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Unfortunately, ours is a Union shop, and I have no choice in who is on my crew. I learned yesterday of my new crew that will start here at the Hangar on the 7th...I lost 2, and gained 2, one excellant the other a deadbeat. They are all "bid" positions, and must qualify, or be in the process of being qualified to perform engine run, aircraft taxi, autoland qualified (test to keep aircraft autoland certified), and supertug qualified. This guy, a type 2 diabetic, has no business in the left seat of ANYTHING, let alone a 600 million dollar aircraft, but he was awarded the position, and now I have to get him certified in all these catagories...not gonna happen, he'll flunk out for sure, then they will have to re-bid the whole thing....AHHHHH Union protection....



An interesting situation there Mark.
I also (fortunately and intentionally) work union. No one at my job is ever put into a position they are not qualified for. Period.
It's up to the individual to obtain the necessary training and certifications to perform the job. We do maintain a training center for members to upgrade their skills. If someone lies about his qualifications, he is expelled from the union, doomed to work for substandard wages and benefits.

I don't supervise anyone directly, but in my position as shop steward for the last 20 years, I deal with management constantly. Some are self-absorbed idiots who are interested in nothing more than how many
s they have around them, but most are genuine good people who want the job done to the best standard possible.
The one that I got on with the best was known as a complete hardass, and he was (retired about five years ago), but he was totally fair and honest. I always knew what to expect from him when I had to intervene in a dispute.
When he was getting ready to go, he told me that the feeling was mutual (I'm known as a bit of a hardass myself).

Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también