Organized Labor Groups Say Lack Of Progress, Unreasonable Demands Compel Action

The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 284 Executive Boards to formally launch the NetJets Unions Coalition (NUC), citing minimal progress and unjustifiable demands on the part of the company. NJASAP represents the 3,000-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets while Teamsters Local 284 represents approximately 500 NetJets dispatchers, flight attendants, maintenance controllers, mechanics and stock clerks.

NJASAP and Teamster leaders say they have been working to develop the Coalition concept since senior NetJets managers made clear their intention to engage all four of its organized employees in Section Six talks at the same time. "With the flight attendants headed to mediation and little progress being made with the remaining groups, the time to launch the Coalition is now," Local 284 President Paul Suffoletto said. NJASAP President John Malmborg agreed: "We recognize management's tactics for what they are, a greed-based attack on our membership and their collective bargaining agreements; the Coalition's launch is just the first of several proactive measures planned to safeguard our members' interests during direct talks."

The Coalition is intended to promote "solidarity amid the unions and positions them to immediately engage in mutual support and public demonstrations when their interests align for the specific purpose of achieving their individual bargaining goals," according to a news release.

Throughout the past 18 months, the coalition's organizers say, senior management has made clear its intent to extract the maximum possible concessions from each unionized group. "Amid record-setting profits and profit sharing payouts to non-union employees, management is seeking to squeeze every penny from its agreements with unionized employees and demanding we relinquish our fundamental right to support our union brothers and sisters," Malmborg said. "This is a provocation, and we will not shy away from defending our contracts and our rights – no matter what it takes." Added Suffoletto, "We know our members are motivated to see their negotiations move forward and to use every lawful option available to make that happen."

"Organized labor did not stand on the sidelines and watch NetJets claw its way back to good financial health; rather, each and every day, we performed our jobs with professionalism, excellence and an unwavering eye on operational safety," Malmborg said. He said that NetJets CEO Jordan Hansell's management team has demanded Union negotiators agree to a list of unjustifiable, unreasonable "requirements" is viewed not only as an attack on organized labor, but also an assault on the hard working men and women who worked with conviction and diligence to protect the NetJets brand during the most financially turbulent time in its history.

FMI: www.njasap.com