Pilots for high-profile US fractional NetJets have reached a preliminary labour agreement with the 590-aircraft operator after nine months of bargaining. NetJets, controlled by investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway company, had attempted a 30-day marathon of bargaining, but that broke down in September as pilots, represented by a 2,000-pilot Teamsters chapter, accused the fractional of failing to offer adequate retroactive pay to cover the four years since their contract came up for renewal. In 2004, the pilots had overwhelmingly rejected a tentative deal reached by their union leaders. But the new five-year contract would make the NetJets pilots among the best compensated of fractional crews, with 40% to 60% pay raises over the life of the pact.
Source: Flight International
