Embraer Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Human Factors; Company Policy
Event occurred during a quick turn. Due to ATC delays in the Northeast; we were delayed. I'm all for a quick turn and hustle; but after requesting crew meals that weren't boarded and seeing the cabin a disaster with an open wine bottle; trash everywhere; debris/crumbs on seats and carpet and then the concern [of] numerous life vest misplaced; I instructed the gate to stop boarding. The safety vest around a dozen plus were stuffed in a seat back pockets; sidewalls; overheads and everywhere in between. This is a cleaning function. Cleaners might have come but didn't have time to do their job correctly and more than likely were rushed off the airplane to facilitate turn stats for LGA operations. We are having immense issues with a Maintenance Operations Manager in LGA. My issue is the aircraft wasn't airworthy and therefore until corrected I wasn't boarding let alone departing. That's when the mob of suits and radios showed up as if in a show of force. The Maintenance Operations Manager showed up in my flight deck. I didn't know who the hell these people were but I explained my issue. The response; still very crisp and clear and concise was heard by the purser. 'Our concerns as managers is customer reliability not safety.' [This] blew my socks off. Then she heckled me telling 'You know I know your Chief Pilot really well.' The intent of the harassment was clear and continued. 'How long have you been here?' Why does any of this matter? I'm the Captain; fix my issues; and we can board. The culture is certainly changing at [the company]. This event pissed me off so much that it became a further safety issue as it dominated the work environment for the entire flight causing a huge threat. Get these Maintenance Operations Manager out of the cockpit; let the gate agents do their jobs; let the cleaners do their jobs; let the catering do their jobs; [and] let me do my job without interruption. Pilot harassment and pilot pushing will not be tolerated; regardless how long you have been here at [the company]; whether you know my boss or not and regardless of who you are in the company management chain. [The cause of the event is that the] culture of safety [was put] second and operation first. [We had to] get the turn times and on time so the management can get their bonuses meanwhile safety is being compromised. Passenger comfort and product perception is thrown in the garbageAwareness and the FAA to start stepping up and look into LGA and other various issues with management and safety.
ERJ Captain reported the aircraft cabin had not been cleaned and Station Management did not agree with the Captain's assessment.