Flexjet Pilots Want to be Heard

Dear Arbitrator Fishgold,

We, the under-signed, wish to appeal to your interest in fair arbitration.  We are the pilots of Flexjet, LLC who are reaching out to you regarding your upcoming arbitration session between the IBT 1108 and Flexjet, LLC.

Prior to the acquisition of Flexjet from Bombardier to Directional Aviation Capital we had been operating smoothly and successfully with a unilateral relationship with our management team.  Our pay structure, working conditions, schedules and overall quality of life had been appreciated by all.  Previous attempts by the IBT 1108 to entice us into allowing them into our workplace were abruptly shot down.  They just could not promise us anything close to what we had achieved without representation. 

The Representation Vote of 2015 was most disappointing to us.  The final tally was an incredibly narrow margin (320 votes for and 316 against teamster representation).   We do know that the Teamsters only obtained just 47% of the total pilot population at the time.  That total includes the 19 pilots who did not vote and the 38 newly hired pilots at Flexjet who were ineligible to vote.

Here-in lies the problem.  Immediately following the end of the election the Teamsters chose a panel of pilots they preferred and moved forward with a seniority integration list.  There were three pilots from Flight Options and three pilots from Flexjet chosen.  Two of the original three from Flexjet were replaced on the integration committee, one pilot in particular was replaced for stating that a slow, thorough approach should be taken for something that is so important to all the pilots who were to be affected by this decision.

In less than a three-month time period the Teamsters version of a seniority list was presented without any prior viewing by the pilots so they might have been able to voice any concerns or comments.

Now the IBT Local 1108 are attempting to push through their own agenda of getting their old 2010 CBA ratified without any chance of review or input from the pilots of Flexjet.  It is truly concerning to us being in a much better position (both work environment & salary structure) without a union contract yet we have become unwilling bystanders of a union contracted pilot group in a much less favorable position. The pilots who claim to represent the Flexjet pilot group were not chosen by the Flexjet pilot group but were hand-picked by the IBT 1108 MEC members. Those pilots claim to have the entire Flexjet pilot group’s best interest at heart yet they choose not to reach out to us for advice, opinions or concerns that are being voiced by many. 

We, the under-signed, feel that our voices and concerns are not being fairly represented.  

• We are asking you to postpone making any decisions on folding the Flexjet pilot group underneath the Flight Options 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement.


• By approving the use of Section 1.5(c)(4) we strongly believe that our best interests are not being considered. 


• It is clear that the IBT Local 1108 has failed in their duties to fairly represent the Flexjet Pilot Group.

Thank you for your time.

***Attention Pilots***

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