Four-Year Deal Has Everyone Smiling

FedEx Express pilots are on the hook, for at least four more years anyway. Company and union reps said they agreed on a four-year contract Tuesday.

Almost 95-percent of pilots who voted approved the contract, which goes into effect October 30th. Pilots will see an immediate 9-percent pay hike, and 3-percent per year for the next three. ALPA also won concessions on retirement, health care and job security concerns.

In a release, FedEx Express president and CEO David Bronczek said, "FedEx Express and ALPA have worked tirelessly over the last two years to reach what we all believe is a competitive and mutually beneficial contract."

During negotiations both sides argued over how much FedEx pilots currently earn. The company says the average pilot makes 175,000 dollars per year.

The union accused the company of inflating the figure. It says there is no average pilot claiming pay is dependant on the equipment operated and seniority.

The union's example showed ranges from 206-dollars per flight hour for the senior captain of a large, wide-body, to 106 per flight hour for co-pilots of smaller planes.

ALPA union chairman at FedEx David Webb said, "With their vote today, our pilots have approved a contract that acknowledges their continued hard work in maintaining FedEx's leading position in the industry."

The company is happy; the union is happy, everyone is one big happy family!

FMI: www.fedex.com