Despite union opposition, Flight Options moved forward...

[BlueNose]

So here's what the public sees, from AINonline. Kenn Ricci, freedom fighter.

Despite union opposition, Flight Options moved forward on Friday with an offer of voluntary separation packages to its pilots as the company lays the groundwork to transform from a fractional operation into an on-demand charter business over the next 12 to 18 months. Flight Options sister operation Flexjet previously made the offer as the two companies begin to reshape their operations, retiring some of the older modelaircraft and moving others into charter.

Article ends with the quote, from KR only:

"I refuse to accept the notion that a pilot, under the employ of this company, does not have the right to decide his or her own future," Ricci said in announcing plans to move forward with the voluntary package offers. "It is unconscionable that the Teamsters should unilaterally try to take away a voluntary and materially beneficial option."

Read the whole article here.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

If this was such a good deal, why would a pilot have to agree to waive his right of recourse afforded in the CBA? I'm not talking about a right to be recalled, I'm talking about the right to use arbitration in any dispute. If, for some reason, Ricci decides not to uphold his end of the bargain, your only recourse will be the court system. Good luck with that, especially given his track record.

 

[doh]

All management was/is trying is to set a legal precedent of bypassing negotiating with us pilots for the terms and conditions of our employ. If we accept this, we allow them to impose pay rates without negotiating, because we allowed them to set compensation without negotiation once. It is a precedent they can exploit. That is the real issue. Do not let them deflect from that. It would do irreparable long term harm to every Onesky pilot.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

When has Kenn really had the best interests of the pilots in mind? Name one?

 

[BlueNose]

This is a shot directly at the rights of the IBT to bargain collectively for the covered employee group, the pilots of OneSky. Can't see how this can possibly stand, and KR has to know that. Is all this just a ruse to cast the IBT as the bad guys, when the company gets blocked by a judge and is "forced" to furlough? Because if this were to stand, wouldn't the union be effectively neutered?

 

[V1 Rotate]

All management was/is trying is to set a legal precedent of bypassing negotiating with us pilots for the terms and conditions of our employ. If we accept this, we allow them to impose pay rates without negotiating, because we allowed them to set compensation without negotiation once. It is a precedent they can exploit. That is the real issue. Do not let them deflect from that. It would do irreparable long term harm to every Onesky pilot.

Bingo. Once a precedent is set that the Union let the Company bypass their representation for the pilots, then that door is thrown wide open for anything in the future. And ole Ricci will be waiting right there to exploit it.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

Don't forget Ricci still hasn't acknowledged the Flex pilots have a legal representative and are still at-will employees. What does he have instore for them next? He claims he is only after the pro-union Options pilots, but ALL Flex pilots will be targeted next.

 

[Imissmypilot]

Don't forget Ricci still hasn't acknowledged the Flex pilots have a legal representative and are still at-will employees. What does he have instore for them next? He claims he is only after the pro-union Options pilots, but ALL Flex pilots will be targeted next.

This is the most disappointing of all. We have heard from the big IBT. We have heard from the big 1108. We have heard from the Options MEC.

What have we heard from Flex Leadership? ********************ing nothing. They should be spitting bullets at the massive insult handed to them by management to not even acknowledge their existence as the legal representatives of the pilot group. They weren't even as much as cc'd on a memo to this date, let alone advised of the VSP.

It is embarrassing for our pilot group to be represented by whoever it is representing us at Flexjet. I don't actually even know who it is anymore the communication has been so bad and so lacking. Some of the original POC were very transparent, communicative and passionate and they have fallen completely off the radar. Management is spreading the rumor some of the original POC don't even support this union drive anymore. I know it's not true (with the expected and predicted exceptions) but the average Flexer won't know and the soft support the union once barely enjoyed will wither away with this clever whisper campaign management, their cronies and union benedict arnolds are employing.

What the hell is going on with the Flex jet side of this? Ricci ignores the fact that we elected unionization completely and it would appear we're okay with that. I have always said the cries for participation and support will continue to go unanswered as long as we continue to show such utter weakness and incompetence from the top down.

Seriously, how embarrassing is it that a blustering, intellectually deficient bigot is still besting a small but still majority of supportive pilots while senior management all but ignores the original core group of the workforce of the their new workhorse?

********************ing embarrassing. Why don't you consider what is making the VSP attractive at all? The writing is on the wall this is a dead end job unless we get our act together. It's not too late but the clock is ticking.

 

[Imissmypilot]

100 views since my opinion and not a single retort tells me just how on point I am with my observation. I've never been so disappointed to be right in my entire career. Like I said the clock is ticking but it's not too late however with this apathy it's not likely will get to it in time.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

Silent majority.

 

[doh]

Have you volunteered for any committees yet? Unity does start with u...

 

[Imissmypilot]

Have you volunteered for any committees yet? Unity does start with u...

As I've said a hundred times before, I'm 100% supportive of our need for unionization and the effort but I'm not casting my lot with a weakness given the makeup of the current "leadership" which is lacking in passion, ability and credibility. You want solidarity, unity? Then you need to show some strength.

This current VSP fiasco underscores exactly what I'm talking about and no doubt the majority of supportive flexers agree both in observation and based on conversation. Our "leadership" (whoever that even is at this point - who knows it's been so silent) was dealt a major insult and accordingly every supportive Flexjet pilot a slap in the face. And what do they choose to do? ********************ing nothing. They let the Options people answer. In court, in letters, on the vuh.

I talk to union people all the time. I encourage the ones I think we need to be more prominent to have a greater voice. The leadership I thought I was getting during the campaign is not what we really got though is it? We had 3 or 4 guys brave enough to call a spade a spade, tell the truth and battle for our group but I have seen none of this - not a single worthwhile rally cry in months with the exception of VF's exposure of the sham of red label which was then not backed up by a single "leader" in support. What a massive missed opportunity. Or perhaps is it the fact some of your very same leadership are just IGMs participating in the sham of red label, getting their cake and eating it to. What do I know?

RH and his helpful crew at whatever FUD lawfirm they've hired spun you masterfully, DOH. In an effort to seem more reasoned, polite and respectable you acquiesced what strengths you did have into weakness. Why do you think there was so much focus by management and company on the "tone" of your letters and yammer debates? Because it was working.

We won the vote and current leadership has all but ********************ing pissed it away. The call for middle of the road was a strategy employed by your opposition and you fell for it. In doing so, you failed your Flexjet pilots and you've turned over 100% of our interests to the leaders at Options.

At least those guys have some balls. As predicted, anything we get will be on their coattails. With no disrespect toward them whatsoever, that also means the bar for all just lowered for everyone. Why do you think Ricci is putting all his eggs in the Flexjet basket? Because his greatest shot at decertification or worst case a substandard CBA is to keep the Flexjet union impotent while demoralizing and burying the strength at Options.

So yeah I'm not signing up for that mess. Give me someone or something to believe in, perhaps that changes but not right now. Grow a few pairs. At the very least respond to the massive insult Ricci doesn't even acknowledge your existence.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

The Flexjet Union and the Flexjet pilots are just starting to get a taste of the bitter medicine this management team is capable of forcing the Flexjet pilots to swallow. The company hired a PR firm to make this whole charade look like the company has a big heart, when in reality, these are some of the most cold-hearted M__F on the planet. By the time the Flex pilots figured out what was really going on, it would be too late for them to take a stand on anything.

 

[shanes123]

Their to stupid to figure it out..their on the VUH board worrying about who's gonna sit in the Left seat....IDIOTS

 

[el raton]

Their to stupid to figure it out..their on the VUH board worrying about who's gonna sit in the Left seat....IDIOTS

How did you get hired at flops? Keep this up and you really will lose your precious Union.

 

[OldCrow]

Old Crow

Excuse the drama. I don't post much here, and I'm a middle of the road kind'a guy. I really do have more that I could do with the $ I send for my Union dues. Their is always the, BUT: I am a FLOPs guy, and although we wear different ties, I think you will be in the same situation(s) we are.
Maybe I'm the only Pilot that reads the accident reports and wonders, how did that happen? I really can't make it much more clear than that. It's imminent that FLEX will be the next "accident". The UNION, is not all powerful, and a wonderment, that has been posted, but it IS the only way you will get a fair representation when Kenn comes calling.
I may be in a dying company/fleet, but I am compassionate enough to give you warning.

 

[shanes123]

How did you get hired at flops? Keep this up and you really will lose your precious Union

You know what would be the positive thing about me losing my precious union EL RATON? watching KR stick his EL BATON up your A without any lube.

 

[CALRepublic]

woooo everybody take a deep breath

You guys at FLOPS/FLEX get quarterly reports??? (company financials, sales, trends pointing up/down, etc??

How are things over-there??

 

[el raton]

How did you get hired at flops? Keep this up and you really will lose your precious Union

You know what would be the positive thing about me losing my precious union EL RATON? watching KR stick his EL BATON up your A without any lube.

I'm not a Ricci fan either, but damn Shane, with all your venom and hate towards Ricci, why do you work for him? Go to Netjets, they have more of what you need.

Maybe you don't leave because you feel you're entitled to one of those left seats on a challenger?

Prick!

 

[el raton]

Shane, in my frustration I foolishly responded to your nonsense. I have managed to make myself look a foolish as you do.

Whatever ever happens at Onesky is gonna happen. I'll deal with it in a way that best suits me.


I do have one question. Since the the new seniority list has been published, do you think it would be wise for a pilot at flexjet to support the union? Why would anyone who needs a job knowingly volunteer to be furloughed just to have a union on property? Support for the union would most likely leave a lot of pilots at flexjet unemployed.