Jose Nieves Brings Almost 3 Decades to the Role in Ongoing Battle For Contract

The Air Line Pilots Association's FedEx Master Executive Council announced the election of a new chair to lead the pilot group as they continue to wind their way through the negotiation process.

The new face is Jose Ieves, a 28-year FedEx man and Captain, who flies the 757 out of Memphis, Tennessee. Nieves was the only one on the ballot for this one, filling a seat left vacant by the departure of Billy Wilson. As such Nieves will only serve for about a year, with elections to take place in 2025. He's chosen a fine time to enter the fray, however, as the negotiations have continued in a fairly contentious back and forth for some time now. He's optimistic about their chances, pointing to pretty good earnings and a pilot base with its head on straight.

“FedEx pilots are facing challenges unlike any in recent years, and I believe this is a critical time in our union’s history,” said Capt. Nieves. “At the top of that list of challenges is standing up to a Company that has explicitly demonstrated a failure to value its pilots and employees. Just last week, during the third-quarter earnings announcement, FedEx executives expressed confidence in the direction the airline is headed, while simultaneously confirming an unspecified number of layoffs impacting many of our fellow employees and ignoring the impasse of bargaining with its pilots.

“Our pilots grow more unhappy with FedEx management by the day. It is past time for management to come to the table with a contract that recognizes our value. This is my primary focus, and the work begins today.”

FMI: www.alpa.org