Story ID: 
Now NetJets’ Mechanics Start Picketing
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: First it was NetJets’ pilots who picketed and finally got a new labor contract; now it’s the fractional’s mechanics and other support personnel who on Frid
Word Count: 164
First it was NetJets’ pilots who picketed and finally got a new labor contract; now it’s the fractional’s mechanics and other support personnel who on Friday began “informational picketing” at the company’s headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Their contract became renewable in January last year. Leaders of Teamsters’ Union 284 want the owners of NetJets-operated aircraft to “know the company is outsourcing mechanical jobs and defending its actions by comparing [our] superior wages and benefits to those of lower-paid, non-union mechanics.” A union leader said, “Cheaper is not necessarily better when it comes to aircraft maintenance.” The union said it and the company “have been unable to reach agreements on wages, miscellaneous working conditions and health insurance.” A NetJets spokeswoman told AIN, “We are currently in negotiations with our Maintenance and Related group from IBT Local 284 and are optimistic that we will continue toward a mutually agreeable resolution. At this time we prefer not to comment further as we are still in negotiations.”