FedEx Express pilots have taken a major step closer to new employment terms and conditions after FedEx and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached a tentative agreement on an amended collective bargaining agreement.
The tentative agreement, which comes after nearly five years of negotiations, was reached by FedEx management and the ALPA union, representing FedEx pilots.
These most recent negotiations were conducted under the supervision of the National Mediation Board (NMB).
The tentative agreement will next be presented to the FedEx Master Executive Council (MEC) for their review. If the MEC approves the tentative agreement for distribution, it will then be subject to a ratification vote by the FedEx pilots.
If ratified, more than 5,000 FedEx pilots will have a collective bargaining agreement.
“This tentative agreement reflects our commitment to our valued crew members and to our growth strategy for the airline and the business as a whole,” said Richard W. Smith, chief operating officer, international & chief executive officer, Airline. “It’s a win-win for our pilots, for FedEx, and for our customers around the world.”
“This tentative agreement was reached after lengthy and intensive mediation under the supervision of the National Mediation Board,” added Jose Nieves, chair of the FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council. “The next step is completing the MEC review and providing pilots with the information needed to evaluate the agreement.”
Negotiations between FedEx and ALPA began in May 2021. The first tentative agreement was reached in 2023, however, FedEx pilots voted to reject it, after which talks resumed.
In 2024, ALPA requested permission from the NMB to be released from mediation, but this request was denied and the mediation process again resumed.
Negotiations appeared to have stagnated in 2025, with this month’s update representing a significant step forward.
ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines.
