FedEx Pilots Take Harder Line as Contract Dispute Drags

Factions coalesce around new union reps, more aggressive tactics

Monday, March 18, 2024 at 01:55 PM ET

Verified

FedEx has more than 400 mainline freighters in its fleet, including 65 Airbus A300-600s (pictured), and about 5,800 pilots. [Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves]

Key Takeaways:

The FedEx pilots' union (ALPA MEC) is presenting a united front despite internal divisions, aggressively requesting an end to federal mediation and signaling a readiness for arbitration or a potential strike due to FedEx's perceived stalling tactics.
Pilots are dissatisfied with FedEx's contract offers, citing inadequate pay increases, insufficient job protections against outsourcing (Scope Clause), and unfavorable retirement benefits, believing the company is not serious about improving a previously rejected deal.
A "new guard" has gained control within the ALPA MEC, leading to the ousting of the prior negotiating committee chairman, and the union plans an informational picket on Wall Street to pressure FedEx management.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The board that sets the strategic direction for the pilots’ union at FedEx Express is projecting a united front after last week’s acrimonious debate over ending federal mediation of contract talks. The effort suggests there is more agreement than meets the eye and that aggressive steps are necessary to counter the company’s alleged intransigence.

Despite strong membership divisions, there appears to be greater unity within the Air Line Pilots Association’s (ALPA) Master Executive Council as a new guard begins to exert control. And internal communiques obtained by FreightWaves also indicate that council members, including long-serving incumbents, share the view that FedEx (NYSE: FDX) is stringing out the labor dispute.