I can understand where you are coming from and I am sure you can speak for a good percentage of the pilot group. I would like to believe that I have a similar belief structure as to what should be in the new TA and how it will get worked out. In a perfect world everything will be coming together sooner than later.
I know every one is different but in my personal situation everyday I am not at NetJets is another day I am at a contract carrier regional. So everyday I go to work I am going back and forth to BOS or LGA or DCA again and again and again and again. I am logging worthless SIC time and not making any money while I am doing it and there for not advancing my life by making payments on student loans or investing or collecting equity in purchesing a home.
This is all part of paying yet more dues to get to the left seat. I am getting closer to a captain upgrade but that is worthless when I am planning on leaving anyway. I know, I'm crazy for even considering such a thing as leaving before upgrade. I have already heard the gospel of getting to the left seat to log the golden 1,000 PIC Jet. Why? Well to go to Jetblue of course. Everyone knows that as soon as you get your PIC Jet, Airtran and Jetblue and Southwest will be at your doorstep.
I understand that fractional flying is very different than the regionals but I would not mind those types of stresses compared to what we do daily.
By not coming to NetJets until November I am deciding to waste the next four months of seniority at a new company that will be a decent place to be some time in the future. I have not read any articles recently in the Money section of the USA today describing how the fractionals are going to be in the desert by the end of the decade. However I did see the one where the economists are forecasting the RJ market will be chalked up to another paradigm shift.
NetJets was always my goal but after 9/11 single pilot night freight couldn’t cut it so I had to go get some more turbine time. 1200hrs later I learned a lot like....Glass cockpit procedures, Flight Level Flying in the Northeast, and the fact that regionals totally blow. I should take that back. If you just graduated from All ATPs, Comair, or whatever other kind of 90 day wonder schools are out there. Than the regionals are definitely for you. We even hired one guy who had no idea what a P-51 Mustang, J-3 Cub, or Pitts Special was. But all of his time was in the state of Florida by him either getting of giving instruction, which is nice.
I know that things are grim now but from what I have read and understand the NetJets pilot group will not be worn down to accepting a sub-par contract instead of making huge improvements for the future. I am literally betting my family's future on the strength of the pilot group and I would rather come in now and have a vote for that future rather than continue living in poverty for no reason except to come to NetJets after the contract is finalized which no one seems to know when that will be especially if a new MEC is voted in. I do believe that if a new MEC is put to a vote and brought in than a better contract is possible but it won't be coming any sooner. During that time the new MEC can re-gather and reorganize a new plan of attack and than we will see.
I don't mean any offence to anyone. It just gets frustrating to try to figure out the code of enjoying your profession while providing for your family. I know that every one has there own story too with there own hardships. I firmly believe that if it was easy than everyone would be here and that is why we have a responsibility of fighting for our worth.
Good Luck to the NetJets Fraternal Brotherhood of Teamsters
Regards
F9Fan