NetJets Unrest Puts Warren Buffett in a Rare Pinch

[Diesel]

I get it. Unions need solidarity to win. I just don't agree with coercion and arm twisting to get it. Just a philosophical difference for me.

I still contend that you have the perfect situation for the union in this negotiation. It can't get any better for you. The only thing that would make your case stronger is if Jordan comes out and openly declares that he's the anti-Christ.

Do you need coercion to win what should be a slam dunk for the union? You should be focusing on building consensus, not threatening people, which just drives people away.

If you guys can't win in this situation then you have much larger problems to deal with.

Were you ever in a fraternity? The military? Brotherhood and knowing which side to be on.

Nobody is saying coercion to win but there are consequences to crossing a picket line.

We don't do it to other unions at a hotel and we expect our own brothers to show the same respect.

 

[FamilyGuy]

Were you ever in a fraternity? The military? Brotherhood and knowing which side to be on.

Nobody is saying coercion to win but there are consequences to crossing a picket line.

We don't do it to other unions at a hotel and we expect our own brothers to show the same respect.

I spent over a decade in the Army. I know what you are referring to. Like I said, I get it. I just think there are better ways to get your point across.

That said, people should be free to speak their minds and have an open exchange of ideas without being attacked and derided. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. When the sh!t hits the fan is when it is time to close ranks. You think that time is now...I think it is when a strike actually occurs.

 

[Diesel]

I spent over a decade in the Army. I know what you are referring to. Like I said, I get it. I just think there are better ways to get your point across.

That said, people should be free to speak their minds and have an open exchange of ideas without being attacked and derided. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. When the sh!t hits the fan is when it is time to close ranks. You think that time is now...I think it is when a strike actually occurs.

10 years in the army. Huh. Interesting I would have never guessed.

But you said it yourself the company is looking for that 50 + 1. They are looking for the weakness in the armor. They have come to play and that's why it has to be a multi pronged approach.

Closing ranks and educating the members. The company already has their hall monitors at the fbo's so we need to make sure we close ranks and don't listen to the propaganda. Now more than ever we need to support our union to make sure the company knows that 50 +1 isn't going to work and that we have come to play too.

The company is making it a lot easier due to greed of not only wanting status quo but concessions.

My number one question I get asked by the group of pilots I fly with is when do you think the contract will be done. This being their first contract experience.

My answer is always the same. It is when YOU have had enough. When YOU have been screwed for the last time. When YOU decide the downward slide of your qol has gotten past he acceptable point.

Until then don't bitch about the contract being done because YOU aren't at that point yet.

 

[NJAowner]

The BIG mistake I see in the strategies of both sides is that BOTH management and the union are doing a fine job of alienating the owners. I do not see that as a good result for either side. I do know that the owners will land quite fine and have good, safe private jet aviation alternatives.

In 2006-2007 RTS and the NJA marketing machine had owners convinced that NJA was the only game in town and owners, as a group, had immense loyalty to RTS/NJA. Now most of that loyalty is gone and there exists serious and good competition to NJA (the market is to be viewed as private jet aviation not just fractional ownership).

 

[T-1GUY]

There will always be jobs for competent pilots, today and for the next decade. If Netjets doesn't want highly experienced pilots, they will get what they pay for. This would concern me when riding in the back...

 

[NJAowner]

T-1 -- major assumption is that we will continue to ride in the back of a NJ jet. All I am saying is there is a quite a bit of effort (which is effective) which is being directed at alienating the owners. The logic of "inconvenience the owners so much that they complain to management" is very faulty. The first step may be a complaint to management, the second step may be to go elsewhere. All I can say is that I have been in favor of higher compensation for the pilots for years. But after being subjected to "work slowdowns" and the such, very little girls (probably 7-8 years old?) yelling at me from "informational pickets", and SICs spending 15-20 minutes sitting in the back telling my wife and children how little they make instead of being in the cockpit and participating in the operation of the aircraft, the less understanding I am.

 

[T-1GUY]

Nja owner,

I'm not assuming anything. I left Netjets with eight years of experience for an operator that is willing to pay me top dollar for the experience that I bring to the table. The guy they hire off the street will take a few years to get up to speed with their operations. This will put a greater load on the left seater. The overall experience in the cockpit flying your family will be diminished. The only folks I
Give a ******************** about at Netjets are the employees who have been taking it up the ass for several years now. As always, you are free to fly on any operator your dollar chooses. Good luck.

 

[Diesel]

The pilots don't need to alienate the owners. We are the only line of defense that is keeping the owners.

The company screws up enough that they do that job for us. We continue to look like heroes when we save the day or point out how their "plan" could never work and it was never a plan.

The owners know when they aren't getting the whole story. They know when the cuts have been so deep that they aren't getting the service they should expect and pay for.

 

[Semore Butts]

But after being subjected to "work slowdowns"

Owner, I am a big fan of yours as you know. No work slowdown from me. But, airplanes are breaking all over the place, becoming dilapidated.
Scheduling works us until we squeal.
Our hands are tied. Excessive, unrealistic scheduling leading to fatigue calls, broken aircraft, these things directly effect you, and there is nothing we can do as pilots to prevent it.
We are the enemy of management and it's incredible because we are what makes to whole show work. I would have to submit that I'm sad to hear that a crew member was venting to your wife regarding our present situation.
It is management and management alone that is responsible for our present predicament.
You know better than I scores of companies that have been run into the ground by management. (While CEO's are paid millions in bonuses)
We haven't received and extravagant raise that is breaking the company. If we get some great contract and that happens then you can blame us. But, respectfully "owner", there is no way this can be laid on us.
This company just started a slow roll towards a full stall under the sub par contract we are on right now.
I do not see how anyone with a clear conscience can blame us as pilots for the state of Netjets.
We do not make these decisions, management does.
Take care "Owner", I hope you are well and prospering. I am still flattered that you invited me for a beer long ago. Someday I hope we get to have it.



Take care, Semore

 

[Hawkered]

T-1 -- major assumption is that we will continue to ride in the back of a NJ jet. All I am saying is there is a quite a bit of effort (which is effective) which is being directed at alienating the owners. The logic of "inconvenience the owners so much that they complain to management" is very faulty. The first step may be a complaint to management, the second step may be to go elsewhere. All I can say is that I have been in favor of higher compensation for the pilots for years. But after being subjected to "work slowdowns" and the such, very little girls (probably 7-8 years old?) yelling at me from "informational pickets", and SICs spending 15-20 minutes sitting in the back telling my wife and children how little they make instead of being in the cockpit and participating in the operation of the aircraft, the less understanding I am.

I don't blame you! That's a bunch of bull right there!!!