'FedEx has failed to deliver': Pilots picket in Memphis as contract negotiations stall

Samuel Hardiman, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·3 min read

Hundreds of men and women who pilot the FedEx jets that are ubiquitous in Memphis' skies picketed on Democrat Road Tuesday afternoon.

Their presence was a show of organized force as the Air Line Pilots Association continues to negotiate a new contract with FedEx, the Memphis-based logistics giant.

The pilots, who neatly filed out of buses and FedEx's air operations center by the hundreds, carried signs that said, "Fix the pension," and "FedEx has failed to deliver."

FedEx pilots picket as the Air Line Pilot's Association continues to negotiate a new contract with FedEx on Tuesday June 28, 2022, along Democrat Road in Memphis. The association is seeking adjustments to pilots’ pensions based on cost-of-living as well as benefits that enhance the quality of life of pilots as they work. “We would have preferred not to stand out in the sun in Memphis on a summer day, but our goal is to get this done,” said Capt. Chris Norman. “It’s time.”

The picketing Tuesday was one tactic the pilots' association has adopted during ongoing negotiations with the company. The pilots are seeking enhanced cost-of-living adjustments to the pilots' pensions and further quality-of-life benefits while on the job.

The current contract between the company and the pilots' association remains in effect — the parties have just agreed to open up certain sections for renegotiation. Changes to the company's defined-benefit pension plan for pilots appear to be the biggest sticking point in negotiations.

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"Our pension was written in 1999... Now we're looking at ... inflation is about 3% per year. So you see that your quality of life just degrades solely based on just inflation alone, much less making any improvement to that over the years," Capt. Chris Norman, chair of the FedEx Master Executive Council, said in an interview with the media. "So that's where our biggest goal is. This isn't the first attempt to fix this pension. It has been looked at two previous contract negotiations. But this time, we will fix it."

FedEx pilots picket as the Air Line Pilot's Association continues to negotiate a new contract with FedEx on Tuesday June 28, 2022, along Democrat Road in Memphis. The association is seeking adjustments to pilots’ pensions based on cost-of-living as well as benefits that enhance the quality of life of pilots as they work. “We would have preferred not to stand out in the sun in Memphis on a summer day, but our goal is to get this done,” said Capt. Chris Norman. “It’s time.”

The parties, who have been negotiating since May 2021, failed to reach an agreement by a deadline last month but are scheduled to continue negotiations.

The messaging from the pilots' association Tuesday and over the last several weeks has focused on the role FedEx — and the planes piloted by the union's membership — have played in the evolving crises that have gripped the globe over the past two years.

Norman noted how FedEx planes continued to deliver personal-protective-equipment during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to deliver baby formula during a widespread shortage.

"There's no reason to be where we are now, there is no reason that you have to see these pilots. The reason is because we're not getting to where we need to be in a timely fashion," Norman said.

A FedEx truck passes FedEx pilots as they picket in support of the Air Line Pilot's Association continuous effort to negotiate a new contract with FedEx on Tuesday June 28, 2022, along Democrat Road in Memphis. The association is seeking adjustments to pilots’ pensions based on cost-of-living as well as benefits that enhance the quality of life of pilots as they work. “We would have preferred not to stand out in the sun in Memphis on a summer day, but our goal is to get this done,” said Capt. Chris Norman. “It’s time.”

FedEx said in a statement: "FedEx remains engaged in productive negotiations with our pilots’ union. These negotiations are a normal part of our business and have no impact on our service, as we continue delivering for our customers around the world. We will continue to negotiate in good faith with our pilots and are committed to reaching an agreement that is fair to our pilots, our other team members, and all other stakeholders.”

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Norman, when asked about whether Raj Subramaniam replacing founder Fred Smith as CEO would impact negotiations, was circumspect.

"I don't want to answer questions directly about the company. This company is good, smart. They make proper business decisions," Norman said.

Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman. He is an officer in the Memphis News Guild, a bargaining unit that represents Commercial Appeal employees. 

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: FedEx pilots picket in Memphis as contract negotiations stall