Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett confronted accusations today at his standing-room only shareholder meeting that two of his subsidiaries are feeling the heat from unhappy employees and dissatisfied customers.

More than 100 NetJets pilots wearing their uniforms marched quietly outside the buzzing CenturyLink arena where the meeting was held. As 40,000 shareholders entered, they passed the pilots picketing the event, carrying signs indicating labor strife.

After the issue came up during the shareholder meeting, Buffett told Fox Business late this afternoon pilots are well compensated.

"They're doing well and we’re doing well. What we pay is higher than most of our competitors. They have terrific working conditions. If we have an opening, we have lots and lots of people who want to come join us, and we have very few that want to leave. So, it can’t be the worst job in the world."

The talks between the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots' union and company management have dragged on for nearly two years.

"We feel we shouldn't have to make concessions in compensation and benefits that include healthcare," union president Pedro Leroux told Fox Business. "Our pilots' compensation is well below the legacy carriers," Leroux said.

Buffett Bites Back at NetJets Pilot Complaints

Broken trust, shattered confidence draws hundreds of NetJets pilots to Omaha

05/02/2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio (PRNewswire-USNewswire)

98 Percent of Pilots Vote No Confidence in CEO's Leadership

Hundreds of NetJets pilots will converge on the public sidewalk in front of Omaha's CenturyLink Center to ensure Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett understands what is really going on at the Columbus-based luxury air transportation provider; NetJets is a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary (NYSE: BRK.A and BRK.B).

"The comments Mr. Buffett made to Fox Business News Thursday evening have made it very clear to us that he has not been fully apprised of the seriousness of the labor situation unfolding at NetJets," NJASAP President Pedro Leroux said. "Sadly, this is not surprising, rather, it is yet another addition to a long list of actions that have broken our trust in CEO Jordan Hansell."

Another example is what has brought the pilots to Omaha today: Despite having the option to extend the pilot contract, NetJets opted not to do so, choosing instead to plunge the pilot group into what has become a fight for their livelihoods.



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Indeed, despite outstanding financial performance – high profitability, a reduced debt obligation, domestic growth and international expansion – NetJets has demanded the pilots and other unionized employees agree to major concessions in wages, health care, work rules and job protection language.
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This, in combination with other factors, has led the pilots to draw a startling conclusion: NetJets CEO Jordan Hansell is pushing the pilots toward a strike.

"Just like the ongoing contract battle, the pilots do not want to strike, and we are doing everything possible to avoid this worst-case outcome," Leroux said. "Management's proposals are what one would expect from a carrier on the verge of bankruptcy as opposed to one that is highly profitable, and this has led to minimal progress in almost two years of contract negotiations." Added Vice President Paulette Gilbert, "NetJets knows the pilot group will not accept concessionary contract terms when the company's financial health is tremendously strong, and that puts us squarely on a path that could very well lead to a strike."

As a precursor to this unprecedented attack on pilot livelihoods, NetJets has waged a non-stop campaign of harassment, intimidation and attacks against the pilot group throughout the past several years. These tactics have shattered the pilot group's trust and destroyed their confidence in Jordan Hansell's ability to lead NetJets: NJASAP recently conducted a Vote of No Confidence in the NetJets CEO and the pilot group's view is clear.

"An extraordinary 98 percent of the pilots said they have no confidence in the CEO, putting NetJets in a critical situation," Leroux said, adding 94 percent of the pilot force participated in the voting measure. "Today, we are trying to save our company from an ever changing senior management team that has betrayed the workforce, the customers and Warren Buffett." Decisive action from Berkshire Hathaway is required to restore that trust.

Union members are traveling from across the country to participate in the Saturday informational picket. "As a pilot, I spend more than half of each month away from my family," a pilot who traveled from Central Florida commented, "however, this picket is important – it's an essential investment in my NetJets career." Some pilots have made it a family affair: A father of three and NJASAP member who was recently recalled from the five-year pilot furlough left New Hampshire Thursday morning with his wife and children in tow to make the 1,450-mile trip to Omaha. "Our members are convinced the careers they have built here at NetJets are in jeopardy," Leroux said, "and this is why hundreds are traveling on their time off and at their own expense from across the nation to march in front of the CenturyLink Center."

Broken trust, shattered confidence draws hundreds of NetJets pilots to Omaha