MEMPHIS, Tenn. — FedEx pilots held an informational picket Wednesday, May 24 where pilots voiced their frustrations with FedEx and the continued struggle to reach an agreement about contracts.
Last week, pilots passed a strike authorization vote after 99% voted for union leaders to authorize a strike.
Pilots said they are frustrated, and they say FedEx is stalling. The company has not reached a mutual bargaining agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. (ALPA).
The current contract was negotiated in 2015. Negotiations began in May 2021 ahead of the November 2021 time when the pilots’ contract became amendable. Talks went into mediation in October 2022.
The National Mediation Board must give express pilots permission to strike if it is determined that negotiations are unproductive, and arbitration must be offered to both parties. If both parties decline arbitration, ALPA said they go into a 30-day ‘cooling off’ period, which could then lead to a strike or a lockout by the company.