FedEx, pilots reach pact -- Details are sketchy on tentative agreement

FedEx and its pilot union have reached tentative agreement on ashort-term labor contract in record time.

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents about 4,500FedEx pilots, confirmed the accord but declined to elaborate onproposed raises or other details.

"There are no give-backs," asserted a negotiating committeeposting on a pilots' Internet forum.

The agreement, which is subject to approval by ALPA leaders andmembers, has big implications in Memphis, home of the FedEx Expressworld hub and the largest concentration of pilots.

FedEx and ALPA negotiators struck the deal in just six months,primarily because thorny issues like flight hours and restrequirements were bypassed pending new FAA regulations.

"That's really quite incredible if it turns out be true," saidDarryl Jenkins, chairman of the American Aviation Institute inWashington. "That would be the fastest turnaround I've ever heard ona pilot contract. These things are enormous, hundreds of pages, andthey're complicated."

After negotiations began last August, the FAA issued a notice ofproposed rulemaking to revamp regulations on pilot hours and restrequirements by this Aug. 1.

In contrast, the last negotiations took about 30 months beforewinding up in August 2006. That agreement became amendable lastOctober.

The proposal is scheduled to be submitted to the ALPA FedExmaster executive council next week, council spokeswoman CourtneyBland said. Details won't be released until after the council meets.

The agreement calls for a one-year contract, extendable to twoyears at the prerogative of ALPA, according to the negotiatingcommittee posting.

"The company and the union have worked hard to complete a newagreement that balances the interests of the pilots, their families,our customers, shareowners and other employees," FedEx spokesmanMaury Lane said.

"We believe the tentative agreement reached last week, which issubject to approval by ALPA leaders and members, meets those goals.This agreement is shorter than others because of a potentialregulatory change at FAA, which prevented informed discussion oncertain issues. The parties responded with an agreement shorter inlength but positive in outcome."

Pilots professed surprise at the speedy process.

"The union and company have agreed they should not negotiate afull contract because all the work rules will change," said DanVentre, a FedEx captain. "It's a delay. Most of us are viewing thisas a bridge to get us through this national proposed rulemaking."

"We have absolutely no information what's contained in thisproposed short-term agreement," Ventre said. "We're pretty much inthe dark."

The bargaining committee's statement at airlinepilotforums.comsays in part: "There is a pay raise for 2011 (and one for 2012linked to the extension decision), a lump-sum payment, and per-diemincreases. And so that there is no wild speculation as the MECdigests the documents, there are no changes to our Vacation orRetirement; all provisions including Age 60 as the normal retirementage remain current book."

FedEx pilot pay currently tops out at $246 an hour for the mostexperienced captains of wide-body aircraft.

- Wayne Risher: 529-2874