Airline Says Wearing Uniform To Union Events Is Against Policy, Whatever The Reason

The Board of Directors of the National Pilots Association (NPA) said Thursday it "strongly condemns" what it calls the wrongful suspension of an AirTran Airways pilot, and appealed to the public in demanding that he be reinstated immediately and paid in full.

According to the union, AirTran Vice President Steve Kolski called NPA President Linden Hillman last week to inform him that management's position is that the pilot was in violation of AirTran's flight operations manual and would face possible discipline for wearing his uniform while dropping off his wife and two young children at an NPA-sponsored family day at the circus in Atlanta on February 21, 2009.

AirTran's rules clearly state all employees are not to wear company uniforms while attending union-sponsored meetings or events... but NPA counters the pilot was on his way to work when he stopped briefly at Philips Arena to help his wife with their kids.

"He was wearing his uniform so that he could get to work on time," said NPA spokesman Tim Baker. "The circus started at 3 pm, and he had to be at work at 4:30 pm. He was leaving on a four day trip and wanted to spend as much time with the kids as possible."

Baker also says the pilot in question "will soon be deployed overseas" as a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, "and is focused on spending time with his family."

In its response, AirTran pointed out the pilot "wore his uniform to a non-work, NPA union-sponsored event in clear violation of the Flight Operations Manual and the collective bargaining agreement," and claims "NPA union leadership had the opportunity to avoid this suspension on several occasions, and they chose not to."

AirTran pointedly concluded it "will not conduct labor relations through the media."

FMI: www.airtran.com