G4Dude,
Wow, I seem to have hit a nerve. Sorry 'bout that. Keep in mind that I, personally, don't care much for this single-carrier thing. We could potentially be getting some very cool planes in the future, and I don't care to have my seniority number pushed back even one spot. As I said before, I generally have the utmost respect for you folks at NJI. I kind of wonder how you arrived at the fact that you're more productive than us. Gee, was it something MANAGEMENT told you? Or do you have actual figures. No sarcasm, honest questions.
You're right, I also generally don't trust Teamsters much, especially after the way our last local treated us. Lied to us? You bet! Mislead us? Yessir! Mismanaged our money? Spot on again! Failed to communicate pretty much anything to us? Uh-huh! But things are different now. Our previous local handled us, our F/A's, mechanics, and a whole buncha truckers. The new local, who will handle our money, negotiations, contract compliance, and all the other issues of our union, is comprised solely of NJA pilots whose decisions will not only impact the rank and file, but themselves as well, and is dedicated only to the pilots. They've FINALLY shown leadership, and have been very upfront with us on everything. So far we have no reason NOT to trust them. For the first time in a long time I'm optimistic. And Teamsters in general will not be involved much with our local.
Judging by your tone I doubt I'm going to alter your thinking about unions. And I don't know what to tell you about the single-carrier filing. We certainly have mixed feelings about it over here. Also, I've heard PLENTY of complaints from you guys too. It isn't all roses and rainbows on your side either. I also wonder how it is that you speak for the ENTIRE pilot group at NJI when you say, "We, at NJI HATE unions!". I certainly don't claim to speak for anyone but myself on this board. Are you sure that EVERY pilot over there detests unions like that? Or is it more of a knee-jerk reaction to this single-carrier thing?
At any rate, as a reasonable person, surely you don't think $37K/year is a good, or even partially fair salary, for a captain on any jet, do you? You can claim all you want that it's the union's fault, but I beg to differ. If the company came to us (before this whole nasty business began) and had offered us a much better pay scale, all we'd have to do is vote on it. If the membership wants it, it's done. So it's ALWAYS been up to the company to treat us right. They certainly don't have to wait on our union. But they haven't, have they? It seems to me that management (the same folks that run your company too) has never had any intention of playing fair. If they treated us the same as you guys from the beginning, there's probably a good chance we wouldn't even have a union today.
Ahh, but what's done is done. The wheels are in motion, and I don't intend on standing in front of this truck! What concerns me most about these message boards, is that these feelings may carry over into the real world. I really don't want to feel uncomfortable riding in the FBO van with you guys, or meeting in the FBO.
Enough. Gonna sleep on it.
How could a group of fractional pilots not stay in or near TEB? That is like saying strippers do not smoke.
