A Fate Worse Than Death, Part Two

After Linda Peterson took her own life, the facility came apart.  Many of Linda’s co-workers were witnesses in her EEO case and were intimately familiar with what had happened over the years. 

Linda's co-workers and friends were on the one hand livid over the fact that the FAA had done nothing to stop the harassment, and on the other racked with guilt, as anyone in their situation would be. 

You can imagine the thoughts...that maybe if some of them had stood up to the harassment they received from the same supervisor, Linda might still be alive.  That maybe if they had come forward, or said something, or done something...   It was awful.  The supervisor was quietly moved out of the tower and booted upstairs, to the Western Pacific Regional Office in Southern California.

It was about one year later that the official decision in this case came down, and it seemed that our sister could finally rest in peace.  Her allegations were thoroughly and impartially investigated, she was vindicated, the supervisor was found to be not credible, the FAA was chastised for its lack of action to fix the working environment, and now maybe things could move forward. 

At this point, you would expect the FAA to respect the rule of law and the memory of their dead employee.  At this point you would expect the agency to show a modicum of integrity, a shred of decency, a micron of compassion.  You would be wrong.

Shortly after the decision came out, the FAA sprang into action.  NATCA Western Pacific Regional Vice President Bob Marks was contacted and told that the supervisor involved in Linda's harassment was going back to Phoenix Tower, to his original position, in order to show support for him.  Bob was further told that it was "a Headquarters decision," and that no one could do anything about it.  Bob and other NATCA activists went ballistic at this possibility.  They raised the ante, fought the agency at every turn, and with the permission of Linda's family they prepared to go public to the media concerning the story.  The FAA relented, and the offending supervisor was left in LA. 

Remember the part about the FAA having to prove they shouldn’t be held liable?   They swung into action there, too, and squirmed and wiggled this way and that to avoid their responsibilities. 

Your tax dollars went to pay for an FAA contracted forensic psychologist whose SOLE job was to engage in character assassination of a woman who was no longer alive to defend herself.  His job?  Smear Linda, and reduce the cash cost of damages. 

Linda’s father took her place in the case, and was subjected to having to hear this hired goon try and destroy any shred of dignity his late daughter had.  The FAA tried to evade responsibility by destroying her in front of her still grieving father. 

What kind of human beings are these?  This story should once and for all change the way we look at those currently in leadership at the FAA.  Their efforts failed---AGAIN.  They appealed it and failed---AGAIN.  Eventually and finally, the FAA Administrator's team gave up on their efforts to ensure Linda’s loved ones and co-workers suffered as much as possible.  Damages were assessed against the FAA which eventually reached into the low six figures.   

The supervisor never did return to the tower as originally threatened, and remained at the Regional Office in Los Angeles.  This was a man who lied under oath and manipulated the Training Order in order to harass and intimidate a subordinate woman...some say to death.

His feelings and biases about women in the workplace are now part of the official record in this case.  The FAA can no longer claim innocence or ignorance.  The FAA cannot close ranks around their despicable lout.  The FAA is on full, complete written notice about this guy.  They paid cash money, big time, to try and wash his stain out of their agency.   

Amazing, isn't it?  The FAA fires twelve of us for not checking a box on a form.  They claimed in court that this heinous form-filling act was dishonesty, which they said strikes so severely at the heart of the employer-employee relationship that termination is the only option.

And yet---here you have a supervisor lie under oath, call women terrible names, contribute to a culture and a working environment that was brutal, unlawful and in retrospect may have contributed to a poor woman's demise, and he gets booted upstairs to the Regional Office in LA.  He skates away, scot-free.

Last month, NATCA at Phoenix Tower had occasion to write their Facility Manager concerning Mr. Gilding, and their letter reads in pertinent part:

"Before Mr. Gilding was given a job in the Western-Pacific Region (the memorandum informing the bargaining unit of this action was dated August 27, 2003), NATCA had several grievances against Mr. Gilding for creating a hostile work environment at PHX.

Just in case you and the FAA need a refresher course in Mr. Gilding’s history of superior abuse, I have attached several documents (not everything because it would be entirely too large)including the decisions against the Agency for which Mr. Gilding was acting. I will also include in the following paragraphs some additional information concerning Mr. Gildings conduct while a supervisor at PHX.

On January 18, 2000 a bargaining unit employee filed a formal EEO complaint against Mr. Gilding for harassment and discrimination.

On February 23, 2003 Mr. Gilding had a meeting with a bargaining unit employee concerning possible discipline. At this meeting Mr. Gilding called another supervisor into the meeting to act as a witness while not affording the employee any type of representation. This was a violation of the employee’s rights.  Less than a week before this same employee had filed an informal grievance with the assistant manager for operations at PHX accusing Mr. Gilding of harassing the employee.

A grievance was filed on February 27, 2003 which showed Mr. Gilding was discriminating against a Hispanic male and a Black male while not treating his “buddy” White male the same.

In a letter given to you by NATCA, the following information was given to you due to the fact Mr. Gilding continues to fail to adhere to his responsibilities and abuse his authority as a supervisor and continues to harass, intimidate, discriminate, and treat employees at Phoenix Tower unfairly.

1) August 1999, decertification of Linda Peterson leads to an EEO complaint being filed by Ms. Peterson against Mr. Gilding
2) November 1999, Mr. Gilding watches an operational error occur without taking action
3) June 2000, Mr. Gilding attempts to charge an individual with 8 hours of AWOL
4) December 2000, Mr. Gilding coordinates, then covers up an operational error requiring a hotline call
5) June 2001, Mr. Gilding made threatening remarks towards a potential witness in the pending Peterson EEO case [for which Mr. Gilding did not receive the proper penalty under the Conduct and Discipline Order—which states, #52 Reprisal or retaliation action against a complaint, representative, witness or other person involved in an EEO investigation, proceeding,  hearing or other agency process (e.g. Accountability Board). First offense by a supervisor: 5-30 day suspension to downgrade and/or removal from supervisory position.
6) Summer 2001, several issues with Mr. Gilding not addressing requests in a timely manner on the Phoenix Tower daily worksheets and then when instructed by you to address the requests he is suppose to address, he maliciously denies all requests no matter their merit 
7) January 2002, employee request to be removed from Mr. Gilding’s crew due to harassment by Mr. Gilding
8) July 2002, Mr. Gilding meets with two employees to explain why he is not in the tower cab very often
9) July 2002, Mr. Gilding attempts to blame a controller for a pilot deviation
10) August 2002, Mr. Gilding  is improperly assigning  CIC duties
11) August 2002, Mr. Gilding, purposely, is illegally recording conversations in the tower cab utilizing the “RB” button [Per the Conduct and Discipline Order 215b. FAA employees, in the conduct of their official duties, may not use secret recording or monitoring equipment of any kind or aid in or ignore the improper use of such equipment.] 
12) August 2002, Mr. Gilding discriminates against two employees by wanting the full punishment for them while trying to get his “buddy” out of trouble when all three employees were accused of leaving the facility early
13) January 2003, Mr. Gilding has a meeting with his crew intimidating them and ultimately causes the flow requested to have to be changed whenever he is on duty
14) February 2003, CIC issues again with Mr. Gilding
15) February 2003, Mr. Gilding attempts to neglect his supervisory  responsibilities by having a CPC call in overtime
16) February 2003, Discriminates and abuses his authority against an employee in the assignment of work
17) February 2003, Mr. Gilding lectures a supervisor in the ways in which Mr. Gilding wants the operation handled and employees treated [the supervisor disagrees vehemently with Mr. Gilding]
18) April 2003, Mr. Gilding informs his crew he is going to be recording conversations in the cab [in direct violation of laws, regulations, rules and/or the Conduct and Discipline Order].

On November 4, 2004 an EEOC Administrative Judge found the Agency (through Mr. Gilding’s actions) was guilty of discrimination on the basis of gender.

On September 21, 2005 the EEO Commission upheld the Administrative Judge’s decision and further stated, “The agency will consider taking disciplinary action against the supervisor for his conduct which was found to be discriminatory. The agency shall report this decision. If the agency decides to take disciplinary action, it shall identify the action taken. If the agency decides not to take disciplinary action, it shall set forth the reason(s) for its decision not to impose discipline.”

“Commission regulations state that each agency shall take appropriate disciplinary action against employees who engage in discriminatory practices.” What actions were taken against Mr. Gilding?

In addition to these past grievances, one only needs to talk to the minorities who are or who were at PHX during Mr. Gilding’s tenure as a supervisor to realize the extent of his discrimination, harassment and intimidation. An individual who was a supervisor during the same time period relayed a story of how Mr. Gilding was leaving for vacation and pointed to three individuals on the schedule and told that supervisor not to approved anything for those “fu*kheads.”

And why did Phoenix NATCA have occasion to write their Facility Manager last month? 

Because the FAA had just announced a new Assistant Manager for Training at Phoenix Tower/TRACON:  John Gilding. 

Yes, you read that right:  The man who used the Training Order to harass a subordinate, the supervisor with the 18-plus complaints against him, the supervisor the agency paid big money to cover up, is now in charge of all training in Phoenix.  He was quietly moved back to the Phoenix area just a few weeks ago, where he maintained the house he never sold.  He must have known he was eventually coming back.   

Resist the urge to vomit, and instead email the FAA Administrator at

marion.blakey@faa.gov

and weigh in on her tacit approval of this grossly inappropriate personnel move...the promotion of this miscreant, and his transfer back...to the scene of the crime.

EPILOGUE:

New Assistant Manager for Training Gilding has already participated in at least one training review board.  The developmental controller is a  military veteran and a new hire, straight into Phoenix, and was struggling on Clearance Delivery.  (By the way, Phoenix is way too busy for a new hire, and the agency is idiotic beyond belief to put this kid in one of the busiest air traffic control towers in the world.) 

Mr. Gilding asked the young man what he thought his problem was.  The trainee replied that he thought he was transposing call signs.

Mr. Gilding then shocked everyone in the room by saying words to the effect of, "Do you know you can kill hundreds of people by transposing call signs?  You can kill people."  His manner was reminiscent to those who saw it...reminiscent of the last time John Gilding had supervised others in Phoenix. 

The developmental was shaken, his confidence shattered.  He is now exploring other employment opportunities.  He isn't sure he wants to continue in the FAA as an air traffic controller. 

Comments

[freud]

Very sad story. I find it incredible that the individual would want to return to the same facility where the tragic events unfolded. Beyond incredible is that the agency saw fit to allow it.

[Lack of faith]

Truely infuriating! When will these manglement stooges ever be held accountable for anything??? I hate them!

[AceRockola]

John - when you write book ONE about FAA impropreties, I hope you make this the first chapter. This is disgusting.

[AceRockola]

John - when you write book ONE about FAA impropreties, I hope you make this the first chapter. This is disgusting.

[The Hammer]

There are alot of illegals out there that would love to make an easy 1K. It's not that hard folks !!

[Beamer]

John,
Thank you for exposing the inner workings of one of the busiest towers in the country. The manner in which these actions transpired was with the full blessings of the manager, the hub manager, and the regional manager. You, however, forgot to mention Mr. Gildings contempt for female supervisors. His predisposition to approve all requests for "the chosen one" and his utter contempt for those who arrived at Phoenix without being selected (ie. assigned or via complaints).

[RD]

John, why don't you send this story to the news outlets in Phoenix. Maybe some other major outlets as well. Nice piece of reporting.

[Not Amazed at ZFW]

This is your faa at it's best. Every time these pinheads get a chance to do the right thing they do exactly the opposite. What is truly amazing is that more people and organizations outside the faa don't get into a total uproar over stories like this.

[Howie]

John, the beauty of your blog is that thousands of people will read it. I know this story to be true, and I thank you for telling it.

The Bush Syndicate and its goose-stepping FAA Administrator Marion Blakey have made it understandable how Nazism was imposed in Germany in the 1930's. Crush the people and make them suffer. Put our minions into the power positions. Rule with fear.

Nazi Germany in the 30's and 40's, right?

Bush/Marion's FAA in the 2000's, right?

It makes me sick.

[hater]

Having lived at PHX during the later stages of this debacle, all that is print is true. Guess what? That mentality is still alive and well. Hypocrisy, self righteousness, and Hitleresque mentality abounds by management.

[lowskillset]

It's interesting that the FAA will bend over backwards to help a management type geographically but heaven help the rest of us. I know a controller who failed the training program at Portland. While his family lived in Portland and he requested a transfer to a Flight Service Station there, he was offered the following options:

1. Jefferson County, Colorado
2. Brown Field, Colorado (about 100 feet from the Mexican border)
3. Separation

A whole new meaning for the organzation's poster: "Separation: It's what we do."

[myview]

Lowskillset,
You hit that on the head. The real meaning of "Separation".

[ocair4me]

If the agency "idiotic beyond belief to put this kid in one of the busiest air traffic control towers in the world" what would you say to a CTI grad who has been selected for PHX tower? Really I would like to know because if this is how its like I would gladly decline and hope I for another location.

[lowskillset]

Ooops, the number 2 option was Brown Field, California.

[suupercub]

Scooter Libby (Gilding) walks, Valerie Plame loses her career, Compeon and Ramos sent off to prison, and Bush/Cheney/Rove/Gonzales and BLAKEY continue their unabated practice of Nazism. A typical government operation. Totally disgusting.

[Abused]

Can we get a phone number for this guy? Home is preferable, but work is o.k. too.

Abused

[forress]

Gilding should look up the definition of bad karma

[J F CHRIST]

I hate this f*cking scum bag I dont even know him If it was up to me his name would be gelding

[John Fisher FAAMA]

All,

Kindly follow up your comments with emails to the Administrator. We cannot let this stand.

Bob Marks

[less than gruntled]

According to Switchboard.com

Lot's of court records associated with this address. May or may not be the same guy.

JOHN GILDING
(address and phone number deleted by JTB)

Folks...I can't allow that. The information is readily available to anyone who wants to chase it, but I can't allow it to be posted here. Sorry.

[D]

Sucks to be a CTI going there. I hope everyone gives this dude the cold shoulder. Think i'll call in sick, this made me ill.

[AWOL in AZ]

Anyone thinking of transferring to the PHX HUB, think twice.....THIS PLACE IS TERRIBLE! If you have no other choice but to transfer to Phoenix, then be sure to hire an attorney in advance.

[lowskillset]

How about the PHX facility phone number then. He should be able to answer a few questions between donuts.

[ExRadarman]

Where's NATCA!

[lowskillset]

In case you're ever looking for someone, try Zabasearch.com or whitepages.com.

[Beamer]

I forgot to mention that I was the one with the possible OE in November 1999. Strange night...working traffic like normal. Skywest aborts takeoff and told to clear runway first op. He does. Cactus crosses threshold just as Skywest crosses hold bars. Get called to office. Told that I had OE...I said B.S... Told to tow the line and dismissed from office. Return to tower and ask supervisor if I was ok to work...He looks at me as if I was speaking Greek...Gilding returns to tower..ask him if I can work...he said shut up and get on position...what a guy!
Speaking of transposing...when Mr. Gilding first showed up to the tower I used the initials JB. For years before he quit the agency he had those initials. He couldn't change and would use JB even though they weren't his... So being the nice guy I was I sold them to him for 2 cases of beer...took me two interphone transmissions not to use JB...didn't get the beer for over a year...he had IRS problems and could not afford it....

[MikeyP]

I have seen a lot happen in the FAA. As a controller, Facility Rep, and RVP, you see a lot. But this story made me cry. Just like a baby. I would be ashamed if this wasn't so typically sad.

Mikey P

[lowskillset]

Just finished my 2007 Employee Attitude Survey online. Totally anonymous but I've locked all the doors anyway. Most questions didn't have enough boxes to the left to answer correctly so I just chose the far left box in most cases. As we've seen above, management types are not held accountable. There were a couple of questions that didn't have enough boxes to the right. Regular employees are regularly held accountable. Had to "strongly agree" on that one. I hope they're not counting on me to improve the poll results over the last survey. Several good questions on managerial accountability. Not enough boxes to the left.

It must be really hard to be a supervisor...having an idea about what the right thing is to do but knowing for sure that doing the wrong thing won't hurt a bit. I saw a poster once, at work on Inegrity. I can't remember the definition for sure since it's such a big word. Something like "We look both ways before we do something wrong."

[just another hamster in the sun]

Totally anonymous....hmm, that is why I did the survey at work. No tracing the website to my home comps. I got 15 minutes of duty time to do it, although it only took 5 or so. I plan on asking to re-do it tomorrow, saying that I got an error message. That oughta throw the stupe!

[Pete G]

Everybody that reads these 2 articles should forward a copy to their members of congress. It is going to be interesting to see what their response will be.

[Annoyed]

When Linda was alive, she did not have any support at all, including her NATCA rep. How come nobody here has asked THAT question?
There is tons more to this story, but unless you write and post the entire story, you shouldn't post it at all.

Do you homework Carr, you missed 50% of this story.

BTW, this was during your "time", where was your help for Linda?

Annoyed

[John Fisher FAAMA]

Annoyed,

You overstate your case by saying "no support at all". That isn't true. She had unanimous support when her mother's obituary was defaced. She had unanimous support when her operating initials were carved into the inside of the Tower elevator. Even from the regional FAA management. They had AF repair the damage just 48 hours after I brought it to their attention. I was there.

She had unanimous support for not being called names by a supervisor like the c and b words. She had unanimous support from every single controller during and after her very brave EEO fight.

As far as her abilities as a controller, you are correct. There is a difference of opinion there. But are you ready to go on record and say that more than 50% of the controllers there think she should have been treated this way? And I will say that John was there 1 billion percent the whole time, and still is. Her suicide took us all by surprise.

So instead of questioning in ignorance John's committment here, how about instead taking a position here related to some education. I am willing to post the entire story. I have it all, annoyed. Show me what you got, first. Show me emails that support your position. John will post both sides, and I am fine with that.

We are getting sued, so before we post what we have we need to know who you are. Don't hide behind some internet name. My name is Bob Marks. My email is skylord@cox.net and I am sick at reading your post.

[Sparky]

Marks,

You low-life POS. Don't try to pass yourself off as some kind of white knight. You only become interested in this event after Linda's suicide, not before. Then you proudly announced you were going to move the Western-Pacific's office out to Phoenix indefinitely.

After three days you decided your investigation was complete and you left in the middle of the night. Was it because Pearson was ripping your ass up one side and down the other? Was it because you had to change your diapers after every confrontation with Pearson? That's what it looked like to the crew. You're a bad-ass on the blog but when you have to get face-to-face with someone you've called out you get weak in the knees.

Marks, you're a has-been. You were voted out of office because your slash-and-burn tactics accomplished nothing but hatred and dissent. Go climb back into your shithole and shut the f*ck up you insignificant POS.

In Solidarity,

Sparky