FLOPS in AIN

[FR8DOG777]

Hot off the press is an article in AIN magazine. I hope everyone sees how horrible this place is getting. Pilots, employees, and owners alike.
http://www.ainonline.com/Publications/nbaa/NBAA_06/d2_FlightOptions49.htm

 

[choppengruven]

Flight Options pilots protest unfair contract negotiations​

By Mark Huber / NBAA Convention News October 2006​

The union representing some 760 Flight Options pilots is charging that the Raytheon-owned fractional share company is engaging in a pattern of harassing and hostile behavior as both sides continue negotiations toward an initial contract. Under terms of the National Labor Relations Act those talks can continue through August 2007 before a strike could be called.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 1108 was planning to publicly air its grievances here at NBAA through a series of informal media briefings and by flying a banner-tow aircraft over the static display yesterday and today at Orlando Executive Airport. On March 2, 67 percent of Flight Options pilots approved union representation.

Representatives of Local 1108 are charging that Flight Options, the most unprofitable of all fractional share companies, is enforcing a policy of forced vacations, 14-hour duty days, mandatory overtime, widespread layoffs and arbitrary pay cuts by forcing pilots into aircraft with lower compensation structures as the company consolidates its fleet offerings from 12 aircraft types to four. Flight Options also recently cut health care benefits, shifted crew lodging to lower quality hotels and cut the number of meals that could be reimbursed, according to the union.

Management is also threatening pilots who write up aircraft maintenance squawks with disciplinary action, according to Local 1108 president Bill Olsen. Olsen said the company rejected the union’s request to implement an interim grievance procedure while contract negotiations continue.

Local 1108 also represents 2,400 pilots at competing fractional share provider NetJets. Olsen said the union’s goal is to obtain a contract for Flight Options pilots that is “equal to or better than” the one it negotiated in October 2005 for the NetJets’ pilots. That contract raised wages an average of 40 percent and provides first-dollar health care coverage.

Flight Options spokeswoman Kate Barth declined to comment on the union’s charges. “Negotiations between Flight Options and the IBT began several months ago and are progressing,” Barth said​

 

[Jetz]

Sounds awful.

Flight Options pilots protest unfair contract negotiations​

By Mark Huber / NBAA Convention News October 2006​

The union representing some 760 Flight Options pilots is charging that the Raytheon-owned fractional share company is engaging in a pattern of harassing and hostile behavior as both sides continue negotiations toward an initial contract. Under terms of the National Labor Relations Act those talks can continue through August 2007 before a strike could be called.​

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 1108 was planning to publicly air its grievances here at NBAA through a series of informal media briefings and by flying a banner-tow aircraft over the static display yesterday and today at Orlando Executive Airport. On March 2, 67 percent of Flight Options pilots approved union representation.​

Representatives of Local 1108 are charging that Flight Options, the most unprofitable of all fractional share companies, is enforcing a policy of forced vacations, 14-hour duty days, mandatory overtime, widespread layoffs and arbitrary pay cuts by forcing pilots into aircraft with lower compensation structures as the company consolidates its fleet offerings from 12 aircraft types to four. Flight Options also recently cut health care benefits, shifted crew lodging to lower quality hotels and cut the number of meals that could be reimbursed, according to the union.​

Management is also threatening pilots who write up aircraft maintenance squawks with disciplinary action, according to Local 1108 president Bill Olsen. Olsen said the company rejected the union’s request to implement an interim grievance procedure while contract negotiations continue.​

Local 1108 also represents 2,400 pilots at competing fractional share provider NetJets. Olsen said the union’s goal is to obtain a contract for Flight Options pilots that is “equal to or better than” the one it negotiated in October 2005 for the NetJets’ pilots. That contract raised wages an average of 40 percent and provides first-dollar health care coverage.​

Flight Options spokeswoman Kate Barth declined to comment on the union’s charges. “Negotiations between Flight Options and the IBT began several months ago and are progressing,” Barth said​

​

Hang in there Pilots. Good luck. Hopefully after the battle is over there will still be a Flight Options left...

 

[Some guy]

Management is also threatening pilots who write up aircraft maintenance squawks with disciplinary action, according to Local 1108 president Bill Olsen. Olsen said the company rejected the union’s request to implement an interim grievance procedure while contract negotiations continue.​

​

They cannot do this. We went through this last year and as hard as it was on the AMCC controllers, we dealt with it. They cannot tell you not to squawk something. What would the FAA think if any company disciplined its pilots for writing up an aircraft discrepancy?

 

[BombJet45]

You guys might want to bring a camera with you to take pictures of anything that breaks to CYA.

 

[jetwash]

I hear there is a tape recording of a conversation between a Flight Opts program manager and a pilot where he was recored telling the pilot to wait until he gets to a MX base to write up a problem.

:0

 

[johnsonrod]

All of the other fractionals are hiring. I would suggest you update your resumes.........

 

[FLYLOW22]

It's like Vu ja de... all over again.

HIT IT!!!

 

[ProFracPilot]

You guys might want to bring a camera with you to take pictures of anything that breaks to CYA.

One could do this, but then you would be subject to termination for violating the company's "No Recording Policy":

No Recording Policy​

Employees are prohibited from utilizing audio or video recording equipment (including cell phones for such purpose) on Company property or when Company business is being discussed, except where such audio or video equipment is provided by the Company and then only for purposes the Company has authorized. Still photography of aircraft, flight equipment and company premises, except as a background for photos of employees, requires management approval and then can be used only for the approved purpose. As with any other Company policy, violating this policy could result in disciplinary action, including termination.​

There's a whole lotta "CYA" goin' on...

 

[Phoenix]

One could do this, but then you would be subject to termination for violating the company's "No Recording Policy":

No Recording Policy​

Employees are prohibited from utilizing audio or video recording equipment (including cell phones for such purpose) on Company property or when Company business is being discussed, except where such audio or video equipment is provided by the Company and then only for purposes the Company has authorized. Still photography of aircraft, flight equipment and company premises, except as a background for photos of employees, requires management approval and then can be used only for the approved purpose. As with any other Company policy, violating this policy could result in disciplinary action, including termination.​

There's a whole lotta "CYA" goin' on...

Brother you got that right. When upper management has to worry about program managers, chief pilot and others in OCC, making comments, giving instructions, making demands, and directing pilots, in violation of FAR's, SOP, and common safety practice, its a huge liability. These middle managers have been operating this way for so long that it is going to be hard if not impossible for them to change to operating in a safe legal manner.

Regardless of the official company policy, recording and photo documentation is going on more then you can imagine. All that is coming in is creating quite a library. The sad thing is much of it implicates simple worker bees in OCC that are just doing what they are being told by their managers.

Hopefully none of it will ever be used.