Union Problems: Air Traffic Controller Suspended After Setting Planes on Collision Course…Twice
- Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:11am by
Mytheos Holt
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Houston, you have a problem.
Anyone can have a bad day at work, but when that bad day at work involves potentially setting two planes on collision courses, matters have been carried too far, especially when the problem repeats itself. In the case of air traffic controller Robert Beck, that’s exactly what happened, and he won’t be setting any more courses any time soon. The public sector union member was suspended at Gulfbort-Biloxi International Airport after another controller spotted his mistake in telling two planes to fly on the same vector right towards each other.
Ralph Humphrey, Beck’s former supervisor, told Fox News that the only reason Beck hasn‘t been fired yet is because the unions typically won’t allow it. Here’s what Humphrey told Fox, as well as some details on Beck himself:
“It’s typical of trying to get rid of problem employees” at FAA, said Humphrey, who was the air traffic manager in Gulfport until he retired in January. “It is damn difficult to get rid of an employee for cause.”[...]
A mistake by Beck last June caused a regional airliner and a small plane to come within 300 feet of colliding with each other, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released in January. Investigators were told Beck had “a history of professional deficiencies that included taking shortcuts with phraseology and not complying with standard checklist procedures.” He has been suspended several times within the last five years for tardiness, absenteeism and failure to report an arrest for driving under the influence, the report said.
Beck, a 23-year veteran, was ultimately disciplined by the FAA and required to receive professional re-training but only because he didn’t disclose the June incident at the time it occurred, Humphrey said. It was only recently that Beck had been allowed to direct air traffic again without another controller sitting beside him to catch any errors, the former manager said.
The Air Traffic Controllers’ union has refused to comment to anyone regarding the situation. Hopefully the repeated nature of this problem will persuade them that this is one bad apple who could spoil the whole barrel.
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Comments (113)
Rodster
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:31amHe should be in Jail, and the FBI should be investigating this piece of crap.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:38amI wonder if he has converted to Islam…
Report Post »But the media will spin it to make him Glenn’s relative since his last name is Beck.
lukerw
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:20amNow… AF1… at… AF2… could resolve alot of problems!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:54amWait til these worthless government slugs take over your healthcare…..
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:57amThe union will make sure he is promoted……
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:07amWonder if he’s married to that American Airlines attendant?
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:11amGet rid of all public sector unions.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:12amThis unionized public sector employee is no more dangerous than the ones teaching in our public schools.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:04amIf this a ‘teacher’, ‘professor’ or any number of countless other government jobs, this person would be given a box of rubber bands and placed in a “rubber room” to wait for his retirement pension.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:25amWeak!! weak!! people who holds the checkbook if you cant fire‘em you could stop payin’em.
Report Post »There are a lot of unemployed so called scabs to fill their positions and a company shouldn’t be held by extortion.
HKS
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:48amWould that not be “attempted mass murder”? the fact he did it twice is just another nail in the case. Do we not have prosecutors here anymore or are they all busy looking for cow farts.
Report Post »USAF2003
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:52pmHe probably belongs to the Nation of Islam. lol
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 4:34pmBack in the 90′s at Johnson & Johnson we had to get the shift steward (AFLCIO) and on first offense
Report Post »counsel the person. On the next two offenses you had to counsel and put a letter in their personal file. On the 4th offense you could terminate and the union had the privilege of going to arbitration. Usually if you followed the book they would let the termination stand. I think on such a dangerous position this guy should handel only union flights.
teamarcheson
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:24pmIs it that air traffic controller who can’t speak English?
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:30amAnother union worker need I say more Reagan was right fire them all flying use to be enjoyable now you have to deal with the natzi TSA and the most rude flight attendents I have ever seen
Report Post »piper60
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:45amThis is yet another reason why I refuse to fly. The others are all related to the TSA.
Report Post »ncresident
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:05amHe set up planes on collision routes, twice!! This guy should be charged with attempted terrorism and the union charged with complicity in an attempted terrorist act.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:24amyup agree
Report Post »BuggiOlleo
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:44amNot all Unions are bad, however, public sector unions seem, definitely, to be the location of some really terrible ideology.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:32amThe private ones are no better. I worked for the IBEW electrical union(a branch of AFL-CIO aka Trumpka) for a while and it was pretty sad. There were some really smart/hardworking guys there, but they were NOT the majority.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:29pmIf your job is secured by a contract you probably ain’t worth a SH!!!!!! anyhow.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:27amSuspended? He should have been fired. If he gets reinstated the union and all that keeps him employed should be held responsible.
Report Post »gman4691
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:11amYou are correct. If the union prevents this guy from being dismissed, then the union should be held liable for any harm that comes to anyone as the result of his deficiencies.
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:14pmAnd if the president really channeled the ghost of Ronald Reagan then he would fire the whole Union and replace them with those that are really willing to do the work correctly.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:45amThat’s the main problem with any union. No matter how incompetent, or what substance they choose to abuse, you just can’t get rid of them. We are no longer in the times of the fictional character, Ebenezer Scrooge – where holidays go unobserved, and the pay is paltry. I’m all for abolishing ALL unions, public or private. There just any need for them in today’s World.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:46amThat‘s NOT any need for them in today’s World.
Report Post »HairRazor
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:20amI’m with you Diane. Unions have become thug magnets that pander to and sympathize with fringe marxist elements in our society (like the one in the white house) that want to fundamentally change our country.. to destroy capitalism and crush life and liberty out of America.
anybody but obama 2012
Report Post »Capitalist Mama
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:08amThere’s no need to abolish them. We need to remove the laws FORCING people to become members, FORCING employers to negotiate with unions, FORCING dues to be withheld from paychecks and given straight to unions.
People will leave the unions in droves, and what’s left will waste away.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:57pm@captilistmama
I was going to post the same thing..beat me to it. Have a good day!
Report Post »cuinsong
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:11amThis is what’s wrong with unions! It is full of people who are either too lazy not qualified or not smart enough to perform their job and employers can’t get rid of them! It strangles the golden goose to death then picks over the carcass till its completely gone! I think we can do better then this! Kick the union out like Reagan did!
Report Post »this song tell us what we’re in for “The End Times” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10381143
Gonzo
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:59amThere are also a lot of good people in unions that only join because it’s mandatory to get the job.
Report Post »MikeMannix
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:47pmHey Gonzo, don’t give me the union crony line about other workers had to join the union in order to work. In New Jersey there’s a popular saying: “It’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know!” The average job-seeker is not able to obtain a union job without a “connection” of some kind. You’re either a friend or relative of a politician or community thug. You don’t just walk in off of the street and get hired into a union job – at least one that employs a strong union presence. I’ve seen union worker commit sexual offenses and violence against other union workers on the job. Offenses that would be crimes if reported outside the workplace – and all that they got was a week’s suspension with pay – then they get to pick the week that they want to take off. Unions exist to keep the otherwise unemployable, employed. If they had to seek out honest employment, the jobless rate would be beyond depression levels.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 5:41pmMike-
Report Post »I would have to side with Gonzo on that…You are describing Jersey, remember that. Most other union friendly states don’t have the mafia like rules Jersey has-it is Jersey you refer too after all. Actually when I think union, I think Jersey longshoreman doing the exact minimun for a day’s work; I think A&P mechanics for Useless air ******* and moaning while a full flight waits on a single part they won‘t touch because it wasn’t expressly mentioned in the latest bs contract. So 200 plus people hang out on a tarmac while a real non union mech is flown in to turn that special screw a pos union member wouldn’t touch-on some lame excuse for a principle. Attitude in the crapper, everybody else‘s fault they aren’t making even more money for nothing. Rackets and shysters abound. LaGuardia is such a stellar place to hang out if you buy Purell in bulk. Oh, since I am ranting on your state, have to love the thugs reliquishing the city to the Whitney fiasco, and of course that stellar idea to lower the flags for a drunk druggie. Sound policies all around. Jersey shore too much for you to go into? Have time…
YANKEE BRAT
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 11:49pmUnions are parasites that live off the labor of other people. What a racket!
When the guy finally manages to kill hundreds of people, I hope every one of the surviving family members sues that union for harboring and protecting a murderer.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:51amWe would have to pray that the jury is competent.
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:01amOmg! A jury that can make a rational decision?
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 11:05pmI‘m going to assume there’s no relation to Glenn here…
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 1:19amI was thinking the same thing. That would be bad. But hey, you can’t help who you might be related too.
Report Post »B4REALITY
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:38pmOkidoki….you got me! I’ve never been in a Union – and always had to work my way into a job! Shameful that people are taking such advantage of the system – stealing pensions – not just from the public, but from union workers that are behind them in the ranks. Earning more than ever did in their salary in their pension – and what sort of person does this but A THIEF! Oh…right – you can say everyone does it – and if everyone jumped of a bridge – would you do that too! (Ol’ fashioned but correct.) This is what we “religious” folks refer to as HONESTY, INTEGRITY and delayed gratification. Perhaps – many have become spoiled – and I do mean spoiled. Like rot in the middle spoiled. They’re comfortable in their slime – and pew – stealing and looking in the mirror at a dog that will do anything with anything. Okidoki – you got me – I’m old fashioned, but as far as I know – human beings are the really no different in their behaviors – just with IPODs.
Report Post »AM-Saves
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:48pmHave you seen middle management lately? They, just like unions, don’t want integrity or honesty, they want obedience. As long as you follow like a good drone, they don’t care what or how you do things.
It’s a new world my countrymen, our forefathers would ask us to stand, while our would be masters simply ask us to kneel. Look to your families and neighbors, judge them by their character, then ask yourself which option they will choose. Then you will truly know the gravity of this moment in time.
Report Post »bikerdogred1
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:37pmIf the unions want to run the show,let them take all the blame.they got rid of the union once, they can do it again.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:30pmI worked in an air traffic control tower (not as a controller). All I can say is the management was utterly pathetic.
Report Post »98ZJUSMC
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:30pmI was an Air Traffic Controller in the Marine Corps. I wanted nothing to do with the FAA and their union. The horror stories were legion.
Report Post »AM-Saves
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:28pmI live in a hire-fire state, which I actually support, wherein I could be fired for making any mistake… or no mistake for that matter, as long as my boss deems it necessary, and that’s fine.
BUT when I see this kind of dangerous incompetence & the person CAN’T get fired for it, that tells me (& should tell everyone else) that there is some serious mental deficiencies in our labor laws & our populous in general. I’d mention unions in there, but that’s a given.
Simply put: Your an air traffic controller, you almost had planes collide TWICE… err, YOUR FIRED! And whoever didn’t fire you the first time can go with you!
Report Post »No Libs
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 9:57amGreat post AM…..just think about the dangers of incompetent union workers being coddled in other vocations such as construction, electrical etc. The public deserves better
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:23pmMy Union sucks too. They are no longer needed. Does anyone else hate thier union?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:28pmThey have outlived their usefullness … now they only line the pockets of theives and protect the incompetent.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:18amThey have became a business with-in a business the poor members dues have sky rocketed -Look at what they pay themselves
Report Post »Buckeye4ABO
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:25amYears ago in the early 1990‘s I worked for Kroger’s and was forced to join The United Food and Commercial Workers. I haven’t worked in a union shop since…. Need I say more?
Report Post »RedDawn2012
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:03pmCan’t fire him? So make him a janitor and give him minimum wage.
Report Post »wolfveryne
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:01pmWhere is Reagan when you need him most ?
Report Post »FIRE ,, them all until the Union OUT .
Robert999
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:57pmThis is one of the many reasons why all unions should be illegal. Unions care more about their members than the employer or the public. Make collective bargaining illegal. Make all unions, public and private, illegal. We need a true Conservative Republican government to accomplish that.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:56pmOh isn’t it just grand. More and more people don’t double check their work anymore, and even restaurants mess up orders even more. Heck why should be have to use their brain to check their work when we have computers to do it, and calculators for young children to use in school. They will all be mental midgets, and third world and communist nations won’t be any better because they never have cared about quality. Oh, everything is going to fall apart. Then, the “Word” will be made good again. By the way, nature isn’t liking people very much either.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:59pmEverything reaches a certain point, and then the mental midgets grow up to be the teachers and they create children who are more severe mental midgets, and then it begins to quickly slide down hill faster and faster.
Report Post »FiveFreedoms
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:53pmUnions promote unprofessional behavior and decrease productivity. How can union members with a conscience stand for the thuggish behavior of union members. All unions should be disbanded, outlawed or voted out. Aren’t you tired of giving away part of the money you earn? The will come a time when the municipalities will not be able to support your wages. What will you do then?
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:53pmOn December 26, 1933, 49 Statute 3097, Treaty Series 881, “Convention on Rights
Report Post »and Duties of States”, CONGRESS replaced STATUTES with international law, placing
all states under international law.
On December 9, 1945, International Organization Immunities Act relinquished every
public office of the United States to the United Nations.
22 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 92.12-92.31 FR Heading “Foreign
Relationship” states that oath is required to take office.
Title 8 USC 1481 states, once oath of office is taken citizenship is relinquished, thus
the oath taker becomes a foreign entity, agency, or state. That means every public office
is a foreign state, even all political subdivisions; i.e., every single court is considered a
separate foreign entity.
Title 22 USC, “Foreign Relations and Intercourse”, Chapter 11 identifies all public
officials as foreign agents.
In detroit
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:53pmThat kid needs his head kicked in, Just dawgone sickning
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:52pmIt was a bad day to stop sniffing airplane glue.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 3:08pmand quit calling me shirley.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:51pmWhat is to keep a Muslim from becoming an air traffic controller and then guiding planes into one another? Was this an accident? Is the person a Muslim?
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 11:02pmVery good point AB. (sarc. on)- Look for a radical Muslim terrorists union next. Life insurance might be kinda tough, though.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:02amGood question, but if this happened the worker still would not be fired ! They have inflitrated our military, our schools, our Courts….
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:06amjacktoad, you are a fool to joke about it, in lands with a lot of Muslims police look the other way when Christians or Jews are being attacked or raped. Even in America we are beginning to see cases where Muslim judges dismiss charges against Muslims. Islam sees itself as bigger than man-made laws and secular governments, bigger than other religions, there is nothing that Islam does not allow in order to further Jihad. If your house is on fire and you are a non-Muslim, and the local fire department is all Muslims, they will just “accidentally” forget to bring the hoses, or otherwise have some “problem” putting out the fire at your house. So wake up fool (sarcasm off) and learn something about Islam before it destroys America. http://www.thereligionofpeace.com
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:00amEasy, AB. I was serious about the point you raised. I know about Islam, and what’s going on in our country. As far as the joke goes, I didn’t think it would get under your skin to that extent. We’re on the same side, even if you think I’m a fool. I shouldn’t have included that joke in my post to you.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:03amNo offense taken. Islam being what it is does make it almost impossible to joke about. Joking about Islam is like someone telling jokes at the funeral of their mother or father.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:15amYeah, I know. A lot of us are walkin’ on eggshells these days.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:58pmNOT what I meant, not in the slightest. I mean that there is nothing funny about Islam, if considers the non-Muslims whose lands have been overrun by Islam, including all the lands of the Bible, the Holy Land, etc., along with the suffering that Muslims themselves endure due to their religion, and on and on. But no, my concern was not that people in the still free West are afraid to speak the truth about Islam, that just makes them cowards and pathetic, the problem is Islam itself, the damage it has done to the world, and there is simply nothing funny about it.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:49pmunions …………forever protecting the idiots right to endanger others
on YOUR dime
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 6:15am@Psychosis
Report Post »Right on the money- Most don‘t know it but there is a whole of jobs and Company’s out there that you are FORCED to belong to a union to be employeed at that company or state/ federal job. The Union protects the dead beat and screws the good worker. Their local Reps. spent all their time in meetings defending the lazy,unsafe,dope head,drunks and those that never show up for work or is always late. Most of the hard working employees don’t want the unions account they are forced to work wit the type of coworker I discribed. .If the unions were fined and required to pay for all injuries /damages the deadbeat employee was involved in it would stop. .
Link8on
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 2:45pmI wonder if the union will reward or punish the other air traffic controller who reported on the bad guy.
Report Post »The Eleventh Doctor
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:46pmWow, unions are great! If only I had an airport overrun with unions, I would have a great flight!
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:58amI am glad I don’t fly. :)
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