NetJets Pilots to Picket Meeting of Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders

[Grizz]

Griz, it was a pleasure to meet you face to face! You can now laugh, as I do, at the posts suggesting that I sit around and eat "bon bons" or "twinkies" all day while ignoring my children. I'm sorry that I didn't get to spend more time with the pilots, but taking the kids to the zoo (my 2 + 2 more) did allow another wife to drive a van on Saturday.

With that group of active ones, there's no way you have time to sit around. As was posted and seconded on our board, we couldn't have made it work this weekend without the efforts of the wives. That included your efforts so that others were free to drive. Check your PMs for a more personal note.

 

[El Chupacabra]

Not to be argumentative, but Flight Options new fleet consists of the Hawker 400, the Hawker 800, the Citation X, and the WSCoD.
GV

The last I knew FLOPS had what 4 X's? And they were all flown by Contract Pilots instead of FLOPS line pilots. Not sure if this changed.

 

[FlyinFife]

James, the comment that you quoted from my post was not aimed particularly at you. It was intended as a warning for those that may be guilty of possessing that attitude. Thanks for your support. Your city is, indeed, quite fair and the zoo is awesome. I knew of the SAC museum and other worthwhile places to visit, but alas we didn't have the time.

Another word of warning, if I may. (This is for all who read this board.) Please don't try to talk to any NJ pilots that you (may in the future) see on a picket line. They aren't out there to chat. A big thumbs up from the sidelines, however, will be noticed and appreciated.

NJW - no problem at all. Was just providing clarification, just in case. Regarding chatting: so noted. Wasn't aware of the "proper formalities" required. I gave a honk and a wave as I drove by, and suppose I shall continue to do so in the future!

 

[netjetwife]

James all the support was noticed by the pilots, you can be sure. I heard about it from the ones I talked to afterwards. Seemingly small gestures often have a big impact.


Tony, your family should visit Omaha again, I think. The zoo has also added a desert under a huge glass dome. Again, very realistic. If you thought you liked the place before, you really should see it now--it's awesome!

Griz, I agree. OMA proved a number of things, including the fact that there is a supporting role the wives/spouses can play and that meeting the children whose lives are affected by the outcome of the NJ Pilots' battle can be a very motivating experience. The children of other professionals have a promising future; the sons and daughters of pilots deserve no less.

 

[falcon20driver]

NetjetWife,


How long has your husband been with Netjets? I recently talked with a Netjets captain and he said the upgrades for the smaller jets were only a couple of years, how much longer is your husband looking at before he is eligible to upgrade in ANY netjet aircraft?

Thanks

 

[Grizz]

Falcon20 -

We recently had a CE-560 Captain bid come out with 16 open slots. The least senior guy who received it has been here about a year. Three or four of the successful bidders have been here less than 2 years. The other 12 have been here 3 years or more.

The reason it went that junior is for 2 reasons. The first was it was a large single bid. Had they released it as 4-6 smaller bids with different training dates, I don't think it would have gone that junior. Some guys just couldn't go to training right now no matter how much they desired the slot.

The second reason is the more compelling. All of the F/Os eligible to bid it that are senior to those guys are already receiving Captain's pay. The only guys that really bid the Ultra were folks looking for a better schedule, ones desiring more PIC time or people in a fleet that is going away - such as the H-1000.

One of the things that the company has expressed a strong desire to correct in the new contract is the ability for F/Os to remain in the right seat and to continue to receive the higher pay. Once we get a new contract, there are going to be 750+ guys that will have to upgrade to continue to receive Captain's pay. Add to that about 150 folks already on property that are F/Os on F/O pay. You'll have 900 pilots that will be bidding to upgrade before anyone new gets enough seniority to successfully bid.

A new pilot starting at NetJets today better count on 5+ years before moving to the left seat. They also better count on living on whatever wages are negotiated for F/Os because the bypass provision is going bye-bye. Current F/O pay starts at 27K and jumps to a whopping 32K by year 5. Keep that in mind if you are applying to NetJets.

 

[CRAWDADDY]

Where were the 300+ picketers that organizers were expecting?

There weren't that many OFF for the 30th and 1st!

 

[falcon20driver]

Thanks for the explanation Grizz, the pilot I talked to didn't mention the FO captain pay ending any time soon, 5 years is an awful long time to live on 30K.

 

[netjetwife]

F20D, we were on FO pay for about 18 months; my husband has been with NJA for 27 months. It's no secret that I have complained bitterly about the low wages and that my husband (along with many others) is working hard as a union volunteer to change the pay scale for all NJ pilots. The FO/FOs joke that they are the poorest of the poor among NJ pilots and it is true! It is completely reasonable for a professional to anticipate raising a family on his/her wages. That so many are forced to supplement their NJ pay with another source of income is totally unacceptable. I, personally, would be shocked to see a contract pass that didn't allow families to end that practice. That said, I would not put my family in a situation where that may be necessary. I strongly advise pilots that are interested in NJ to "wait and see".

From my husband, the exact numbers---

Year 1 2,259 a month $27,108 annually
Year 2 2,364 .............28,368
Year 3 2,469 .............29,628
Year 4 2,574 .............30,888
Year 5 2,680 .............32,160

As you can see, you don't hit 30K until year 4. For these wages you are gone at least HALF the month. I have to laugh, albeit bitterly, at those who post here that the NJ pilots can't fight the company for a fair contract because they have few options. At these wages many jobs are available without spending ANY time away from home.

PILOTS ARE PROFESSIONALS AND SHOULD BE PAID AS SUCH

 

[Hawkered]

Absolutetly agreed! The fact that "flight attendants" who are CSRs and not required by FARs are being paid more is just b%$tt!

 

[netjetwife]

You read my mind! I can't imagine the pilots passing a TA that doesn't put an end to THAT INJUSTICE, as well.

A RISING TIDE SHOULD LIFT ALL BOATS

Nice to see you posting, Hawkered. Tell your wife hello for me!
Netjetwife

 

[IFlyOU]

PILOTS ARE PROFESSIONALS AND SHOULD BE PAID AS SUCH

Couldn't agree more... I'm still paying off my credit card debt!!

FYI: I know a COEX ERJ 145 SIC who has been there for 5 years and is barely forking in 30K...

everywhere you go it sucks. Nature of the beast...

*lives with it*

 

[netjetwife]

I don't think you guys should live with it. I think you should fight it! The NJ pilots are in the best position to do that right now, so it makes sense for them to go first. When they get a good contract, that'll be 2000+ pilot salaries helping to raise the bar. In the meantime, the Options pilots could get organized.....

There clearly needs to be corrections made across the industry. I'm not convinced that upper management deserves their lavish salaries....NJ's Mr. Boisture makes 1.2 MILLION A YEAR, I hear .....while the pilots of many companies are given subpar wages. Corporate greed is common enough in America that none of us should be surprised to see it in aviation.

 

[IFlyOU]

I don't think you guys should live with it. I think you should fight it! The NJ pilots are in the best position to do that right now, so it makes sense for them to go first. When they get a good contract, that'll be 2000+ pilot salaries helping to raise the bar. In the meantime, the Options pilots could get organized.....

There clearly needs to be corrections made across the industry. I'm not convinced that upper management deserves their lavish salaries....NJ's Mr. Boisture makes 1.2 MILLION A YEAR, I hear .....while the pilots of many companies are given subpar wages. Corporate greed is common enough in America that none of us should be surprised to see it in aviation.

*voted for kerry*

 

[h25b]

You read my mind! I can't imagine the pilots passing a TA that doesn't put an end to THAT INJUSTICE, as well.

A RISING TIDE SHOULD LIFT ALL BOATS

Should, probably won't... No contract ever does. Lots of things people want get given up as bargaining chips. The junior guys are the ones that are thrown in front of the train.