A320
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 199; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 2292
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Headset appeared to be inoperative with no voice; although I could hear the hot mic and fumbling with the headset. After much fumbling around downstairs; I overheard the push crew mention that he didn't want to put it too close to his mouth because he was sweating. I completely sympathize; but we have to be able to hear!Push crew then said they were ready to push; but we would have bags loaded after pushback. FO (First Officer) saw the bags sitting on a belt loader next to the airplane; I had to insist that they be loaded there rather than push and load. The three minute conversation about this was longer than it took to load the bags.Push crew left hot mic on for the entire push. This is apparently a new headset that is showing up a lot; with a manual mic switch. Unfortunately; I'm not going to listen to a jet engine running during the entire pushback - which means starting after the disconnect.After brakes set; push crew had difficulty releasing the tow bar. Marshaller came up; and due to the hot mic I could hear her say 'you need to tell them that they need to release the parking brake so you can push them back a little further.' That is a direct quote - and clearly a falsehood to get us to release the brake so they could get the tow bar off. While I inquired as to had they changed anything on the tow bar (pin or otherwise); the pin then sheared. After Maintenance came out; nobody told me on the headset that the tow bar was disconnected and bypass pin removed; they just disconnected after Maintenance told me there was no damage. When I flashed the taxi light three times; marshaller gave me the clear to taxi signal and hopped in the tug. Luckily; she kept looking and saw my repeated signals. After the lead hooked up; we got confirmation that the tow bar and bypass pin were indeed removed; I gave the 'disconnect headset' command; and everyone then drove away without another clear to taxi signal. After calling Ops; and 4-5 minutes; we got someone to come out and give us a signal.
A320 Captain reported ground crew's non-compliance to Standard Operating Procedures during pushback.