A319
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 121.02; Flight Crew Total 13000; Flight Crew Type 5049.40
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
Called for push about 4-5 minutes before scheduled departure time. Ramp told us to 'standby' as traffic was blocking us. We could see the reflection of an airplane in the window behind us. Someone appearing to be a Ramp Supervisor (had walkie talkie) was giving me a brake release hand signal. I ignored him. He then walked under the nose. The tug operator (female voice) asked me to release brakes. I replied we needed pushback clearance first. A male voice asked me to release brakes for on time. I told him our SOP requires pushback clearance and I cannot do that. Same guy walked out in front of nose was waving his hands; pointed at his watch; and gave me the brake release signal. I ignored him. [The other aircraft] finally taxied away; we were given push clearance; brakes released.What concerns me are several issues:1. We have tug operators asking crews to release brakes in violation of SOP on almost more legs than not (daily occurrence)...this is not an understatement. 2. [At] some stations; a Supervisor takes it up a notch and pressures ramp and flight crews to release brakes for the on time. 3. The company has such a laser focus on [departing on-time] they are pressuring front line employees to act against our values of safety and caring. Gate agents routinely try to close doors 15-20 min early even though we are missing passengers (happened today). Employees from several departments are scared of what will happen to them if they are blamed for a delay. An agent told me she feared for her job. This is not how you instill a safety culture.
A319 Captain reported increased pressure from fellow employees to deviate from SOP to achieve an on-time departure.