Just when you think..........
Just when you think that local management can't stoop any lower or be more
disrespectful, then SURPRISE!
Last week we lost a co-worker, a friend, and a well respected union official. The sudden passing of Andrew Prulello came as a shock not only to us here DTW, but to everyone system wide. Andrew had over 20 years with NWA, and worked in a number of stations. Though he was only in DTW for a short period of time; he was very well liked and respected. It saddens me to think how bad he was treated before and after his passing.
Just prior to his passing Andrew was serving a suspension given him by Senior Manager Eric Pricco for what we consider to be a minor infraction. In our opinion, this was retaliation for Andrew's affiliation with our organization.
Prior to Andrew's remains being sent back home to his family and friends in
EWR, comments and events leading up to his departure from DTW made by our local management not only saddened us, but once again has proven the disrespect we endure on a daily basis.
In DTW we have a memorial cart which is used for the transfer of the remains of servicemen and NWA employees. My question to Cargo manager Gary Cook is, “Why do you feel you needed to give a directive to a cargo lead not to use the memorial cart for Andrew's remains, and instead use a cart that we wouldn’t even put luggage in?” Our fellow cargo employees felt they had no choice, but to follow the directive given by Gary Cook, because they felt they could lose their jobs if they didn’t follow this directive.
Ray Painter, Steve Kostora, and I personally went to cargo. We picked up the memorial cart, and transferred Andrew's remains into the cart.
While setting up gate A-25 so the friends and members could pay their last respects to Andrew; Ray Painter received a phone call from manager Joe Conlon reminding him that this better not disrupt “his” operation. We are adults and professionals. We do not feel we need to be reminded why we are here.
Through this dark cloud of disrespect two individuals rose above this lack of humanity. We would like to say “Thank You” to Annie Click and Sue Conlon for their outstanding efforts to reunite Andrew's family and friends to say their final goodbyes to him in EWR. We wish we had more individuals managing in DTW such as you. THANK YOU!
Goodbye Andrew, you will be missed!
In Solidarity,
Clay Parraghi
President
Detroit Air Transport Local Lodge 141