anyone get out of the Chautauqua training contract?

[n7715x]

Does anyone know if anyone has successfully gotten out of paying out off the training agreement if they've left before the two years is up? I know there are quite a few ex chq guys here so I thought Id post it here...

 

[notaNJApilot]

I heard NJ guys got out of training contracts by calling it indentured servitude. But I also believe everything I see on TV.

 

[fly5boy7]

I left Shuttle/CHQ/whatever after 14 months for NJA. I never heard a word about it. NJA is the place to be- the regionals are sooo jacked up. ACA for 3 years, CHQ/Shuttle for a little over a year- never going back to the airlines.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

On the one hand, you signed it. You made an agreement with your eyes wide open. They fulfilled their end of the bargain; why do you want to renege on your end? How are you going to explain not fulfilling your contract at your next interview.. and the one after that?

If you must, ultimately you need a lawyer. An agressive lawyer. A lawyer who would argue that a stop sign is unconstitutional. Find a good, agressive lawyer who specializes in contracts. But as I said, I think it will say more about your character if you tough it out. How much longer do you have, and how bad is it, exactly?

 

[fly5boy7]

Um, you missed the point Ed---

They did not even ask about it. They are NOT enforcing it- that's the point. Not sure if you are just stirring the pot, but they just aren't enforcing it is the point.

And, secondly, when I got hired, I signed my training contract with Chautauqua only. When transferred to Shuttle, we were informed that we were "terminated" from Chautauqua and were signing on fresh with Shuttle. And, with Shuttle, I never saw a training contract period. So, maybe this is why I didn't have any trouble. I don't know. BUt I have not heard of one person being held to that contract- hope this helps those concerned. Republic is your standard low-bidding regional. That's why they are growing so much- they don't have enough administrative people on staff to handle the day to day employee issues anyhow.

Good luck to anyone looking to come to NJ.

PS- If NJ stays strong for decades to come, I won't have any more interviews to attend- and, they sure didn't care about any Chautauqua training contract. ;o)

 

[n7715x]

Ditto. If I ever interview somewhere else down the road, it will be long enough from now that the last thing theyll probably worry about is if there was ever a contract at CHQ and if I left before it was over. From what Ive seen of NJA so far, I think Ill be staying for a long time.

 

[doh]

I have yet to run into a Netjets person who would leave! It must be a good place! I have yet to run into a regional person who is happy!

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

Flyboy, it's funny how you say that I missed the point. If they aren't enforcing the contract, then there was no need for him to post in the first place. In my opinion a guy breaking an agreement with his former employer IS the point.

If I had a choice to hire two guys, one of whom honored his contract, and one who didn't, there would be no question who ranked higher.

It's funny how the raising of an "integrity" issue is considered "stirring the pot." Moreover, what would you think if your employer walked all over your labor contract because you weren't enforcing it, or some other reason? Different opinion on that one, huh?

I was simply advising a fellow pilot of a possible consequence of his action before he did it. I can foresee it coming up in a future interview. That's why I asked how bad/how long, and wanted him to consider just finishing his stinkin' contract.

 

[choppengruven]

Ed, go back to the airport.

 

[fly5boy7]

Ed, you have WAY too much time on your hands. Find yourself a good hobby-

ANd, the first post was basically asking if the contract was being enforced or not. So, pull the rod out of your butt and enjoy life a little more- don't be so anal.

Ill have a rum and coke for ya.

Cheers!

Good luck to all regional- NJ transfers- fantastic move!

 

[hammer2]

On the one hand, you signed it. You made an agreement with your eyes wide open. They fulfilled their end of the bargain; why do you want to renege on your end? How are you going to explain not fulfilling your contract at your next interview.. and the one after that?

If you must, ultimately you need a lawyer. An agressive lawyer. A lawyer who would argue that a stop sign is unconstitutional. Find a good, agressive lawyer who specializes in contracts. But as I said, I think it will say more about your character if you tough it out. How much longer do you have, and how bad is it, exactly?

Ed,
Should someone stay in a bad situation, and pass up a good job & future to serve out an contract? If someone takes the good job and is now able to take care of his family ,does that say something bad about his character?

 

[gunfyter]

On the one hand, you signed it. You made an agreement with your eyes wide open. They fulfilled their end of the bargain; why do you want to renege on your end? How are you going to explain not fulfilling your contract at your next interview.. and the one after that?

If you must, ultimately you need a lawyer. An agressive lawyer. A lawyer who would argue that a stop sign is unconstitutional. Find a good, agressive lawyer who specializes in contracts. But as I said, I think it will say more about your character if you tough it out. How much longer do you have, and how bad is it, exactly?

These training contracts.... Too bad it does not protect the pilots from being furloughed before the 2 yrs are up.

There have even been companies brash enough to go after pilots for training contracts after they took another job while furloughed.

Integrity? Simply an unfair labor practice. Training is a cost of doing business.

 

[CaptainJaguar]

You think that's bad? You should see avantair's training contract. Dam! Talk about really getting screwed!

 

[hopalong]

These training contracts.... Too bad it does not protect the pilots from being furloughed before the 2 yrs are up.

There have even been companies brash enough to go after pilots for training contracts after they took another job while furloughed.

Integrity? Simply an unfair labor practice. Training is a cost of doing business.

AMEN to that!

 

[jaybird]

There's two ways to look at this. You signed a contract, you are responsable to uphold your agreement.

CHQ management signed a CBA with the pilot group. Do they hold up thier end of the agreement? They didn't when I was there.

I say take your chances and walk away. But, be prepared to pay out if or when they come after you.

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

To answer you Hammer, if "taking care of your family" is a valid excuse for your actions, then crossing a picket line would be cool too. After all, a scab just wants to put bread on the table, also. Ditto for drug dealers, burgulars, and child-porn producers. Care to defend any of that?

This guy expressed no desperation to take care of his family, only a desire to "get out of" his agreement. (See title of thread.) If I were a future employer, I'd be worried that he suddenly develop the need to "take care of his family" after I trained him. That's why I advised him to stick it out if at all possible.

But even as a regular line pilot, I say that it's only because of actions like that -- bailing on employers after training -- that we have these %#X@ contracts in the first place. He signed it. Unless there's a breach by the employer, he should either do his time or pay it off like the rest of us.

 

[gunfyter]

I thought the training contracts were there because they know the pay is too low to keep people on the property otherwise?

 

[hopalong]

To answer you Hammer, if "taking care of your family" is a valid excuse for your actions, then crossing a picket line would be cool too. After all, a scab just wants to put bread on the table, also. Ditto for drug dealers, burgulars, and child-porn producers. Care to defend any of that?

This guy expressed no desperation to take care of his family, only a desire to "get out of" his agreement. (See title of thread.) If I were a future employer, I'd be worried that he suddenly develop the need to "take care of his family" after I trained him. That's why I advised him to stick it out if at all possible.

But even as a regular line pilot, I say that it's only because of actions like that -- bailing on employers after training -- that we have these %#X@ contracts in the first place. He signed it. Unless there's a breach by the employer, he should either do his time or pay it off like the rest of us.

First of all, most of these companies put us in pretty bad positions. "Either sign this contract or we don't want you to work for us." So, here we are put in a pretty bad position. And then they pay us crappy wages. Sounds more like indentured servitude. Why don't we ask them to sign a contract? To compare this to a scab, porn producers, etc.. is offensive and plain wrong.

 

[hammer2]

Edward
Scabs, drug dealers, robbers, and pedophiles..... Hummm??? Apples to oranges.

Maybe desperate was a little extreme, lets try again. Would you pass up an opportunity because of a training contract?

Most future employers in aviation know the game. Unless he is you, if it is not a trend I don't think it would even be a consideration.

Our wonderful judicial system will decide if you pay or not.

Dude, child porn, we're talking a training contract man a TRAINING CONTRACT!!!

 

[AngelKing]

I agree with Ed on this one, your eyes were open when you signed the contract.

On the other hand, if you were "terminated" under the conditions you stated above, I wouldn't think you would be held to the contract. It would be like, if the company went out of business, but yet expected you to pay up. I would tell them where to go, then get a lawyer.

Ed was answering your question, and you didn't like the answer.

Grow up.

AK