Fozzy -
This line of thinking is a large part of why I am no longer with NJ. You don't believe the numbers. Do you realize that NJ is audited each year by an external Big 4 Account firm - E&Y etc. They are far more qualified to determine if the numbers are legit than you, I, or the union leadership. They haven't found any discrepancies so I tend to believe the basic numbers are pretty accurate. Now don't get me wrong - I don't know the numbers - that wasn't my area but to just blindly say you don't believe it when you haven't looked is foolish. Maybe the hidden money is in those dilly bars.
Well, Ernst and Young could care less about where the money goes. The exchanges and the interaction between the BH components are legal, for the most part. The problem lies in discovering those links and interactions.
Just because the auditors and the IRS say it's OK doesn't allow them to tell us (NJA pilots) that they cannot aford the raises we seek. Pay the vendors and everyone else what you want we don't care until you tell us,' there isn't enough for pilot raises.' What works for cost accounting and keeping a lean bottom line doesn't work for us, this just pisses us off, sorry.
You next point is the linkage between managment fees and pilot salaries. you don't make enough so just raise the fees. Do you know much about business? If you raise prices above your competitors your existing customers and new customers will be more likely to go to the competition instead of to you. I've owned my own business and can unequivically testify that is the truth in business. you might make more off your existing customers but your base shrinks. end result is flat or maybe even decreased revenue. Sounds like a solution.
The company has already stated they do not want to raise rates to keep market share, this is a failing tactic. Just look at the recent AIN articles leaving NJA at the bottom of owner renewals. Customer service combined with afordability will be the challange in the next 5 years, not low price.
The attitude of pay us or shut the doors is just as foolish - it's like the old adage of throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Great ideas fail because leaders don't lead they fall back on old ideas. Great companies fail, everyday.
I've I haven't lost you to blind hatred yet understand this - the pilots that I met while with NetJets are tremendous professionals. Without question they deserve higher pay. I am not there anymore for two reasons - concern over the attitude of pay us or shut down and because I wan't being paid what I am worth either. I probably would have put up with the pay but I don't see much willingness to negotiate in good faith from either side and see a bad end to this. Maybe one of you (union and managment) will come to your senses. I hope so - I truly believe it's was a great company and could become so again.