Flexjet Dismisses Competitors’ PR Campaign Opposing Its Pilots’ Right to Change their Representation

Competitor’s union claims a successful decertification at Flexjet could harm stability of nation’s pilot unions
Flexjet finds it mathematically illogical that a decertification of less than 1% of the nation’s unionized pilots could impact more than 95,000 pilots

CLEVELAND, April 27, 2018 – Flexjet LLC, a leading provider of fractional jet ownership and the only provider to offer Red Label by Flexjet, today questioned the logic of a recent press release issued by NetJets’ pilot union arguing that a successful decertification of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1108 by Flexjet pilots could destabilize the airline industry’s unions. Not only are these claims aimed at intimidating Flexjet pilots, who will consider a vote to decertify their representation beginning May 2, but the argument is both mathematically illogical and conceptually irrelevant.

More than half of Flexjet’s pilots called for the decertification vote, according to a notification the company received from the National Mediation Board (NMB) on March 29. The company was not surprised by the news because it has heard repeatedly from its pilots that they feel Local 1108 has overpromised and under-delivered.

Within days of the NMB notification, the NetJets pilot union and unions representing nearly all of the nation’s commercial airline pilots began a public relations campaign to strong-arm Flexjet pilots and influence the election outcome in favor of the Teamsters. They insinuated that a successful decertification among nearly 600 Flexjet pilots would damage the stability of the nation’s pilot unions which include both private and commercial airline pilots. Flexjet pilots represent less than one percent of them, and the industries – private versus commercial aviation – are vastly different.

Flexjet pilots function as service ambassadors who elevate and personalize the flight experience for Owners. One of the guiding principles at Flexjet is acknowledging that employees are the foundation of a service company and the company treats them accordingly. In contrast, commercial airline pilots have limited contact with passengers and play a minimal role in the direction of an airline’s innovation. NetJets pilots’ responsibilities and work experiences seem to align more with that of commercial airline pilots.

“It is wholly inappropriate for our competitor’s and the nation’s commercial pilot unions to attempt to dictate the fates of Flexjet pilots. We can see how frustrating it must be for our pilots to have their communication with the company filtered through an agenda that doesn’t support our business,” said Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro. “Flexjet pilots should be able to freely contribute to the continued growth and innovation of our business, as we execute on unique and revolutionary initiatives.”

The advent of the Red Label Program at Flexjet has been problematic for the NetJets pilot union as well as NetJets. Flexjet Red Label pilots enjoy wages that exceed that of their NetJets unionized peers by as much as 25%. The innovative Red Label program, which gives customers a dedicated team of pilots for each aircraft, has experienced unprecedented growth with a capture rate of over 80% coming from customers exiting NetJets.

This isn’t the first time the Columbus-based pilot union tried to interfere with Flexjet’s pilots and their decision-making around union representation. During the 2015 election that was caused by the merger of Flexjet and Flight Options, the NetJets pilot union invaded the personal privacy of Flexjet pilots with a letter campaign supporting the Teamsters.

“We respect our pilots’ legal right to choose their representation,” said Silvestro. “The simple fact of the matter is that our pilots have a choice as to how they would like to have a relationship with the Company. This does not involve the other pilot groups. Their interference is unwarranted and illogical.”

About Flexjet

Flexjet first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing. Flexjet’s fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 19 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating and is IS-BAO compliant. Flexjet’s fractional program fields an exclusive array of business aircraft—some of the youngest in the fractional jet industry, with an average age of approximately six years. In 2015, Flexjet introduced Red Label by Flexjet, which features the youngest fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are more than 25 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Learjet 75LXi, Challenger 350, the Embraer Legacy 450, Global Express, the Gulfstream G450, G500 and G650, and the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. In addition, the overall jet collection includes the Embraer Phenom 300 and Bombardier Challenger 300. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit fxmultiprod.wpengine.com or follow us on Twitter @Flexjet and on Instagram @FlexjetLLC.

FLEXJET CALLS NETJETS PILOT UNION STATEMENT SELF-SERVING AND INAPPROPRIATE

APRIL 23, 2018

Not the first interference from pilot union representing Flexjet’s competitor
NetJets pilot union appears threatened by the actions of Flexjet pilots

CLEVELAND, April 23, 2018 – Flexjet LLC, a leading provider of fractional jet ownership and the only provider to offer Red Label by Flexjet, today dismissed as self-serving, a NetJets pilot union press statement criticizing Flexjet’s interaction with its pilots. An April 13 news release is the first volley from the NetJets pilot union in their attempt to disrupt the momentum of Flexjet pilots’ effort to decertify its representation by the International Brotherhood Teamsters 1108. Oddly, the statement that attacks the Company and supports the Teamsters fails to mention that just a few days ago, more than half of Flexjet’s pilots called for a vote to decertify the Teamsters as its union representative. The vote is scheduled to begin May 2, 2018.

The NetJets pilot union has gone so far as to create a working group and engage in a public relations effort to attempt to stop the decertification. “We find it both ironic and inappropriate for the NetJets pilot union to involve themselves, yet again, in the labor interactions between this Company and its employees,” said Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro. “And it is puzzling that pilots working for our competition want to preserve a union that they, themselves decertified in 2008.”

This isn’t the first time the Columbus-based pilot union tried to interfere with Flexjet’s pilots and their decision-making around union representation. In the run up to the 2015 election, the NetJets pilot union invaded the personal privacy of Flexjet pilots with a letter campaign supporting the Teamsters.

The news release fails to mention that Teamsters Local 1108 union was elected by a narrow percent of the pilots who voted in the 2015 election caused by the merger of Flexjet and Flight Options. It also fails to mention that the advent of the Red Label Program at Flexjet has been problematic for NetJets pilot union as well as NetJets. Flexjet Red Label pilots enjoy wages that exceed that of their NetJets unionized peers by as much as 25%. And the unique Red Label program, which gives customers a dedicated crew for each aircraft, has experienced unprecedented growth with a capture rate of over 80% coming from customers exiting NetJets – a direct threat to NetJets unionized pilots.

The NetJets pilot union could benefit from a reminder that the Railway Labor Act gives employees the “right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.” The NetJets pilot union was formed when those pilots chose to represent themselves instead of allowing the Teamsters Local 1108 to do so. Why then, are they so committed to encouraging Flexjet pilots keep representation by the same Local they fired? It appears as if they are more concerned with arresting Flexjet’s business growth than the best interests of the Flexjet pilots or their constitutional right to choose.

“Since the last election the company has heard over and over from the Flexjet pilots who say the union has continually overpromised and under-delivered,” said Silvestro. “Now, the IBT Local 1108 (with NJASAP in tow) is using scare tactic messaging in an attempt to subvert the will of the Flexjet pilot group. Flexjet gives no credence to the arguments tossed up by NetJets pilots’ union because it is a thinly veiled attempt to interfere with our Company’s innovation and collude with the Teamsters.”

The Company has complete confidence that Flexjet pilots will make the best decision for the Company’s collective future as they consider a move back to a direct relationship with the Company.

About Flexjet

Contact:

Nicholas Parmelee
The Hubbell Group, Inc.
216-406-5602 (cell)
781-878-8882 (office)
[email protected]