FedEx Pilot representatives have expressed their disappointment at the latest round of talks over a new contract while labelling an offer to move to a regional airline as insulting.
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) said it was disappointed to read "management’s comments made to a small group of pilots that downplayed their prospects to provide an industry-leading contract".
The union referenced recent media reports that difficult market conditions meant it was hard to offer an improved deal.
Billy Wilson, chair of the FedEx ALPA master executive council (MEC), said: “Everything attributed to FedEx management in a recent media piece has been used before to excuse a plodding pace at the bargaining table and overall failure to recognise the value of FedEx pilots.
"It should be clear by now that we aren’t buying it, and I’m proud to say that our leadership and negotiating team are holding the line."
Last year, the MEC accepted a tentative offer from FedEx but the deal was then rejected by the pilots during the ratification process.
That deal was negotiated at a time of high demand in the express market due to the Covid pandemic and a surge in online shopping.
However, the market has since turned and FedEx and UPS have been looking to reduce pilot numbers in response to weaker demand.
In November, the company launched an offer encouraging pilots to move to regional passenger carrier PSA Airlines as direct-entry captains, sweetening the deal with a $250,000 signing bonus.
The company has also instigated a $1bn share buyback programme, which the union argues could have instead been used to invest in employees.
The union also argues that FedEx pilots are paid less than their colleagues at other airlines.
"The so-called opportunity management recently offered for pilots to leave FedEx, a career destination for many pilots, for hiring preference and a signing bonus at a regional airline was insulting," said Wilson.
“Instead of attempting to convince pilots that there is no more money while at the same time spending billions in stock buybacks, FedEx should come to the table with an offer that recognises the pilots’ value like the recent agreements reached at Southwest and United.”
The union also points out that the company made record-breaking profits during the pandemic.
