Family Guy
We don't need to bring anyone "in line" at NJI, nor do we need to be creating any animosity, but the NJI crews do need to realize that the record states that the only reason for their being is that Mr Santulli was "forced" into not having a union.
That said, in court, outside of an LOA agreed to over the craft; it won't fly. I don't know how Local 284 ever agreed to it before, but it has cost every pilot here with more than two years seniority literally thousands of dollars in lossed earning potential already.
There was no irrepairable damage after the football players strike, the baseball strike, the umpires strike nor any of the numerous strikes in specialized areas of industry. Besides, we never went on strike.
People have a short memory for conflict, witness the number of veterans who bought Japanese cars in the early '70s, some of them who were at Pearl Harbor.
We need to keep our emotions under control here, and without trying to impersonate Dr. Phil, we need to "keep it real". Conflicts whether perceived or based on reality need to taken up as challenges, not obstacles and sorted out. The NJI crews are great people, they work hard, as we do and they have long tours to remote parts of the globe. Nobody is doubting their professionalism, presentation of the product, their safety record and certainly not the ability of their equipment to get the job done at the most elite of standards. We just want the same treatment and a chance to grow based on loyalty and tenure.
Its not "pro-union, anti-union rhetoric". If you've got two kids and you favor one over the other, the one less favored will probably end up on dope!
Whether you like it or not, the union has been a rebellious teenager, but you guys in management created this problem. I am telling you this as a friend, not some hate mongering, spitting union sterotype out of the movie Hoffa.Management, has to manage a way to turn off the hate, by allowing this new Tentative Agreement time to succeed. If Mr Santulli goes to the Carolinas to give "bad" news it would be a big mistake. He needs to show the crews of NJI the benefits of bridging a gap in our communications and strengthening our product by understanding the way all of us do our jobs.
We have talked before about a homogenous product. The aircraft don't even have to be the same type, but the service expectations and behaviors of the crew should be maintained at some level of predictability. We need to streamline those behaviors so that the customer can know what to expect and feel more confident in the value of their expenditure.
Back on the contract itself. It will pass with a startling majority "yes" vote. No question about it. This is the first step in getting people unified again and supporting the cause. The new "cause" is, showing up to work proud, prepared to work hard, prepared to deal with stressful situations calmly and politely with high standards of personal grooming and presentation of the equipment we fly.
You can also be proud to know that our elected union leadership has asked for only the most professional etiquette when dealing with NJI crews and has told us not to engage in any possible conflict with any non-unionised fractional.
Don't worry, it will all work out!
