NetJets International Interview

[Xdriver]

Wow smoking a pipe sorry dont smoke.

I will ask you what do you know about NJA and NJI? Let me give you some background. We are the same company! Everytime I fly an owner from TEB to SJC and the contract says G-V but resquested a CE-750 is not NJA flying. NJI planes fly and cover NJA trips even ultra trips. Yes a I have seen a G-V sent to fly a .5 flight for a Ultra owner. Now all this would not mean anything IF we were one senority list. Guess what we are not. So I would like to ask everyone who doesnt think this is going to happen is: Why should NJA pilots fly NJI trips or vis versa?

It is sold as one company buy into a G-V XL X Ultra 800xp whatever and you can upgrade or downgrade to any plane you want. One problem will all this two sep pilot groups. One non-union, one union. Its like AA and eagle. AA pilots cant fly a cancelled eagle flight day of. SO why should NJI or NJA pilots be able to fly day of, swap pax, be the backup aircraft to a G or whatever senerio you want to come up with.

As someone has already posted Netjets has already been in court to defend there position. That being we are ONE carrier. The evidence is so strong that the attorneys in DC we have talked with cant wait till JAN. Now could the great RTS sell NJI you bet. Could he spin them off you bet. Whatever happens would make us happy. Either give us one list OR we stop flying there trips and they cant fly our trips. A X breaks in TEB and a G wiz is sitting hot standby to bad so sad find another X crew. What Netjets has done forever is SELL seemless service. Well finally this union is getting some balls. Netjets will either have to market different or accept the fact and make NJI into NJA with approval of a new MEC. Some of us want the ability to bid the G planes and some could care less. Whatever happens its going to be a fun time watching RTS try and get out of this one.

 

[SafetyTheSeat]

My Opinions and observations as a Proud NetJets Employee: The future as I see it.

Any and all pilots in a non-union shop will go to the bottom- it’s the law of fairness. NJI pilots already reap the rewards of the hard work put forth through the Union’s associated committees. They will go to the bottom as will the Raytheon Pilot’s when the New Contract is completed- Hawker 800 and 400.
Local 284 has been fired by the NetJets pilots for its lack of representation and contract enforcement. The Pilots of NetJets Aviation has sacrificed- through their hard work and dedication -to the business model of NJA for the past 8 years and will no longer except sub-standard compensation. The pilots of this company have sold more shares than any company salesman and deserve a pay raise that reflects this fact with 100% Retro pay.
NJA pilots do not enter the airplane and turn left; in fact, flying the aircraft is only 2% of our responsibilities- customer service in its self is our primary job. On a daily basis we smooth over the details overlooked by our company planning team- we give 110% to this company. Therefore we expect the compensation for the effort. If fair compensation is not in the interest of the company then I would suggest they lower their hiring minimums to reflect this attitude and except the ensuing paradigm shift to the company’s business model and safety record.
Like it or not a merger/operational cost reduction model will take place at NetJets, single carrier action will occur; NJI pilots and Raytheon’s pilots will go to the bottom of the list and honorable compensation will be paid to its dedicated, professional pilot work force.

A dedicated NJA Employee…….

 

[FracCapt]

Any and all pilots in a non-union shop will go to the bottom- it’s the law of fairness.

So...if NJI were to vote in a Union, then the following day the lists were combined....they would be merged by DOH, right? Of course not. You wouldn't want anybody to be placed ahead of you...so you would pull the "merge by the date you joined the Union" crap. It always amazes me how ready and willing some of you guys are to fukc your co-workers(you guys say they work for the SAME COMPANY, therefore they are your co-workers) in the name of "the Union"...when all you really care to do is help yourself.

Keep the comments coming about the "Raytheon merger"....I get a kick out of it every time. Let's say...for a second...that Flight Options and Netjets were to merge(buyout, merger, call it whatever you want). Do you honestly believe that management would alienate 1000 pilots by stapling them to the bottom of the seniority list - and then have all those pilots pissed off flying NJA owners? Same thing goes for the NJI group...do you think management would want a bunch of(not sure how many there are on NJI's list) seriously pissed off pilots flying NJA trips? You're living in a fantasy world.

If...and that's a big if...the NJA/NJI lists are merged, and it's NOT by DOH...there should be language that protects the NJI pilots...something along the lines of....Until the last NJI pilot upgrades to PIC(in anything), no NJA pilots may bid into PIC positions on the Gulfstream fleet. Of course, we know you guys wouldn't do that...because it wouldn't help you and screw them.

 

[AA717driver]

If you force the NJI pilots into a union, you'd better be prepared to go to an arbitrator. If you immediately staple them, you will have a huge DFR case looming.

IMO, you're f**king over guys who have no dog in your fight just to "get" at NJ management.TC

 

[Xdriver]

Talk to SCAMtullie he can sell NJI do whatever he wants to and he wont have to deal with it. Nobody is out to screw NJI pilots. Im tired of flying there trips. Netjets and only Netjets is to blame for this. They have sold hundreds if not thousands of contracts to people with seemless service. Hey thats great and what a marketing tool EXCEPT two sep pilots groups.

Netjets has lied to these owners for far to long. Hell most of them "think" its one pilot group. Every see a ad for Netjets in a magazine or Elite traveler? Always a pic of a G-IV Hmmm doesnt say NJI does it? NO its NETJETS little slight of hand huh? The bottom line is we want to force the hand of the company. I never said I was in favor of a stable to the bottom. Im sure something will be worked out.

There are also implications such as
1. Overtime
2. More pilots needed to fly NJA planes (without NJI)
3. Netjets would need more core planes to fly without the ability to use NJI aircraft.
4. SCOPE
5. Job sercurity

Im sure I could come up with more but you get the point.

 

[Sctt@NJA]

I think NJI joining NJA is at least a real possibility. There will be those at NJA who simply would say "staple them to the bottom". In reality if that were to happen there would be protections built in for the NJI guys. I am sure there would be pay protection and seat protection. They may end up on the bottom of the list, but still flying G-Vs making lots of money.

Look at the start of the BBJ program. We hired off the street captains with 737 experience to help jump start the experience level for that plane. They were at the bottom of the seniority list, flying our biggest plane, and making 135k.

The single carrier arguments are persuasive regardless of whether the NJI pilots are happy with how things are.

 

[da90drivr]

Few questions...

Is this NJA's first contract negotiation since a unions was brought on property?
Did NJI exist prior to NJA becoming a union shop?
How does NJI affect your job security? They only fly Gulfstreams and the owners who bought into that program wanted a large cabin A/C with long legs. NJA never operated that type (BBJ excluded). Those who bought into the citation fleet were looking for a "less expensive" option to owning a whole plane or to provide additional lift when needed with the possibility to fly on a 'big' plane if needed.

"most" of the owners don't care if you are one pilot group as long as they get to where they want to go at the appointed time in one piece.

Assuming you have 100 planes and 400 owners and 125 owners want to fly at the same time you will need additional lift. It might be provided by NJI , EJM or some other outside vendor. How do you plan on regulating EJM and outside vendor flying?
I don't think NJA will buy additional planes just so you can do all of the flying. Unless I am mistaken (and I could be) the company places orders for planes then sell shares of the plane to multiple owners until the numbers balance.

This is not an attack on either group, I am just curious and had some time too type.

 

[AeroBoy]

The filing will happen in Jan 05 new MEC and a new dawn at Netjets.

What filing? Has the local set the date for the MEC election? What's happening now that there is no MEC currently at NetJets, until the MEC vote that is?

 

[furloughedaa]

And, of course, you guys would automatically just staple all those guys to the bottom of your list because they are non-union....right?

You bet your non-union happy ass. Ever been part of a real union? I mean, one that the NMB didn't need to get involved with? TWA/AA integration? Yeah, I was part of that one and didn't fare well, despite the APA. Did you ever apply and get accepted with a REAL airline? If you're not union, roll over and die!

 

[AA717driver]

Did you ever apply and get accepted with a REAL airline? If you're not union, roll over and die!

What does applying with a "real" airline have to do with this conversation? Looks to me like AA ain't much of a "real" airline. Neither are U, UAL, etc. you know, the former "real" airlines.

I've been paying union dues for 16 years and it hasn't done $h!t for me or anyone else I know. I know I'm gonna get hosed by the company. I shouldn't have to worry about getting boned by my union... But I did.

APA and ALPA both gave ground and gave ground until there isn't much left to give. I'll keep my 1-1.98% thank you very much.TC