MEMPHIS— March 8th, the FedEx Express pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), filed a request with the National Mediation Board (NMB) to be officially released from mediation. This is the first step in pursuing a legal strike to achieve a new contract.
ALPA and FedEx management have been in negotiations since May 2021 and in federal mediation since October 2022. Following a rejected tentative agreement in July 2023 and mediated negotiations resuming in November 2023, FedEx pilot leaders have become increasingly frustrated with management’s lack of movement on key contract sections.
“FedEx pilots have been delivering the world on time for years. We have already earned a new agreement, and this step is an intentional demonstration of our unwavering determination to achieve the recognition we deserve,” said Captain Billy Wilson, chair of the FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council.
Before a strike can take place, the National Mediation Board must first decide that additional mediation efforts would not be productive and offer the parties an opportunity to arbitrate the contract dispute. If either side declines the arbitration, both parties enter a 30-day “cooling off” period, after which the parties can engage in self-help—a strike by the union or a lockout by management.
In response to this request, FedEx pilots hope management will step up their efforts and expedite the long-overdue contract that recognizes the contributions of the most professional and dedicated pilots in the industry.
Featured Image: Tobias Arhelger – stock.adobe.com
