Press Releases
Teamsters Demand Fair Treatment for NetJets Workers at Shareholder Meeting
(WASHINGTON)—NetJets safety workers and their supporters are picketing and distributing handbills this weekend, May 5 through May 7, as part of an effort to publicize a six-year long labor dispute with the Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A and BRK.B) owned private jet company.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Airline Division and Teamsters Local 284 represent mechanics, maintenance controllers, aircraft fuelers, aircraft cleaners and stock clerks working for the company.
“These workers are not asking for anything unreasonable,” said Chris Moore, Chairman of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition. “They want industry-standard pay and an aircraft maintenance system that relies on skilled NetJets workers rather than third-party vendors. That’s good for the business and for their customers.”
At the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Neb., handbills distributed by workers noted that Berkshire Hathaway Energy Chairman and CEO Greg Abel took home nearly $50 million in compensation for two years of work in 2015 and 2016. The handbills went on to state that with Abel’s compensation, NetJets should be able to pay the skilled mechanic that fixes his private jet an industry-standard wage and the worker that cleans it no less than $15.00 an hour—the minimum wage in some cities.
At the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, workers carried picket signs protesting the lack of pay increases and high levels of subcontracting. As an expression of support and solidarity for their co-workers, the pilot union, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), donated the picket signs.
“NetJets managers are telling workers on the shop floor that the company needs to hire more mechanics and that the union’s wage proposals aren’t a problem,” said Mark Vandak, President of Teamsters Local 284. “At the negotiating table, their stories change. That’s why these negotiations are dragging on and hurting the families of our membership.”
Negotiations resume May 17 in Columbus, Ohio.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.