Today's Wallstreet Journal, page B3...Union Strong

[T-1GUY]

Excellent points Family Guy.

 

[johnsonrod]

Love the new ad, but to truly be effective with the readers of the WSJ and NJ's customer base, you should focus on the negative impact of Jordan's decisions on the owners.

I hate to say it, but if you talk about a concessionary contract or paying for health care, you will lose your audience before they finish the first line of the ad. They will skip over it, much like they walk by picket lines without looking up or acknowledging the people walking the line.

You need to grab their attention and tell them how Jordan's decisions are hurting them. Then inform them with facts so that when they call in to complain about the poor service they are receiving they can hammer the EMT with facts, not speculation. Otherwise Jordan will simply blame the union for all the troubles.

Tell them about the following actions by the EMT that have resulted in a degradation of the service the owners receive:

1 - selling off the core fleet, so now owners have to wait multiple hours for a recovery aircraft

2 - delaying the recall of pilots, which puts the company behind the curve and leaves them shorthanded for yet another busy season

3 - destroyed all relationships with OEMs, so now NetJets doesn't get preferential treatment for repairs, which further delays the aircraft return to service

4 - destroyed the relationships with the FBOs, which has resulted in increased fuel prices for the owners and poorer service. Let them know why they are being parked on the back 40 now, instead of up front like they use to be.

5 - treated employees so poorly that the number of unions on the property has doubled under his tenure. This has led to record levels of turnover and is the reason why the owner is seeing so many new people who don't know his profile or can deliver the levels of customer service he is accustomed to receiving from NJ.

6 - A leadership team that focuses its energy on conducting analyses to determine how much pain they can inflict on the owners before they leave, instead of pursuing a zero defect approach like other best in class companies.

There are many more, but you get the idea. You need to focus on issues that will resonate with the owners and the readers of the WSJ. Don't forget your audience in your rush to get your message out.

Good luck.

Wholeheartedly agree!

 

[FamilyGuy]

Wholeheartedly agree!

A couple of other points that came to mind which may help you -

- Stress in your ads how the pilots are committed to providing the exemplary customer service that the owners have come to expect from NetJets

- I'd point out that the pilots have been the foundation on which the company was built and you are the common thread in the exceptional reputation that the company has built over the last 50 years. Even though management has been a revolving door the last five years, you are the one constant and will continue to be there for the owners and their families.

- Also make the point that you are tired of trying to provide excellent customer service with one arm tied behind your back. Jordan's decisions are handicapping the company by selling the core fleet, destroying the relationships with the OEMs and service providers, and driving away the brain trust in critical support areas of the company. All of these actions are making it harder for you guys to cover up the shortcomings of the company and you feel the need to now shine a light on all the problems being caused by management.

 

[johnsonrod]

I don't work there - but I still agree with your points.

 

[acaTerry]

Ad nauseum is right. I never go on the ASAP board. it is juvenile and combative, and is not anonymous.

And yet FI is so mature and rational?! Please.

 

[T-1GUY]

Hide in those shadows G4. It shows real backbone.

 

[G4dude]

Hide in those shadows G4. It shows real backbone.

I and others like me should not have to show backbone to disagree with the union version of things. We should be able to debate without having to show backbone. You don't have to show "backbone" to disagree with me, but I do have to "show backbone" to disagree with your side. Don't y'all get it?

 

[G4dude]

Sorry, let me alter the "hyperbole" to better fit.

It is the fight for our livelihoods.

And it IS a winner take all. This next CBA will decide if Netjets is just another crappy job, or a great career stop.

This EMT is hellbent on reducing our compensation package, our QOL at work, and even our very job satisfaction.

It will be a hard enough fight to maintain what we already have, and an absolute street brawl to make improvements. The EMT will get nastier, and we'll have to do the same if we hope to have any chance.

I'm not sure why you think our fate rests in the hands of a mediator. A mediator has NO POWER to force either side to agree to anything. If I'm wrong about that, please point out where. The only REAL power the NMB has to affect our negotiations is the ability to release us to self help. But the NMB will ultimately be deciding exactly nothing for us or the company.

The best compensated jobs in aviation all have had their moments where they made a very large leap in their contracts. They had to go the distance and were not worked out through reasonable mediated efforts where ultimately both sides just talked it out and met in the middle. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I believe this is OUR moment to make that leap. I've been here almost 18 years, and this time around just FEELS like this is the one.

This IS winner takes all. Either the EMT will get what they want, or we will. The first one to blink is going to get run over. I don't see a lot of middle ground here. Maybe if the EMT had been at least respecting us and treating us better all along, I might agree with you more. But they've openly attacked us using some pretty awful intimidation techniques and games, and I'm seeing more and more angry pilots ready to go the distance. Some people I never would have expected it from. I'm seeing fewer and fewer pilots who will accept a mediocre CBA this time.

Only time will tell.

Good post. We all get a little hot from time to time. Your points are valid, but I am worried we will price our employer out of the marketplace. If we lost our jobs, that would be a bad thing, right? The Dude is a little uneasy.

 

[G4dude]

Hide in those shadows G4. It shows real backbone.

I disagree with Gutshotdraw about union issues, but I don't have to have a "backbone" to do so. He is great to fly and travel with, and can discuss the most contentious issues with courtesy and respect. I wish more pilots were like him. Then pilots like me would not need to "show backbone."

 

[pilotyip]

I am worried we will price our employer out of the marketplace. If we lost our jobs, that would be a bad thing, right? The Dude is a little uneasy.

But you don't have to worry because unions never put companies out of business. But Hey, if things don't work out there JUS is always hiring. This might bring out some more name calling

 

[BentOver]

YIP sucks..

There ya have it..

And yes, I don't give a flying Fvck how immature it sounds....

Notice how YIP doesn't post his drivel on the Majors board... Wonder why that is? Could it be because places like the fractional, corporate, and cargo boards are the only places he may get 1 outta 100 agreeing with him.

 

[T-1GUY]

G4 your argument is so incredibly weak. If you believe in your position, you should have the backbone to stand up in the light and say so. If someone disagrees with you, so be it. It's called conviction. It's called leadership.

 

[pilotyip]

YIP sucks..

There ya have it..

And yes, I don't give a flying Fvck how immature it sounds....

Notice how YIP doesn't post his drivel on the Majors board... Wonder why that is? Could it be because places like the fractional, corporate, and cargo boards are the only places he may get 1 outta 100 agreeing with him.

You are funny I post you respond like Povlofs dog. But instead of saying bow wow, you say" yip sucks". But after last night, nothing could unmake my happiness at way the GOP stomped the libs

 

[Willy21]

Your points are valid, but I am worried we will price our employer out of the marketplace. If we lost our jobs, that would be a bad thing, right? The Dude is a little uneasy.

A 7/7 schedule year 9 CE-680 sic makes about $36/duty hour. ($79,000/182 = $434/day $434/12 = $36.17/hour) In 2006 on year 3 at ASA I made $37/hr. The sovereign pilot has a lot more duties and responsibilities than the RJ pilot.

I think it is safe to say our employer is pricing us out of the market due to his poor decisions and obsession with an unrealistic 4-6% return on revenue.

 

[dime line]

But you don't have to worry because unions never put companies out of business. But Hey, if things don't work out there JUS is always hiring. This might bring out some more name calling

and we all know management has never put a company out of business.