FedEx faces threat of pilot strike

The FedEx Express Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) has unanimously approved a resolution setting the stage for a strike authorisation vote.

Contract negotiations between the pilots and FedEx management have stalled, and no future talks are scheduled, said ALPA in a press release on February 22.

The parties have been in negotiations since May 2021.

“The decision to move closer to a strike authorisation vote is the result of nearly six months of federally mediated negotiations that has led to our disappointment with FedEx management’s actions at the bargaining table,” said Captain Chris Norman, FedEx MEC chair.

The FedEx pilots will utilise the full resources of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) as permitted by law—up to and including a strike—to get an industry-leading contract, said ALPA.

Under the RLA, before a strike can occur, the pilots must be released by the National Mediation Board, and a 30-day cooling-off period must be exhausted.

The strike authorisation vote is another necessary requirement.

“FedEx pilots are committed to reaching a deal with management, but we will not waiver in our commitment to deliver a contract that rewards pilots for their sacrifices to build FedEx into the global leader it is today,” said Norman.

“Although a strike authorisation vote has not been called at this time, our customers and shareholders should be aware that the pilots may be headed in that direction shortly.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.