Posted on 06/28/2007 10:44:58 PM PDT by Utah Girl
Air traffic controllers locked in a staffing dispute with the U.S. government are upset about a dress code and have shown their displeasure in high-flying fashion, with some men protesting by wearing women's clothing.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's dress code, instituted in September, bars jogging outfits, halter tops, shorts and jeans. Approved clothing items include dress slacks, casual shirts with collars and sweaters. Midnight-shift workers are exempt.
"From our point of view, not a big deal," FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.
But a few times in the last year, male controllers have worn dresses or kilts to work, the controllers' union, the 15,000-member National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said. The point was to illustrate the silliness of the dress code because nothing bars male controllers from wearing dresses, union spokesman Doug Church said.
The dress code is typical of professional environments, said FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory.
At the FAA's Cleveland Air Route Control Center in Oberlin, Ohio, one controller was disciplined because he wore an orange shirt a supervisor said "looked like a highway traffic cone" and another was told his aquamarine pants were "not gender appropriate" for a man, Church said.
Cory said she was unfamiliar with that situation but there have been rare instances of outrageous outfits meant to create a stir while technically complying with the dress code.
Under the FAA-union contract, first-time dress-code violators may be sent home to change on their own time. Subsequent violations would be handled as employee misconduct through the agency's disciplinary process.
There have been 15 to 20 disciplinary actions across the country, ranging from letters of reprimand to a three-day unpaid suspension for a worker in Chicago who wore a yellow suit, said Bryan Zilonis, vice-president of the union's Great Lakes region. All are being contested.
In their larger negotiations, the controllers are upset about changes in schedules, no mandatory breaks every two hours and pay issues, including a pay cut for new hires, Church said.
And though the dress code is a smaller issue, Zilonis said for the FAA, "it's just an opportunity to be oppressive."
Stupid FAA and dumb controllers. Although I would probably get my back up too.
At SFO, that is standard attire.
Children are running the air traffic system. Anybody got a bus schedule?
The Controllers don’t want to be controlled? So they skirt the regulations? Is this a dress rehearsal for another strike? Or is it a pissing contest to see who’s wearing the pants?
Apparently, he doesn't play golf.
NATCA is one of the more belligerent unions. I’ve met with a few and have taken that the whole bunch feel they are demanded more than what they provide. They are upset that their jobs are fading away to contractors and computers. As for dress attire typical of professional environments, I’d say anything that is disruptive to the organization should be cause for discipline.
As someone who has spent many, many hours in front of a radar scope (although not in an ATC capacity), this worries me some. It's hard on the eyes. When I'm flying, I don't want my controller spaced out from staring at a scope for too long.
On the other hand, if I know unions, they have probably abused it so everyone, not just the scope dopes who really need it, gets a mandatory break every two hours.
I say that as someone who has worn a kilt to work a few times and more importantly to afterhours military functions (dining ins and dining outs). Got a few smart ass comments from a JO who was Mr. Vice, until I buried the dirk I was wearing in the tabletop in front of him, for which I was sent to the grog bowl.
One thing that I have noticed is that women get off pretty easy these days when it comes to dress codes. They get away with wearing “a blouse,” which is essentially a glorified t-shirt. And oh-no! Not skirts. Slacks. Which may, of course, be capris. With sandals.
Meanwhile, men are in shirt and ties. Can you imagine a man showing up to work in sandals and a t-shirt?
That said, I’m not saying it’s not fair that men get shafted. Personally, I tend to like dress codes. And I’d rather see the standards ratcheted up on women in general a bit more.
I have six granddaughters, I beginning to like burkas
Rules are rules though. Test RR..
just remind the air controllers of PATCO and maybe they will start wearing pants!!!!
Consequently, they come off as being very opinionated. They don’t take well to correction, either.
On the other hand, I would feel totally confident putting my life in their hands, any day of the week.
When I was teaching high school there was talk about handing down a teacher dress code that would require men to wear dress shirts and ties (unless they were coaching a sport) while women could continue to wear jersey pant outfits that to me looked like pajamas—a t shirt, usually with some garish design painted on it, and elastic topped warm up pants the same color as the shirt.
I protested the code, but I took a calculated approach. I said that the students would have far more respect for men teachers who are far more professionally dressed than female teachers who look like they have just rolled out of bed. I guess my approach worked to some extent—the male dress code was relaxed to include polo type shirts or basically any shirt that had a collar.
These guys don’t have contact with the public and spend their days closed up in a high stress work environment - who cares what they wear to work? Stupid regulations.
“Can you imagine a man showing up to work in sandals and a t-shirt?”
Yes. Well, I didn’t wear a t-shirt, but I came to work twice this week wearing shorts, sandals, and a golf shirt. Nobody complained, or even cared or noticed. I’m paid for what’s in my head and what I can do with it, not for how I dress. Now, women who come to work in overly revealing outfits, that’s distracting - at least to me and other red-blooded males.
Nowadays, that sort of thing would get you sent to Leavenworth. I miss the old days. (sigh)
The joke in Washington D.C. at this time of year is that Congressmen would hire young, pretty interns just so they can wear “revealing” dresses in the office and serve as eye candy.
I know I’m dating myself (couldn’t get anyone else on such short notice), but I always wore a dress shirt and necktie because I considered myself a professional and wanted to project that image.
There’s no way for an air passenger to know that the person controlling his aircraft wears a Speedo, but I’d just as soon they dressed conservatively.
“The joke in Washington D.C. at this time of year is that Congressmen would hire young, pretty interns just so they can wear “revealing” dresses in the office and serve as eye candy”
They did a survey once to see if the women hired as secretaries in DC were eye candy. The test was to see if they could touch type.
It turned out that only 5% of the Capitol Hill secretaries could actually type. The rest were just hunt ‘n’ peckers.
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