Choice
So, if we as FJ pilots were to bow down and join the ranks of the IBT you would ensure that this inevitable slaughter that you find so amusing would be avoided?
And you would make sure that we were protected from the evil of people, I guess like me?
Why continue to push "bow down" and join the IBT?
It is a choice for each pilot to make. A choice, when the NMB initiates a vote to determine whether the pilots (Flight Options and Flexjet) will pick the IBT for representation, another entity for representation or no representation at all.
If you don't like the IBT or any representation you should certainly vote that way. And others will vote how they feel.
For some reason individuals continue to cast this as one evil against another. It is not that at all. Everyone will have the opportunity to choose.
Now TWA/JM has made it very clear that he does not like the IBT. His peers know that. And he is comfortable with that.
But, that doesn't mean that the individuals that would like IBT representation are wrong or evil. They get to choose for their own reasons.
However, everyone needs to remain informed and understand the changes that have occurred and will continue to occur. Some (Flight Options pilots) feel their experience with this management should be powerful enough to convince others to see things their way. Unfortunatley, it doesn't work that way. Each person has to find out for themselves.
Keep this in mind. There is no doubt that Flexjet management and Flight Options management is one in the same. Management leads form the top down and KR, DAC and OneSky are at the helm. Managers and executive are blending on both sisters companies and will continue to do so.
So, ask yourself TWA. The things that I listed with regard to the Globals, the Phenoms, the hiring at Flexjet and the recalls at Flight Options. Are these not factual? Because I'm sure by now you discovered they are. Change has been and will continue to occur for both Flexjet and Flight Options. And hopefully those changes will all be good. KR and his team are smart and will trim the fat and increase the margins. That's what they should do.
The big question is "Are Flexjet pilots wiling to take the risk and trust this new team?" It is evident that many pilots feel deceived already. Many speak of their interest in the IBT to secure protections like Flight Options pilots have.
I'm sure you, TWA, will say that the IBT can't protect a thing. But, the fact that the Challengers are not being marketed by Flight Options and flown by Flexjet pilots is because of that CBA. On the flip side, the fact that the Phenom are being marketed by Flight Options and Flexjet but are being flown by Flight Options pilots is because of that CBA. The fact that Flexjet pilots will be wearing those monkey suits without any recourse and the Flight Options pilot have a say and recourse is because of that CBA.
I guess I'd like to know why the IBT is really so bad for a sister company - Flexjet? Not the "they are goobers" crap. Not the "they are crooked" crap. Not "they are just after your money."
With over 90% of this industry unionized, it's hard to find very many downsides. But, if you have them...really have legitimate factual reason in this situation... well, let's hear them. Them let's weigh all the real, factual pros and cons... Then let each pilot decide through an individual vote. We will see where the chips fall and live with it.
