COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Mechanics, aircraft fuelers, cleaners and stock clerks employed by NetJets, Inc., the world's leading provider of fractional and air charter service, began informational picketing today against their employer in Columbus, Ohio. The employees, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Airline Division, Local No. 284, have been in contract negotiations with NetJets since January of 2005.
"NetJets' owners need to know the company is outsourcing mechanics jobs and defending its actions by comparing our superior wages and benefits to those of lower paid, non-union mechanics," said Chad Morrison, Local 284 steward and member of the union's negotiating committee. "Cheaper is not necessarily better when it comes to aircraft mechanics."
"NetJets insistence on using cheaper, non-union mechanics to service aircraft is at the core of the contract dispute," said Morrison. Contract negotiations in Washington, D.C., over a new labor agreement broke down on August 25.
NetJets pilots and flight attendants represented by the Teamsters have pledged to join picket lines. "Informational picketing will be extended to airports with the highest concentration of NetJets customers, industry events and where potential NetJets customers are located," said Allen Price, Teamsters Local No. 284 president.
The Teamsters and NetJets have also been unable to reach agreements on wages, miscellaneous working conditions and health insurance. "The company's latest proposal slashes health insurance contributions to the point where benefits would have to be cut or employees would have to start making sizeable out of pocket contributions just to keep their families insured," said Morrison.
Since negotiations began in 2005, NetJets has changed lead negotiators and bargaining goals several times. "The union has been forced to negotiate with a moving target," said Morrison. "It's delayed negotiations and prevented our members from receiving the compensation increases they deserve."
"The union can't control who sits on the other side of the bargaining table but our members have decided to take action against a management team that talks about a labor-management partnership only to demand outsourcing, cuts and concessions," said Price. "There is no partnership until we reach an agreement our members can ratify."
CONTACT: Chad Morrison of Teamsters Local 284, +1-614-374-6246
Web site:
SOURCE Teamsters Local 284
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