The pilots of FedEx Express, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l, issued the following statement in response to FedEx Corporation’s celebration of its 50th anniversary.
“We are proud to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of FedEx. This company was founded by a visionary leader who created an industry that previously did not exist, and FedEx pilots have been there from the beginning. As we reflect on the incredible journey of FedEx, we are reminded of our integral role in its success, from its humble beginnings in 1973 to the global logistics powerhouse it is today.
“Anniversaries provide a moment of reflection on the past and thoughtful consideration of the opportunities and expectations that lie ahead. The FedEx corporate philosophy of People-Service-Profit (PSP) is familiar to every FedEx employee. It was the bedrock philosophy that provided the foundation for FedEx’s growth. On this 50th anniversary, it seems clear that the PSP philosophy has been abandoned in favor of a new philosophy: profit first, then service, and at times people, which appears limited to the concerns of the shareholders and not its employees. What lies ahead for FedEx pilots on this historic anniversary is only uncertainty.
“After almost 24 months of negotiations, FedEx management has failed to produce acceptable contract terms to conclude negotiations. In the final stages of contract negotiations, senior FedEx executives have introduced career-altering changes for the dedicated pilots— a corporate-wide restructure with a new emphasis on outsourcing, pilot base closures, forced pilot downgrades (which equates to a pay reduction) and a push toward moving Express freight on slower modes of transport, essentially cannibalizing the FedEx Express flight network.
“It is unfortunate that on the 50th anniversary, FedEx Express pilot leaders must call for a strike authorization vote, which will commence tomorrow. If approved, it will permit FedEx Express pilots, in the absence of a new collectively bargained agreement, to withdraw services when allowed by the National Mediation Board and if the pilot leaders decide it is necessary and appropriate.
“We urge management to come to the table and negotiate in good faith, recognizing the importance of our pilots and the critical role we play in the success of FedEx. We remain committed to ending this labor dispute with a contract we have earned.”
