What's going on with the union at NetJets?
 

The NetJets union is doing a deal with the company to terminate large groups of the furloughed pilots at once, totally out of agreement with the contract. The contract says that when recalls happen, when they get to the bottom of the list, the most junior pilot on furlough has to accept recall or be terminated from the seniority list. That is what the union has told us all long to expect. Then, out of nowhere, a few months ago, they had a "reinterpretation" of the recall rights, where they now say they will allow the company to terminate entire class sizes of furloughed pilots for each recall now that they've gotten to the bottom of the list. Why? This means if the company sends out notices for a 30-pilot class, and everyone defers, they will allow the company to terminate the 30 most junior pilots...not the single most junior pilot as the contract clearly states. It looks like this thing is going to result in a DFR lawsuit if it's allowed to continue...

Hansell has threatened recently to stop growth and furlough again if NJASAP doesn't take his contract proposal. Every NetJets pilot needs to be aware that their own union is totally selling out their recall rights. NJASAP needs to be challenged from every angle about why they are doing this. Is it hoping for negotiating capital for ridding the company of the obligation to take furloughed pilots back at their original pay longevity? Who knows. This needs to be brought out for everyone to see. They've been hiding it now for months. This past week, NetJets issued the 14 most most junior pilots "non-deferrable" recall notices...that term exists nowhere in the CBA. This is actually happening. Totally unsat.

The contract is crystal clear. When they get to the bottom of the list, the most junior pilot returns or is terminated, and any unfilled vacancies on each recall are staffed with new hires. Each time there are vacancies, they offer them to furloughed pilots, the most junior returns or is terminated, and any unfilled vacancies are staffed with new hires. This process repeats until the last furloughed pilot is gone. Pretty simple. Why is NJASAP decimating the furlough and recall language and opening themselves to a DFR suit? Why aren't more people talking about this? Why is NJASAP trying to force furloughed pilots who have other job obligations to come back to a company that is extremely volatile, where hostages are being taken day by day? Who's idea was this? What's going on with NJASAP? This is "unity"?

Have all the furloughs received non-deferrable recall notices?

The first 30 went out this week.

They got to the bottom quicker than anybody thought they would .

There is no such thing as a "non-deferrable recall notice" anywhere in the contract until you're the most junior pilot on that recall. The contract says they are to pass from the top down each time...not hit the bottom and then go backward up the list issuing groups of "non-deferrable recall notices" to fill each class. The contract is clear - once they have issued everyone a recall notice, they can hire off the street into the remaining vacancies. Each time there are more vacancies, they're supposed to be offered to the remaining furloughed pilots who have deferred, and then any remaining vacancies may be staffed with new hires. The process repeats, eliminating one furloughed pilot from being able to defer for each recall - not groups of 30 or 40 at a time, over and over for each class. Why is NJASAP doing this?

Isn't that a technicality? As soon as the "last pilot" on the recall list is reached and either turns down or accepts the position, the next pilot up the list is now the "most junior" pilot on the recall list.

It sounds like they really need pilots and are trying to speed the hiring process.

My $.02

Your .02 is what a lot of the rank and file feel about this.

Potential new hires would probably like to learn more about these issues before applying...anybody have more insight/speculation?

This is my take. The guys on furlough who didn't take the first classes they were offered would like the re-call to be drug out as long as possible. The company and the union would like it to be done with in a reasonable amount of time. What some thought would happen is that when they had gone through the whole list they would start with the last person and go to them with a final notice, the time it takes for turn around on a final offer would be a certified letter and a one week decision time, so say a week and a half. So multiply that by 200ish people who deferred and you get a few years for some of the senior guys. What is happening is the company has a class of 20 and they are sending out 40 final notices because they believe some will not return and then they will do another 40 for the next class. They are also going to fill any vacancies with new-hires to supplement where re-calls do not return. Our contract has a provision you continue to accrue longevity so most will return at year 7 or 8 pay, it is the union's opinion that when they negotiated this in the event of a furlough the goal was to get everyone back on property as soon as possible, which is what they are doing. Some of this was misinterpreted in communications from someone at some point. This has caused some furloughed to become upset.

What some do not realize is that the wording in the CBA is so opposite to the "intent" that is being used. Many made different decisions than they would have made if they had known how it was going to play out. The current plan has been talked about for maybe 6 months. Even then, the final method only just became fact. It would have been nice to know, years ago, that it would not follow the plain wording in the contract. This has put people in between a rock and a hard place. They cannot come back right now and, therefore, lose their number. I guess it falls under the heading of "life is not fair". Could have been done much better.
Helm