Holiday Wishes and Informational Pickets

On Monday, 26 September 2022, FedEx Express pilots held an informational picket in front of the New York Stock Exchange for purpose of expressing their collective frustrations over the ongoing lack of an equitable labor contract. The pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) have been negotiating for a new contract since May 2021. 

FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council chair Captain Chris Norman stated: “FedEx pilots are getting more frustrated every day that goes by without an agreement, and with peak shipping season around the corner, it’s imperative that management fully commits to reaching a new pilot contract.”

The tacit threat couched in Captain Norman’s statement is deftly placed insomuch the upcoming holidays represent FedEx’s busiest and most profitable time of year. In 2021, between Black Friday and Christmas Day, FedEx delivered over one-hundred-million more packages than it did in pre-pandemic 2019, and ten-percent more than during 2020’s COVID Holiday Season. Gloomy, inflation-related retail forecasts notwithstanding, FedEx management will be eager to see all company planes flying during 2022’s holiday shopping/shipping season. Ergo, the subtext of Monday’s informational picket was likely clear to FedEx executives—"Negotiate or incur a fresh hell of shareholder wrath.”

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder on Wall Street with signs stating, “When the World Shut Down, FedEx Pilots Delivered,” the airmen sent a strong, unified message that now is the time to resolve outstanding items and reach an industry-leading pilot contract. The parties last entered negotiations with the mutual goal of reaching a new agreement by the end of May 2022—a goal that went absolutely, positively unrealized.

Captain Norman added: “Our pilots have been delivering the world on time for years, now it is time for the company to recognize it. The future success of FedEx depends on an industry-leading pilot contract now.”

FMI: www.alpa.org