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Firing Flight Attendants Who Watched an iPad May Cost United $1.5 Million
Despite having more than seventy years of combined experience working for United Airlines, flight attendants Ruben Lee and Jeanne Stroup were fired by the carrier for watching a video on an iPad for approximately fifteen minutes and failing to wear aprons during one flight in September 2013. But while folks at the company may have thought they'd save money by sacking two veteran employees, they were wrong. A jury has awarded Lee and Stroup $800,000 in damages, and attorney David Lane, who… (www.westword.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
My 26 plus years with the airline says there is more to this story than is being reported, but in the end decisions are made based on cost versus risk and let the jury decide. When the multi Billion company is rolling in the dough, they are willing to take more risk and seriously, a 1.5M award is peanuts to them.
Sue for retirement flight benefits as well, at first class rates :)
You would think that in today’s environment that a company would know better. However, given United’s problems recently with its inability to keep track of checked animals I’m beginning to think maybe it’s idiocy from the top down.
For all this to iPad and apron thing to be known and end up the way it did, some other flight attendant must have ratted out their colleagues... that's just low and depressing! What kind of work environment is this?
Let's all laugh at an industry that never learns anything, tee hee hee.
It's abundantly clear to most that United's action is crazy over-the-top. Not just the iPad issue, but c'mon, not wearing an apron five years ago? That being said, some are defending them because most jobs have down time and so what's the harm. I suppose under routine circumstances there is none. Although when I think back over my working years, I don't believe I've ever had an employer that would condone watching a video while on the clock. As much as I disliked having to "look busy" even when I wasn't, I have to admit to understanding the employer's viewpoint. Doesn't mean I like it.
Everyone is entitled to a break at work. This is not a new industry. Job responsibilities should be clearly defined and should be enforced by the employer with the union making sure that treatment is both fair and equitable.
Valid point. However, I believe a FA is in a unique category. Whereas when others are on a break, they actually leave their work space for the duration of the break. Conversely, when / if a FA takes a break, they can't. And what happens if someone pushes a call button. They're never really on break, are they.
I believe the only appropriate action to these "infractions" would have simply been a reprimand on their record. Done and dusted. The airline and the union failed these employees.
I believe the only appropriate action to these "infractions" would have simply been a reprimand on their record. Done and dusted. The airline and the union failed these employees.
If a passenger had rung the call button presumably they would have put the iPad down and gone to see what the passenger wanted.
You presume that they would do the 'right' thing. I think is this issues is that they were already proving they weren't doing the right thing.
By your logic, my failure to load an approach under VFR against normal procedure means I'll land at the wrong airport.
While that has happened, it is improper to assume such will happen with every single pilot who does not load an approach under VFR.
While that has happened, it is improper to assume such will happen with every single pilot who does not load an approach under VFR.
No, you do not understand logic. I did not presume anything. I rejected a presumption.