Thunder Airline "what a great company"

Julian · Post by **Julian** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:50 am

So, not to long ago, this fine company hired 4 pilots... a start date was given and they were supposed to begine 1 1/2 month later.

So my buddy, who was one of those pilots gaved the 2 weeks notice prior to the schedual stating date with thunder got f#*%ked over by them.

Her is the email that my buddy recieved:

I am contacting you on behalf of *** ****** who is out of the country until Tues. Our planning has changed since he has spoken to you and we wanted to advise you things may change. We will not be sure of exactly what we are doing until the middle of next week and therefore wanted to let you know as soon as possible. I will also try to call you today to update you. If you wish you may call me direct as well at 807 *** ****.

*** ******
President

So 1 week later, they called back all 4 pilots and tolled them not to bother comming to thunder bay. Finally they did not need their service any more. This respecfull and upstanding company at least had the cortesy to give them this notice less then 4 days prior to the starting date (wich was to late for my buddy who add already quite a 20$/hrs job).

Talk about a professional company.

split s · Post by **split s** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:05 am

This industry can really kick you in the nuts sometimes, hope all the guys find a new job soon or can keep their old jobs. I really wish companies would have their facts solidly togeather before they promise people a job on a "hopes" of a new contract or whatever the case may be.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:37 pm

Wow, if that's true it's pretty low. Apparently thunder is a very shitty place to work anyways. Someone who was there said that not only did he not like it there he's never met anyone who has. Probably small consolation for your friend but it may be for the best in the end.

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:12 pm

Never ceases to amaze me. I got out along with a bunch of others in quite a short time period. Just didnt turn out to be what I had hoped it would in the end. Alot of others feel that way now.

oldncold · Post by **oldncold** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:24 pm

if it is NOT in indelible ink and signed by a lawyer . the promise is
worth the big goose egg

Guest295 · Post by **Guest295** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:47 am

Never leave one job for another based on a phone call or handshake. Always have something in writing. The document is called an “Employment Confirmation Letter”. I have used them many times in the past.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:54 am

Another reason NOT to put money up-front for a training bond....like you'd ever see a cent of it again!!

bcflyer · Post by **bcflyer** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:13 am

Apparently thunder is a very shitty place to work anyways. Someone who was there said that not only did he not like it there he's never met anyone who has.

I worked at Thunder for 5 years and loved working there and most of the guys that I worked with during that time loved working there as well. I'm very interested in why your buddy thought it was a shitty place to work. The only guys that I've met that didn't like it were guys that didn't like actually having to work for your money. Yes you are likely to be on a pager all the time, yes you are likely to be flying into some remote, cold and dirty places and sitting in some tiny little Bell Canada house for hours waiting for the tech to finish their job or the nursing station waiting for your patient. You might even have to put wing covers on airplanes at night (Oh the horror!!!) The bottom line is that they fly good, well maintained aircraft, you get unbelievablely diverse experience (3500 ft gravel one day, YYZ the next) and your paycheque will arrive every second friday without fail. Its not a retirement job by any means. It is however a great place to build some time and gain some experience. If you just want to wear the white shirt and tie and have everyone do your job for you then stay away. Now I don't agree with giving guys 4 days notice that they no longer have a job and if thats the way it actually happened then they have a right to be pissed, but I highly doubt that they screwed those guys over intentionally.

Brint · Post by **Brint** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am

AWESOME

Thats four more guys that will never want to work for Thunder! Maybe now I'll get MY chance. I'm sure they'll treat ME good, it can't be that bad there.

someguy2 · Post by **someguy2** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:20 am

bcflyer wrote:
Apparently thunder is a very shitty place to work anyways. Someone who was there said that not only did he not like it there he's never met anyone who has.
I worked at Thunder for 5 years and loved working there and most of the guys that I worked with during that time loved working there as well. I'm very interested in why your buddy thought it was a shitty place to work. The only guys that I've met that didn't like it were guys that didn't like actually having to work for your money. Yes you are likely to be on a pager all the time, yes you are likely to be flying into some remote, cold and dirty places and sitting in some tiny little Bell Canada house for hours waiting for the tech to finish their job or the nursing station waiting for your patient. You might even have to put wing covers on airplanes at night (Oh the horror!!!) The bottom line is that they fly good, well maintained aircraft, you get unbelievablely diverse experience (3500 ft gravel one day, YYZ the next) and your paycheque will arrive every second friday without fail. Its not a retirement job by any means. It is however a great place to build some time and gain some experience. If you just want to wear the white shirt and tie and have everyone do your job for you then stay away. Now I don't agree with giving guys 4 days notice that they no longer have a job and if thats the way it actually happened then they have a right to be pissed, but I highly doubt that they screwed those guys over intentionally.

I agree completely. It has been 5 years since I worked there but I have nothing but postives to say. Pay ALWAYS on time. I was paid well. Flying could be anything 3000'ft gravel to Minn or YYZ. It was a great experience.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:20 am

The guys I've met who work for Thunder seem like a good bunch of folk. They do all seem happy. The usual bitches that you get anywhere. But no more than the usual. I dont agree with their training "donation" policy, but then you all know that. Plans do change in this, and other industries, which make for the odd mess-up in plans. Both for the new hire, and the company involved. But rest assured, Thunder would never go out and screw some pilot over a job if there were any way oround it. And neither would most companies....methinks there could be more to the story...like Thunder's side to it?

BE10 · Post by **BE10** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:48 am

A friend of mine as well became a victim of Thunder Airlines. At a cost of nearly $1,100 (travel expenses and lost earnings) to travel to Thunder Bay for an interview, was given a start date, given the company binders and course material, had accommodations arranged at the crew house. All of this was done on a handshake from the CP.

My buddy quit a good paying job with the proper two-weeks notice and had begun packing and preparing for the move to Ontario. A week before leaving for groundschool, my friend called to get some final details and learned “there may not be a position for you anymore, call back in a few days”. The tone of the conversation was impersonal and unsympathetic; too bad about your luck, see ya!

Thunder Airlines did not attempt to make contact, did not attempt to explain; there may be some changes, don’t make any changes with your present employer or residence. Thunder Airlines made no effort to give these people any advance warning whatsoever. Thunder; you hired these people, don’t you think they at the very least deserved a “heads up” before they changed their lives for your company?

I have a few friends who either work there presently or have worked there in the past. I understand that this has happened to no less than three people, maybe more. Thunder Airlines may or may not be a great company to work for, for whatever reason. Thunder Airlines (as with most companies) has it’s own form of internal politics and crap. But I thought Thunder Airlines was above this type of treatment and blatant disrespect.

My problem with this is not the fact that Thunder Airlines may have had some internal dealings that resulted in making this decision not to honour their agreement with these people. Business is business; if they had lost contracts or required downsizing of a few bases…again, business is business. But to not even bother to contact the people who are involved, that is simply WRONG!

With some movement in the industry now and hopefully much more movement to come this summer and fall, I would have thought that Thunder could afford to run a little heavy on crews, or delay the groundschool’s for a few weeks or a month (worst case)? I know pilots are leaving Thunder Airlines, I can’t believe their only option was: too bad about your luck, see ya!

My friend and I have known each other many years, this is a person who has good TT/MPIC time (lot’s of northern/gravel/spifr) and one of the hardest and most loyal workers I have ever known. Thunder; you have really lost out on this one!

My friend hung up with Thunder’s CP, made some phone calls and had another job within a week. So the story ends well for my buddy, I hope the others are as fortunate! But this in no way excuses Thunder Airlines for this pitiful behavior and disrespect!

Way to go Thunder, hope you’re proud of your shining moment!

KIAS · Post by **KIAS** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:05 pm

What happened to these two people is very unfortunate indeed and quite embarassing for Thunder. However, I don't agree with the whole rant about Thunder being a bad place to work. The operation is very professional and by the book, you get to fly a decent amount of hours every month and management is usually pretty good with its staff. Of course, no company is perfect but overall Thunder is a great place to be to get that Multi-Turbine/Multi-Crew experience.

sprucemonkey · Post by **sprucemonkey** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:59 pm

A LOT can and DID change in the last 5 years. It was great when I was there. "I got moutard all over my chirt!" Left in '99 when chompers was the C.P. A great guy. But now replaced with ......well....."we may not have that job for ya afterall."

someguy2 · Post by **someguy2** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:24 pm

sprucemonkey wrote:A LOT can and DID change in the last 5 years. It was great when I was there. "I got moutard all over my chirt!" Left in '99 when chompers was the C.P. A great guy. But now replaced with ......well....."we may not have that job for ya afterall."

Ahh Chompers..I had almost forgot about good ole' BP. You know, I never really appreciated his relaxed attitude at the time, but he was on of the best CP's I ever had!

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:34 pm

I rode in the back of there B100 2 weeks ago and the donuts weren't any more than 2 days old.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:13 pm

People will whine and gripe about every place. I have worked for THU for 3 years, and I have always been treated fairly and paid on time. Maintenance is top notch and I have never been pushed to fly and break the rules. Unfortunately things change fast in aviation. One day a company needs someone, the next they don't. The people who were delayed for training will still be the next in line for ground school. I assume some people who get the "change of plans" story and the rude handling, could have some skeletons in their closet that management found out about after the job offer.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:16 pm

Reason for positive outlook: I work in QT, some of the other bases fly less and have longer duty days (short hops and holding everywhere)

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:19 pm

Bede..."after the job offer" is not the time to go looking for skeletons. That should be done BEFORE you make an offer.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:37 pm

Doc: Agreed. Things come up though. And I'm not quite sure how thorough the selection process is. Some people come out of the interview saying it's the easiest they have ever been to.

oldncold · Post by **oldncold** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 4:19 pm

Recently in the the papers the ontario supreme court held a company liable for damages ($300,000 plus costs ) for hiring away an employee
from another then then the parent company sold the firm she now was
newly employed with. and the new parent firm 'downsized'they said SEE YAshe sued and won they appealed and lost again TIME TO PAY UP.

sound familiar?aviators must act like biz people first then avitors if
we want to see that weekend cottage and a floatpane parked on the dock for fun at retirement.

if it is not in writing it an worth shi....

startgenn · Post by **startgenn** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:23 pm

thunder is almost one of the worst companies to work for, those people should be happy they never got hired because if they actually worked there they would have got screwed even harder. That company changes there mind so fast they should have gone broke years ago. As for the people who worked there 5 years ago and "it was a great place to work" things change and it isn't anymore. until the guy in the picture is gone stay far very far away you will thank yourself and your pocket book.

Cappy · Post by **Cappy** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:38 pm

Ah good old Thunder. It was a good company until BP left. I think BM has gotten to the prez who was once a good guy. The pay was always there, and the guys you worked with awsome. Then came the flood of management know it all that thought they could run a company. Until they took advantage of all the honest and hardworking people and chopped their pay and said too bad. At least the customer service manager in T-bay RB can make a good sandwich, that's about all. Oh ya, he ran that company into the ground too, maybe not..

AIR 3.11 · Post by **AIR 3.11** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:26 am

I find it ironic that anyone having anything bad to say about Thunder is either relaying an experience that a "friend" had, or they are posting for the first time under a new name on this forum. I have heard good and bad about every company out there. One thing is for sure.....Thunder is not the worst. Remember...the grass is always greener.

Red1 · Post by **Red1** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:26 am

The problem with Thunder is they have no plan, they react to something, and then react again. I have a feeling they had a lot riding on some northern contracts they didn't get. (which, in my opinion they had very little chance of getting anyway). It's sad to hear what they did to the four guys/gals that they just hired, but in the long run it will probably work out better for them anyways.

Thunder is Thunder, not great, not horrible either, just sort of there.

Thunder Airline "what a great company"

Thunder Airline "what a great company"

promises/promises