Buffett Bites Back at NetJets Pilot Complaints

[PCL_128]

We'll take whatever Delta has. The entire contract.

Prepare to never get a contract and never get released, then. I'm not saying it's right, but I am saying that's how it is. Welcome to the world of dealing with the RLA and the NMB.

 

[T-1GUY]

Prepare for the airplanes to never leave the ground....

 

[FLYLOW22]

Prepare to never get a contract and never get released, then. I'm not saying it's right, but I am saying that's how it is. Welcome to the world of dealing with the RLA and the NMB.

Given the state of this pilot group.

That's a bet to take.

The shareholders were VERY supportive.

 

[PCL_128]

Given the state of this pilot group.

That's a bet to take.

The shareholders were VERY supportive.

Talk to me in five years when you're still waiting on a deal.

 

[Mooneymite]

Prepare to never get a contract and never get released, then.

That can cut both ways....if Hansell's mission is to get rid of all the unions at NetJets, management will be pushing to be released to "self help" where a non-negotiated contract will be presented to those pilots who wish to continue to work, the rest of us will be locked out.

If that's Hansell's plan, I suspect there is also a plan to keep NetJets going while our replacements are hired and trained.

It could get real ugly, real fast.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Talk to me in five years when you're still waiting on a deal.

I won't be here in 5 years if still waiting.

Nor will the majority.

Good luck.

There aren't enough replacements that can do what we do.

Without bad headlines. I mean bad.

I feel like Kermit the Frog here...

 

[PCL_128]

That can cut both ways....if Hansell's mission is to get rid of all the unions at NetJets, management will be pushing to be released to "self help" where a non-negotiated contract will be presented to those pilots who wish to continue to work, the rest of us will be locked out.

If that's Hansell's plan, I suspect there is also a plan to keep NetJets going while our replacements are hired and trained.

It could get real ugly, real fast.

The Board is unlikely to release you, regardless of whether the request is from the union or the company, unless they believe that a deal is likely to result during the cooling off period. The Board doesn't view the release as a way to a strike or a lockout, but rather as a way to encourage a deal when the parties are close. If you're fighting over stuff like this, they're unlikely to release you even if Hansell is the one who is pushing it. In fact, the current Board leans pro-labor rather than pro-company, so they won't much care what Hansell wants. What they care about is avoiding strikes and lockouts.

 

[acaTerry]

No really, I have no intention to give concession to a company that is so profitable. WB endorsed Obama, he can pay the Obamacare taxes personally for all I care.

Oh you have a beer coming. You name it, you got it.

 

[Hawkered]

That can cut both ways....if Hansell's mission is to get rid of all the unions at NetJets, management will be pushing to be released to "self help" where a non-negotiated contract will be presented to those pilots who wish to continue to work, the rest of us will be locked out.

If that's Hansell's plan, I suspect there is also a plan to keep NetJets going while our replacements are hired and trained.

It could get real ugly, real fast.

There is no way that background checks, simulator slots, IOE nor anything as simple as using a fire extinguisher to jumping through a cabin trainer could be done quickly enough to break a strike.

 

[pilotyip]

There is no way that background checks, simulator slots, IOE nor anything as simple as using a fire extinguisher to jumping through a cabin trainer could be done quickly enough to break a strike.

Somethign I agree with, sim time is aslmost impposible to get rigth now without the impact of replacing 100's of pilots.

 

[T-1GUY]

Spell checkers are in short supply as well

 

[FraxJockey]

Somethign I agree with, sim time is aslmost impposible to get rigth now without the impact of replacing 100's of pilots.

There is already another way....it's called the competition.

 

[pilotyip]

Spell checkers are in short supply as well

See a college degeree has nothing to do with being able to speel

 

[BlueNose]

There is no way that background checks, simulator slots, IOE nor anything as simple as using a fire extinguisher to jumping through a cabin trainer could be done quickly enough to break a strike.

No, but there will be enough sell-off lift available to cover the trips. EJM, TMC and other 3rd parties, and don't forget Options/Flex fly charter through KR's broker company. And you can't count on the Options/Flex pilots spiking the trips - they won't even know these are NJ owners they're flying. It'll just say Mr & Mrs Smith or XYZ Corp on the manifest. NJ's not the operator in the case of a sell-off, they just act as a charter broker, to the crew never need know where it came from. And you can be sure the pax will be briefed not to reveal it, either, if they don't want a departure time break.

So in the event of a strike, a Frax pilot union has even less leverage than an airline union. At least with an airline, lost trips = 100% lost revenue. With a Frax, monthly management fees are still coming in, the company just loses the hourly trip charges. That'll still be an expensive proposition for NJ, but if they're determined to break a strike and Hansell has WB convinced that it's a cost saver long-term, they'll probably be willing to burn cash for a while. As already stated, could get real ugly, real fast.

 

[Mooneymite]

The Board is unlikely to release you, regardless of whether the request is from the union or the company, unless they believe that a deal is likely to result during the cooling off period.

I disagree with your assessment.

The reason that we are under the NRLA is the government does not want a strike/labor striff to interfere with national interests/commerce. A nationwide railroad, or airline strike could have major impact on the economy/national defence, etc.

NetJets is a tiny operation. If it is permanently grounded it would have virtually no effect on the national economy. Warren Buffet could ride on Southwest, or a part 135 jet.

I suspect the NMB will get a little political pressure from the money-boys and NetJets will be released quickly and we will be locked out sooner than anyone is even guessing.

We are definitely better off preparing for a lockout rather than discounting it out of hand.

If Hansell gets 20% of the NetJets pilots to accept his terms (lots of money to be made by those who cross the picket line!), he can limp along with sell-offs and contract pilots (even EJM pilots on their off days) for long enough to hire and train our replacements. Generally NetJets' customers are not pro-union and will be quite patient if they think it will get rid of those "awful unions".

The key to a successful strike/lockout situation is the savings of the individual NetJets pilots (that's you and me!). If you haven't got savings that will last you and your family for 6 months, you need to. We'll need 100% of the pilots on our side of the picket line.

If the lockout doesn't happen, you've built up a nice nest-egg and gotten your financial house in order. Start saving!