Warren Buffett’s peaceful summer stand-off with NetJets pilots is about to end, The Post has learned.
The union representing 2,700 professionals at the fractional private-jet operators is expected to set up pickets lines at seven airports, including New Jersey’s Teterboro, on Sept. 10 to protest the lack of progress at hammering out a new contract, a source close to the situation said Monday.
The pilots have been working without a contract since early 2013 and had been picketing some locations — including at Berkshire Hathaway’s May 2 annual meeting — in hopes of pushing Buffett to make a better offer.
“To say the sides are far apart is an understatement,” the source said.
In June, the company and the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots Union agreed to put down the picket signs for 90 days.
That time runs out Sept. 1.
NetJets, the No. 1 shared corporate aircraft company in the US — with roughly 8,000 well-heeled customers, who pay for a set number of hours aboard a private jet each year — pays its captains with 10 years of experience $131,179 a year.
The union asked for a 35 percent raise over three to five years — which would bring them in line with what Walmart pays its flight crews, the source said.
That still means their pay would be lower than legacy airline pilots’, the source added.
NetJets countered with a proposed 15 percent to 18 percent raise over seven to eight years — and asked union members to contribute more than they presently do to health care.
Picket lines could bring more unwanted publicity to Buffett.
Pickets also showed up at the Masters Golf Tournament, the Super Bowl and the Buffett-hosted NetJets Poker Invitational at Wynn Las Vegas.
Buffett in June responded to the pressure, replacing CEO Jordan Hansell — who was strongly disliked by the union — with Adam Johnson, prompting what seemed like promising new negotiations.
The pilots cannot strike until federal mediators determine that mediation talks have been exhausted — and that has not yet happened.
The union declined comment. NetJets did not return a call seeking comment.