Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Back to midnight shift for me...

My position as a aircraft maintenance supervisor has come to an end, after 12 years...First of all, I have the biggest jerk for a boss that you could ever imagine. When he joined our company 7 or so years ago, he told all of us that "Im not happy until your unhappy", and was dead serious. Unfortunately, I have had recent spell of bad luck over the last year as a lead mechanic / supervisor. I was involved in an accident while working on a plane at an outstation back in March, then on Friday, I was sent to south Florida to repair a plane, when the mechanic damaged a vital part of the aircraft. Although I had nothing to do with the incident, I was blamed, and given a choice. I opted to return to the mechanic classification, which will put me on midnight shift with probably Monday and Tuesdays off...I needed the break anyway after working with these boneheads on first shift for 12 years...True, I was screwed, but the Chief Union Steward and the Director of Maintenance are best buddies, so I had no choice...Kimmy was livid, and ready to kill, but we've prayed hard about it, and feel God won't put anything on our plate that we cant handle, and I look forward to the change...At least I have a job....

Romans 8:28. Sometimes God will get us out of the way in order to keep us safe while he does a little house cleaning.

God bless you, I needed that...Our family has been through a tremendous amount in the last 2 years, and now this on top of everything else....This too will pass...

To a wise man, Less stress trumps more money. Try to enjoy the change, and believe that the jerk bosses in this world always get their reward in the end, either in this life or the next!

I feel your pain. I lost my 14 year detail a few months ago. Now there's talk of restoring the position, but I'm really hesitant to go back into the pressure cooker.

Sometimes simple is better, so enjoy the stress break. Hopefully the $$$ won't be affected too badly.

I had sooo many chances to have him not only fired, but locked up for assault....The first week he was here, we had a 717 that the pilot had written up as "pulling to the right"...When I was arrived at the aircraft, he was there, and grabbed my up by my collar and said "Get up there and sign that chicken---- off, or you'll be sorry"....I was stunned, and shocked at the same time...and did'nt prosecute. Another time, I was up on an engine, and he was operating the crane. He swung left and nearly knocked me off the darn top of the engine...Man if I had those days back, I would have him arrested immediately...Who knows, maybe I'll have the opportunity again soon....

Look, I’ve been in a job for twenty-three years working the midnight shift. Day's off? Monday & Tuesday! When I was senior enough to bid on a weekend job, Sat & Sun off, they abolished it. I was there 18 years when that happened.
Not having a job would be worse and I've developed my life around my days off and hours. My guess is you'll adapted and by all means, Keep a paper trail on that jerk. When the time comes, you'll have him by the short ones.

I've worked third shift for years, many good things to be said about it. Your bike dosent have to sit in the sun all day... The fishin is good in the morning when you get off...Beer goes a lot farther at 7:00 am...and most of the time you can get out off going to weddings, graduation parties etc...

Sorry Mark . I think you should let Zoom Girl get physical on him . I feel yer pain man . Sometimes work and bosses just suck . That's why I'm self-employed . I like my boss . I'm stuck up here at the Raj in Dahlonega trying to work , but it keeps raining on us .
I'm going to Caruso's and will have a lasagna and a brew in yer honor bro' ! WW

Zoom girl was livid...she can't stand him anyway...She is doing well, not getting alot of riding in though with school starting up and all...This too, will pass...

there's a lot to be said for electing to have less stress in your life and trading that off with a little less dough.

Personally I believe a measure of one's success in life comes from family, friends and the simple things. I wouldn't be surprised that after a while you realise how stressed you actually were working for that "bonehead" and who knows, the first to go in most restructures is middle management and not the worker

Just alot of stress in being the one that upper managagement is trying to force to "quit", or "run off". I talked to 3rd shift management this morning, and they are welcoming me with open arms, and assure me that I will be okay, and they will look out for me..These are my friends, and I do look forward to working with them...Everyone seems to agree with me, except the Union, who I pay $90 a month for absolutely NOTHING...I threw my 10 year pin in the garbage in front of upper management yesterday, as it means NOTHING. I will be receiving my 15 year pin next January, and it too will go in the garbage...I have had so many thoughts of how to "get back", or "get even", but my wife (Zoom Girl), says that will just be letting them win, and give them a real reason to fire me, which is right, of course. I've been through thick and thin with this company, when flight 592 went into the everglades, did I jump ship like 98% of the other mechanics...Nope, I had loyalty then, and contributed hours without pay to see the airline that I loved so much prosper. I bent over backwards for the very poorly managed (and is worse now) company that was once ValuJet, and has become Airtran. Im stuck here, and they know I have no choice but to do what they want. The mechanic that actually left the rig pin in that busted the rudder quadrant, got ZERO punishment, where I was forced to resign. This was not, by any means my fault, just because I was there. How am I to come to work everyday with a good attitude? All the mechanics now look at me like I've got a death date stamped across my forehead. I just find comfort in my everyday prayers, that I make a point to do every day and night with my wife, and we are gaining strength every day. God does everything for a reason, and is not going to put anything before us that we can't handle as healthy spirit filled Christians...Thank you all for letting me vent, as this helps tremendously...I simply get on my trusty Triumph, and ride into the night at least once a week, which fills my soul with determination and joy....

Does sound like you've got a target on your back, but hold your head up, show up on time and try not to stand out. As you said; "This too will pass."

Do you do have MSPB rights?

MSPB rights? Not sure what that is, so I guess not....Since being lowered to the mechanic ranks, I have already fixxed more airplanes here on the line than all the other mechs combined. There's just some jobs they won't put a majority of mechanics on, because they're simply too incompetent to rely on. We have about 20 minutes to repair aircraft between turns during the day. Im in no hurry by any means, but I do my morally best, (Im not of the moral character to take delays to "get back" at the company in revenge). My main care is the passengers, not the company. Anyway, there were only two of us yesterday competent enough to actually take on the real mechanical problems, and we did well. They're definitely gonna miss me here on first shift...

PM

Remind me again - what airline do you work for?