Story ID: 
NetJets Union Pickets Draw 800 Pilots
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Picket organizers believe the events sent a clear message on their stance for improved benefits.
Word Count: 247
Informational picketing organized by the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) at seven locations on Thursday drew about 800 pilots and their families, a result that the pilots’ union said sends a message about its commitment to ensuring a strong contract with improved wage and health benefits. "So often in a contract negotiation, management teams shrug off the union's position as little more than bargaining-time rhetoric," NJASAP president Pedro Leroux noted.

The union held informational pickets on September 10 in Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Seattle; Teterboro, N.J.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Van Nuys, Calif.; and West Palm Beach, Fla. NJASAP was encouraged that the picketing drew so many pilots, particularly when at any given time about half of NetJets' pilots are on flight duty. Pilots unable to attend donated more than 4.2 million hotel points, 2.5 million airline miles and $10,000 in cash to support others attending the pickets, NJASAP reported.

The pickets were staged just weeks ahead of the next round of negotiations planned later this month. NetJets is optimistic that the negotiations have progressed, saying, “We’ve moved further this summer than in the last two years.” But the fractional operator also acknowledged, “What’s left are economic issues like pay and benefits where we’re still a long way apart.” As for the picketing, the company stood by its earlier statement: “In this, as in all things they do, our pilots act with the professionalism and judgment that are the hallmarks of their profession.”