Say Company Has Dropped The Ball On Benefits

FedEx pilots picketed in Anchorage and Los Angeles this week over benefits that haven't been settled since they unionized.

"This is not a pay issue," said Catherine Dwinnnell, a first officer on the MD-11. "This is about four points that the company hasn't addressed -- health care, job security, retirement and work rules."

FedEx pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Pilots have told ALPA that they have been waiting over two years -- a total of 27 months -- to have these four issues addressed, and that they are tired of waiting.

FedEx spokesperson Maury Lane thinks that the pilots are getting paid enough.

"These are the best paid pilots in the world, they are getting an average of $183,000 a year," said Lane.

Lane also indicated that the company had made an offer last Friday of higher wages, with offers of $208,000 and then $215,000. Lane also implied that the company believes the pilots should be at the negotiation table -- not walking, or demonstrating.

"I was not at the negotiations, but this is not a matter of pay, but of definite benefits," said ALPA spokesman Scott Sherrin. "I don't know what, if anything was offered, negotiations were not handled by attorneys for the union and a committee of pilots, and not by the pilots picketing."

Sherrin said that none of the pilots who picketed were on duty, and walked the picket lines on their own time.

The turnout in Anchorage had 60 off-duty pilots walking at two locations -- near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and near the FedEx sorting hub on Monday. Approximately 40 pilots walked the picket line in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to pilot Wes Reed.

"Other pilots and the general public were very supportive of our campaign," said Reed. "But if things don't change we will become more overt in our demonstrations."

Reed indicated that liability to the company may come into play in the future.

"Without the pilots the packages are not going to get to their locations, contracts won't be signed, and Hollywood won't get those needed items for a movie shoot," said Reed.

FedEx pilots plan to picket in Seattle on June 21, according to ALPA's Sherrin.

FMI: www.fedex.com, www.alpa.org