Flexjet pilots giving up?

[NETFLIER]

1108 has set it up. Dont let them buy another 2 more years with that pathetic raise.

everyone is scared that the union will put flex out of business or undo stress on the company, but you need to understand even though they got Netjets a superior contract relative to the industry, 1108 has also been the leaders of a Cost Cutting Initiative Campaigns at netjets. Some of the plans I am certain will save millions.

Flex work rules are very sub-par
pay is barley there
benefits, well you are basically paying for

flex is offering a product, in its jets, no one else can sell so thier argument of keeping the price down to stay competitve is unjustified.

Stay strong!!!!

 

[Beatrix Kiddo]

I was talking to a buddy of mine who flies Challengers at Flexjet last night. He's been there about a year and seems happy. He says there are a few issues but no real need for a union.... I dunno...

But we definately need one at FLOPs

Vote Yes IBT 1108

 

[FLYLOW22]

Every employee group goes through a cycle with management. They will have their day eventually... when enough get fed up.

 

[ArtVandalay]

Beatrix, when your friend upgrades from the 604 into the lear 45, trust me, he'll have issues with management...

 

[Peter_Griffin]

Gotta Love It!!!!

I was talking to a buddy of mine who flies Challengers at Flexjet last night. He's been there about a year and seems happy. He says there are a few issues but no real need for a union.... I dunno...

But we definately need one at FLOPs

Vote Yes IBT 1108

Gotta love how a guy with more or less a years experience can tell the rest of us whether or not there is any need for a union. After training, IOE, recurrents, new hire hand drawn schedules, 2005 vacations etc, this guy has probrably had 5-6 months tops in the real system. Enough time to tell if there are problems but definitely not enough to say there aren't... And let's not forget his contract more or less forces him to keep on those rose colored glasses lest he shoot himself.

Tell your friend the reason we need a union is becuase of the continued promises and eventual letdown the flight crews have gone thru. They always seem to do just enough to pacify most of the troops but not enough to make the majority really happy. He hasn't been here long enough to see the never ending cycle of promises eluded to and then broken. He hasn't been here long enough to figure put he is just a bean in the machine and not one person at waterview sees him or his family as anything other than a commodity. Management does not fly the line anywhere near where they have any idea of what QOL at flex really is. But it's too their benefit as there is a certain sense of not giving a $hit that comes with that lack of understanding that must make their job easier.

I ask for flex crews to look at it this way: whether you are happy or not about May 1 pay increases, you need to ask yourself over the span of your time here at flex has you QOL gotten better or worse? Some can honestly say it's better, but it's at the very least been a roller coaster ride. If your experience tells you that you implicitly trust current flex management to do the right thing, follow that. If you, like me, don't feel a guy like DG, who has said we are a dime a dozen and easily replacable, won't ever represent you fairly in management decisions, consider a union. How many times are you going to see the same issues get hashed around at CAB meetings with no solutions before you realize our current system does nothing for us. I have been here for several years now and can honestly tell you that the same issues that were on the CAB table when I got here are still here with very little progress.

At the very least a union gives us a shot at attaining eqilibirium with other top frac outfits and many other things current management can NEVER give us. This isn't about hating my job or my company -- I like my job and would like to see us make a move that would make this a place I could retire and recomemend to others. I can't do that right now. I honestly believe we will be 1000% better served thru a union than our current system.

 

[Peter_Griffin]

Flex seniority list...

By the way, anyone want to talk about why management refuses to post a current seniority list despite MONTHS or people asking for it? While some say it's to keep it out of union lovers hands, it's too late cuz they've already got one with addresses and all from what I hear. I think it might have something more to do with the fact that we've had close to 50 pilots quit in the past 6 months. That sucks and if it keeps up they will never be able to hire enough people to gives us all those extra days promised come may 1. We shall see I suppose but let's make sure we are ready with an election call come may 1 instead of sitting around with our thumbs up our a$$es wondering what to do now... Mark my words, we will not be ready for 202 on 5/02 unless you call ordering a ton of charter a viable and sustainable option so managmement can keep their promises.

 

[ArtVandalay]

Senor Griffin!

I've asked this question about the seniority list. It hasn't even been addressed by the chief pilot or anyone for that matter. Yes we get an email but, it is obviously being ignored on BB.

I hear the UNION CARDS ARE BEING MAILED! With 50 or 60 new hire airline pilots coming on the line, this union is all but assured now. Dont think for a minute that these independence guys wont vote a union in. They are key in this deal if you ask me.

And one question: Is it your understanding that as of MAY 1, we will no longer have to work 17 days. It's in the cab minutes.

 

[Peter_Griffin]

Guaranteed to not work more than 16

Senor Griffin!

And one question: Is it your understanding that as of MAY 1, we will no longer have to work 17 days. It's in the cab minutes.

The way I read the CAB notes is that we are GUARANTEED of never being forced to work more than 16 days after May 1. However I believe this is one promise they can't keep without flowing a mindblowing number of hours over to charter.

Even if they can do it, 14/10s, hour turns and cross country repositions are gonna be the norm for us now all year, not just Nov-March. They are gonna have to squeeze every bit of flying out of us that they can just to make it work.

We are already short in a big way. The recent hiring craze has only put us forward 25 or so pilots since last summer from the numbers I am looking at. I personally know of two captains that are getting ready to leave -- not sure if they are gone yet or about to be, plus I hear rumor of several more. Spring is notoriously a big attrition season for flex -- people burned out on the hard months of peak season start to look elsewhere, I guess.

I heard we are now doing upgrad evals on FOs here less than 2 years. Great news for them, but I think that says something about attrition considering how long I waited... We are actaully taking less planes now then when my a$$ was sitting stagnant on the list, so it can't be because business is so good.

So Art, even if we might not see 17 days anymore you can kiss your chances of anything less than 16 goodbye no matter how senior you are... All this is assuming management will keep their word because without a union, there are no guarantees and anything can change at the drop of the hat.

Look at the hard facts plain and simple, no emotions and I do not understand why anyone would leave their career and job up to the whims of Bombardier. Send in your cards dudes...

 

[Doug Parker]

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So are you Flex guys in perpetual rest when not on duty or does the company have defined duty and rest periods like NJ ??


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