Furloughs at FLOP's????

[netjetwife]

....The only good news is that they will get 6 weeks of pay, PTO payout, medical through January, and they retain "recall" rights for 7 years.....

My heart goes out to all those affected. As we approach Thanksgiving, I can easily imagine the bitterness many from Options must be feeling. Even when I don't post I still follow your cause from the sidelines.

I'm thankful that 1108 was there to look out for you guys and get some decent arrangements, not to mention the fact that it was done according to reverse seniority rules and that you have recall rights. I know that right now for the furloughed families it is hard to think so, but actually...it could be worse. Given the FLOPS' track record lately, I doubt any rules would have been followed or any help given to soften the blow had there not been a Union on property to represent the pilots.

Best Wishes,
NJW

 

[HSDriver]

Deleted

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Until Flight Options Management learns to put their Ego aside, and make the Pilots Partners in the Business, like has been done at NetJets, Flight Options will continue to spiral into demise.

As a former Flight Options Pilot, I do not enjoy watching these events unfold. I still have any friends on the property. However, until the likes of Tyler and Ford and Harrison understand that the Pilots of Flight Options have a sense of Pride that will not be destroyed by Management's Terrorists tactics, there will be no peace, and the business will continue to suffer.

Though I agree about the F& H part, I fully believe NJ isn't immune to this economy either.

We are having a countrywide (even worldwide) financial crisis, and slews of businesses thought to be impossible to fail are going under (or on the verge of) left and right.

With so much media attention on the auto execs taking "private jets" to beg for their bailouts, the pubic has become highly aware of those practices, and you can fully expect them to be highlighted.

Many NJ (the trolls) on this board love to claim how their people never run out of money, but they would be wrong...it will affect them DEEPLY in the next year, mark my words.

Anytime a govt lackey, exec, celebrity, family members, etc go to an FBO as the economy worsens, they will be media ostracized between the economy and the global warming brigade. TMZ with their plants and ability to zoom from miles away or some other outlet will splash such pics all over.

Rest assured the "cycle" I have been talking about for 3 years now is coming home to roost and is staying for quite some years.

That said it is sickening to see my fellow co-workers furloughed before Christmas, and wish this all wasn't happening.

 

[greygoose]

That said it is sickening to see my fellow co-workers furloughed before Christmas, and wish this all wasn't happening.

Moral is going to or has already fallen to a low time record. Many of the pilots still employed, don't want to hear that another pilot is on the street. When in fact nothing was offered to try to alleviate a furlough. There is a number of guys that would take a LOA, or even that want to burn up some vacation time and are still getting denied.

Now is the time for the Union to shine and support the fact they care for their members in good standing and make the point to the pilot group. The President is already leading towards the note they are not going to refund dues to members in good standing. His words being it was different for the RIF because they would have had to live with an illegal termination.
Don't get me wrong I totally agree with that, but doesn't support when they came back and you didn't enforce a back payment.
I totally support the idea you did it once you should do it again; if anyone is on the street in good standing get their dues back. Make a clear statement to the ones who choose to not pay dues.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Moral is going to or has already fallen to a low time record. Many of the pilots still employed, don't want to hear that another pilot is on the street. When in fact nothing was offered to try to alleviate a furlough. There is a number of guys that would take a LOA, or even that want to burn up some vacation time and are still getting denied.
.

Exactly....why don't they offer up VOLUNTARY leave of absence programs as they've done at the airlines. I am sure that there are plenty of our guys (and girls) that have other means of income that would love a chance to get away from this place for a while and not lose position or seniority. They could let them keep their benefits, and the savings in salary (especially when a more senior person) and temp reduction in force could save some more pilot jobs. Maybe the union could work up a letter of agreement or something even though we don't have a contract yet?

 

[netjetwife]

...There is a number of guys that would take a LOA, or even that want to burn up some vacation time and are still getting denied. How aggravating!

Now is the time for the Union to shine and support the fact they care for their members in good standing and make the point to the pilot group. Agreed. The President is already leading towards the note they are not going to refund dues to members in good standing. That's too bad. His words being it was different for the RIF because they would have had to live with an illegal termination. Regardless of the reason, financial hardship has the same impact on the pilots and families. .... I totally support the idea you did it once you should do it again; if anyone is on the street in good standing get their dues back. Make a clear statement to the ones who choose to not pay dues.

I agree that refunding the dues of furloughed members in good standing would be a good thing to do. In tough times a show of moral support is always welcome. Perhaps if enough of the pilot group asks the leadership to do that they will respond. I'm with you, Greygoose. It's not just the money, but the message that is important, too. NJW

 

[Freedom]

You make my point VOR...

Exactly....why don't they offer up VOLUNTARY leave of absence programs as they've done at the airlines. I am sure that there are plenty of our guys (and girls) that have other means of income that would love a chance to get away from this place for a while and not lose position or seniority. They could let them keep their benefits, and the savings in salary (especially when a more senior person) and temp reduction in force could save some more pilot jobs. Maybe the union could work up a letter of agreement or something even though we don't have a contract yet?

The fact that nothing was offered up other than here is a Layoff, deal with it, and the timing, just before the start of the Peak Travel Season, makes my point that this move was about generating Fear among the surviving Pilots, so that they might be more inclined to Tow the Company Line during Peak Travel.

This was just another Strong Arm tactic from this Management Team, like so many we have seen in the past. There may be a Kinder, Gentler face leading Management at Flight Options, but at its core, nothing has changed.

Exhibit A: Ford and Harrison and Scheeringa's Hit Man BT are still in place. What more evidence do you need?

Freedom is Not Free

 

[Publishers]

If they shut the company down some would think it some kind of strategic move to put pressure on the pilot group.
This company is up to its ass in alligators and no doubt happy for the chance to oppress their union movement.
Get a life, this company will be lucky to survive a year without a significant change in the economy.

 

[Freedom]

Do your homework....

If they shut the company down some would think it some kind of strategic move to put pressure on the pilot group.
This company is up to its ass in alligators and no doubt happy for the chance to oppress their union movement.
Get a life, this company will be lucky to survive a year without a significant change in the economy.

NetJets was bleeding record Red Ink prior to settling with their Pilots back in 2005. Within a month after the ink was dry on the Contract, they were making profits in the 10's of millions.

Its absolutely amazing how much a motivated Pilot Group can contribute to the Company's bottom line. But of course, first you have to respect that Pilot Group enough to at least compensate them with Industry Standard Pay and Benefits.

If Flight Options Management won't at least agree to that, then let it burn. Profits should not be made on the backs of a Professional Pilot Group. If Flight Options Management is not wise enough to manage the business (including effectively motivating an intelligent workforce through methods of today, not strong arm methods of the 1930s), then close the doors.

Freedom is Not Free

 

[Publishers]

I am all for that-- shut it down which will help some other companies make it through these tough times. You might want to use that free time to review the Netjets books and see what happened to them over the period of years. The only thing saving them a bit today is that they finally got a handle on Netjets Europe. It also helped that they settled with the pilots in the middle of the surgeing bubble that today has burst.
Anyrealtionship between the two companies is entirely incidental in that they both have pictures of aircraft on their walls. Ricci does not even look like Buffett.