Unionized NetJets Employees Form Coalition

Lack of progress, unreasonable demands compel groups to take action

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NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP)

Mar 06, 2014, 07:02 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Minimal progress and unjustifiable demands have motivated 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). 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 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 promotes 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.

Throughout the past 18 months, 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."

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. "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.

"The hypocrisy of this management team's words and actions is a cutting betrayal that sets it on a collision course with labor," Suffoletto explained, "especially when all we are seeking are labor agreements that recognize our members' skills and sacrifices. We view the Coalition launch as one way to achieve that shared objective."

About NJASAP Founded in 2008 as an independent labor affiliate, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) represents the professional interests of the 3,000-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets Aviation, Inc. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the Association is governed by a nine-member Executive Board, who is supported by seven professional staff members and a network of 150-plus volunteers who manage more than 20 committees. For more information, visit us at www.njasap.com or www.facebook.com/njasap.

About the IBT Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico including more than 80,000 workers throughout the airline industry in every craft and class. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

SOURCE NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP)