AN MD80 CAPT LOST CONTACT WITH THE TUG DRIVER DURING PUSHBACK BECAUSE THE DRIVER HAD REMOVED HIS HEADSET AND WAS TALKING ON A CELL PHONE.

Narrative

I WAS THE CAPT ON FLT FROM BOS IN JUL/XA/08. AT XA05 AM; BOSTON GND CTL CLRED US TO PUSH AFTER THE 3RD ACFT PASSED BEHIND US; AN A320. I PASSED ON THE ATC CLRNC TO PUSH VIA HEADSET TO OUR TUG DRIVER AND THE TUG DRIVER CLRED US TO RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE. WITH THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASED; ATC REVISED OUR PUSH CLRNC AND TOLD US TO 'HOLD THE PUSH.' I TRIED TO TELL THE TUG DRIVER TO 'HOLD THE PUSH' AND COULD NOT CONTACT THEM VIA THE HEADSET. I TRIED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN; I NOTICED THAT THE TUG DRIVER HAD HIS HEADSET OFF AND WAS TALKING ON A CELL PHONE. I FLASHED THE NOSE LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET HIM TO PUT THE HEADSET BACK ON. WHEN HE DID PUT HIS HEADSET BACK ON; I MADE IT CLR THAT HE WAS NOT CLRED TO PUSH DUE TO A CHANGE IN ATC CLRNC AND THAT HE NEEDED TO REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH ME SINCE I WAS THE ONE IN CONTACT WITH GND CTL AND THE RAMP IS UNDER THE CTL OF BOSTON GND CTL. THE TUG DRIVER STARTED TO ARGUE WITH ME AND THEN COMPLETED HIS PHONE CALL. WHEN WE ARE MOVING AIRPLANES; WE DON'T NEED GND CREWS MAKING CELL PHONE CALLS. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED AND THE AIRPLANE IS READY TO MOVE; THE TUG DRIVER NEEDS TO REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE CAPT AND ALL ATTN SHOULD BE ON THE SAFE MOVEMENT OF THE ACFT.