Billy Wilson Succeeds Chris Norman

The FedEx Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) has elected Captain Billy Wilson as chair for an interim term ending in March 2025. Captain Wilson will fill the vacancy left by his predecessor, Captain Chris Norman. Wilson is a 27-year FedEx pilot currently based in Memphis.

Captain Wilson set forth: “FedEx pilots have earned a career that is stable and long-lasting. Our compensation should be commensurate with our peers while including excellent quality of life with our work rules and a retirement that will provide for pilots in the future.”

Wilson added: “During COVID, FedEx pilots stood tall delivering for the Company and the world while many of our pilots suffered in inhumane and substandard living conditions including lockdowns and exposure to unknown chemicals. We paid a heavy price for this while the Company made historic profits.”

Captain Wilson concluded: “I am committed to bringing all of our pilots together as we reestablish negotiations capitalizing on our diverse views, which only make us stronger, as we move toward a contract we have earned.”

On 24 July 2023, FedEx pilots represented by ALPA rejected a tentative agreement with the company by a vote of 57-percent to 43-percent.

Then FedEx Master Executive Council (MEC) chair Captain Chris Norman stated at the time: “Our members have spoken and we will now regroup and prepare for the next steps. In the coming weeks, the FedEx ALPA leadership will meet to establish a timeline for assessing pilot group priorities moving forward. FedEx pilots remain unified and that will drive a new path that will help produce an agreement that all FedEx pilots will be proud to support,”

Moving forward, it is expected the U.S. federal National Mediation Board will convene a status conference with both parties. A timetable for such events has yet to be determined.

Speaking to the subject of mediation, Captain Norman conceded: “The decision to invoke the services of the NMB was not taken lightly. Although we are disappointed with management’s proposals, we remain prepared to work with FedEx under the auspices of federal mediation to achieve a contract that recognizes the collective contributions of FedEx pilots.”

Founded in 1931 and representing upwards of 73,000 pilots in the employs of forty U.S. and Canadian airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) is the world’s largest and most influential pilot union.

FMI: www.alpa.org