Unsafe Airlines, Greed and Inhumanity of Employers

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By agentrnge , at 02/10/2010 2:06 PM to Work & Money

Reputation Level: 44 - Post Count: 34

Location: New Jersey USA

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I saw an episode of Frontline last night on WLIW/PBS about charter airline companies and their unsafe practices. The highlights were basically that profits are greater than safety.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/flyingcheap/?utm_campaign=homepage&utm_medium=proglist&utm_source=proglist

One pilot interviewed mentioned an attempted to call in sick. Specifically the pilot called in "Fatigued and Sick", and had worked a certain number of consecutive 16 hour shifts, and felt uneasy about making another flight. Additionally the pilot was already at the FAA limit of consecutive flight time allowed. The boss offered this comforting advice: "Well... are you sure you cant make it? I mean.. if you stay, your stuck.. you're stuck and are going to need to pay for a hotel for the night. Wouldn't you rather make the flight and get home. The boss also suggested that he would modify the pilots log book so that on paper he was not over the hour limit.

The charter airline knows they only get paid if they make the flight. Rather than delay a flight due to a safety issue, they make decisions to allow the flight to continue regardless of a safety concern.

Today there is a pretty decent snow storm hitting the north east US. And many offices ( who's employees are not critically required, and can work from home ) have required their employees make it into work at any cost.

It would mean nothing to the office for the people to stay home one day. Consider all the accidents and injuries that will result from all the unnecessary commuting. It makes no sense to put people in danger just to allow a boss to exercise authority and convince themselves that they are helping the company. KEEP UP PRODUCTIVITY! BURBLE!

Tags: airline, safety, greed, employers

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