in regards to ongoing issues with family and health .. Maybe the company should offer a compassionate/medical leave or work something else out that is mutually agreeable rather then getting all parties together for a disciplinary hearing.

I'm sure there is a better way to resolve this issue from both sides of the fence .. i'm not condoning his letter to the media outlets either.

Happy New Year to all!

Cheers! Loc

[Changes in Latitudes]

I'm sure there is a better way to resolve this issue from both sides of the fence .. i'm not condoning his letter to the media outlets either.
Happy New Year to all!

Cheers! Loc

I have to agree with what Localizer has said. The means in which this poster decided to voice his disgust was not the proper way of going about things. One must, however, take into account the amount of emotional stress that this person is under. I can understand why this individual reacted the way that they did. As management, you definitely do not want to want to approach someone under this kind of stress in any way that could appear hostile or stand-offish. Like Localizer has said, you do not want to put a person like this into a disciplinary hearing, you're just asking for all kinds of trouble.

Although the post appears irrational to us sitting at home with our feet up, I have to show a bit of compassion towards this individual's situation. Different stressors affect people in various ways, this person felt things piling up on their shoulders and lashed out. That's the only sense I can make of it. A good lesson for all of us.

[mbav8r]

From: xxx
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 05:11
To: xxx
Subject: Re: Christmas

Attn: Captain xxxx

Hi xxx. I am glad to see that I am on a list somewhere.

1) Are you directing me to report for duty if I am sick?

Point 1) of his response is the most important thing to take from it, that was his initial impression of the letter from his manager and what prompted the rant.
Correct me if I'm wrong but sick time is for anytime you feel unfit for duty, you don't need a cold to be sick. If you're heads not in the game because your wife is ill, would that not qualify for sick time?