Flexjet Union Drive

[shanes123]

The key is strong leadership, IBT had it with netjets and they had it for a while with Flops. The leadership with netjets has remained strong even though they changed unions. The leadership with FLOPS couldnt be weaker and management knows it.. Thats why theres no contract. Vote in a strong MEC and you will succeed. Sorry Flops pilots but you guys have been sold up the river..

 

[dime line]

The key is strong leadership, IBT had it with netjets and they had it for a while with Flops. The leadership with netjets has remained strong even though they changed unions. The leadership with FLOPS couldnt be weaker and management knows it.. Thats why theres no contract. Vote in a strong MEC and you will succeed. Sorry Flops pilots but you guys have been sold up the river..

Sorry dude, but it takes a lot, lot more than the MEC to get a contract. Nobody has been sold anywhere yet. Sounds like you and B19 are compairing notes.

 

[Pacific]

Let's look at the latest:

-No meals while on standby
-Phone reimbursement reduced
-85 furloughs
-The most ridiculous convoluted rest rules I've ever read
-a 12.5% decrease in annual pay (2 less guaranteed days) followed by a 4% increase in the daily rate equalling an 8.5% decrease in annual gross pay, followed by an announcement that we are now equal to the industry average
-downgrades to FO but now keeping them qualified as CAs so they can use them as needed. Are they being paid as CAs while in training since they have to take the check ride from the left seat and have to be signed off as CAs ? Why ever make anyone a CA again if they can just make everyone CAFOs and then just pay as CA when assigned the left seat? (paranoid I know)
-Global rumors again and people falling all over themselves to be the first to be assigned to the Global. Don't they want to at least know the pay rate first or do they just want to take whatever it is since it's a Global...tough to push for a fair rate with so many eager beavers!

I know, I know...I should just feel lucky to have a job and have no problem with whatever they do. It is a good job, I just hope it stays that way.

 

[doh]

I have a question. It is my understanding that when the union comes on the property each person has a one time right to either join or not. What happens if the top 100 opt out? That would be about 25% not paying dues or participating. What then?

 

[gutshotdraw]

Assuming Flex would be an agency shop as is NJASAP, if the vote is held and 50% + 1 vote for union representation, you can join the union and pay dues or refuse to join the union and pay roughly the same amount in "agency fees." The union will have funding from all pilots regardless. The union will be acting as the bargaining agent for all pilots, members or not.

This is exactly the issue NJI pilots will be facing in, oh, about 19 months.

 

[doh]

At Comair we had about a dozen pilots who were on property before the union got voted in. They did not join and they did not have to pay any fees. Comair is an agency shop. So that is why I don't think you have to sign up. I believe it is a one time decision.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Where is BeeDubya when you need him...........

 

[BeeDubya]

At Comair we had about a dozen pilots who were on property before the union got voted in. They did not join and they did not have to pay any fees. Comair is an agency shop. So that is why I don't think you have to sign up. I believe it is a one time decision.

I am aware of this situation at Comair. I am guessing that this arragement was made between the Union and the company in the negotiations of their first agency shop agreement. The Railway Labor Act (which governs multi-state common carriers by air, as well), does not have any so-called "right-to-work" provisions as many state laws do. The federal RLA preempts any state laws to the contrary and allows the parties (company and Union) to negotiate their individual provisions. Most that I am aware of agree on an "agency shop," as NetJets/NJASAP have done, and as Comair/ALPA have done. In that process, they may elect certain exclusions, as Comair did, but it is not a certainty.

One of the reasons that RLA Unions prefer agency shops to open shops is that we are legally required to provide "fair representation" to all members of the "class and craft" we represent. Because there is a cost to that, even if an idividual elects to not become a member, we have a duty to represent his interests, which may include costly arbitrations in some cases. Hence, it seem fair to charge some fee for that (fee payers, by law, are only required to pay for services related to representation and contract administration).

NJ/NJASAP pilots have the option to be fee payers, rather than Union members. Obviously, when NJI pilots become members of the "craft and class" they will have the same options. Those who make that election will be represented by NJASAP, but will not enjoy the benefits of membership (ie, cannot hold Union office).

Hope this helps,
Brian

 

[doh]

BeeDub, You are the man.:beer:

 

[ArtVandalay]

The guys on the BB jizzing over the Global talk is absolutely making me throw-up every time I read it. Yes we will probably get Globals in the near future but, all the guys on there opening their mouths for company kool-aid is hilarious since none of them have the seniority to be in it and won't have it for a LONG TIME. The hint of the company getting Globals is just another way for them to make us talk about something other than the union.