AN A320 FLC STARTED AN ENG WITHOUT MECH'S CLRNC. CAPT SUSPECTS MECH WAS SLOWING THE OP DUE TO UNION AND COMPANY FRICTION.

Narrative

THE JETWAY WAS PULLED AT XA53 AS WE HAD A LIGHT LOAD AND WERE READY TO PUSH FOR AN ON-TIME DEP. WE COMPLETED OUR BEFORE PUSH CHKLIST AT XA53. THE MECH PLUGGED INTO THE ACFT ALSO AT XA53; YET HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. AT XA55; I TOLD THE FO TO CALL FOR THE PUSHBACK CLRNC. AT XA55; THE MECH SPOKE UP AND SAID HE WAS READY FOR THE PUSH. I ADVISED OUR CHKLIST WERE COMPLETE AND WE WERE CLRED TO PUSH. HE SAID RELEASE THE BRAKES AND I DID SO. WE WERE IN FRONT OF 3 OTHER ACFT PUSHED BACK INTO THE ALLEY. THE MECH PROCEEDED TO PUSH THE ACFT AT 1-3 KTS ON THE GND SPD INDICATION FROM THE IRS'S. ONCE IN THE ALLEY IN FRONT OF THE OTHER ACFT; HE ASKED FOR THE BRAKES TO BE SET. WE SET THE BRAKES AND JUST SAT THERE. I ASKED IF WE WERE CLRED TO START; HE WOULD NOT RESPOND. AFTER HEARING THAT THE TOWBAR WAS DISCONNECTED AND SITTING FOR OVER 1 MIN; I TOLD THE FO TO START #1 ENG. AT THIS POINT. THE MECH ASKED IF I WAS STARTING WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION. I SAID YES AND TOLD HIM TO DISCONNECT. I BELIEVE THE MECH WAS TAKING A JOB ACTION TO SLOW THE OP.