FedEx finally has a TA
Posted by Mike__O@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 101 comments
Press release. There's a summary document out there from ALPA, but AFIK the full TA text hasn't been released yet.
Posted by Mike__O@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 101 comments
Press release. There's a summary document out there from ALPA, but AFIK the full TA text hasn't been released yet.
F1shermanIvan@reddit
Goddamn you Americans make a lot of money, holy shit.
DeltaTule@reddit
3rd year regional captains make far more than that
F1shermanIvan@reddit
I am a third year regional captain š
S0urMonkey@reddit
Gotta say, 165/hr for a regional wasnāt something I thought was bad, even with inflation. Knew someone who was a regional CA and line check person (or whatever) in US 2020 and was in the 90s/hr range. I know the pay sucks compared to a mainline USA pilot but hopefully you are at least happy flying jets. Hope it improves for you.
mfsp2025@reddit
You make $165/hr as a third year regional captain in Canada? Thatās exactly what I make as a third year regional captain in the US. But mine is USD so maybe that goes further?
F1shermanIvan@reddit
I make $134 right now. Our new TA would raise that to $165.
165 CAD is $119 USD right now.
mfsp2025@reddit
Ouch. You guys deserve better. Iām sure that doesnāt even go super far considering the exorbitant taxes.
Temporary-Fix9578@reddit
You should see the places heās flying, too. If F1shermanIvan works where I think he does, the places and conditions he encounters would scare the shit out of Americans AND most Canadians
Drunkenaviator@reddit
Wait till you hear about the first 4 years of air Canada mainline pay. Lol
asianperswayze@reddit
Pretty much what happens when government allows a flood of foreign labor. Nearly 40% of new CPL issued in Canada are to non-citizens. Trucking industry wages were already crushed on both sides of the border for the same reason.
DeltaTule@reddit
I mean in America
hitchhiketoantarctic@reddit
That's what you've gotta make with nonexistent social services. Paying for healthcare and retirement (and healthcare in retirement) sure doesn't come cheap!
vw1610@reddit
Who needs social services? How about we just stop funding wars all over the place.
DeltaTule@reddit
Healthcare is only an issue for people who donāt work for a large employer who offer health insurance
changgerz@reddit
shit still sucks even with insurance
cost me 800 bucks to see a dermatologist for 15 minutes a few months ago
Drunkenaviator@reddit
In Canada you'd still be waiting for an appointment, probably several more months at least.
changgerz@reddit
I waited 6 months for the appointment.
OnionDart@reddit
In the US, I am still having to make appointments months out. I canāt even see my GP for four months. So you might want to retire that talking point.
Drunkenaviator@reddit
I recently lost a friend because they couldn't get her in for testing for a fucking year. By the time they did, they discovered stage 4 cancer. That would not have happened in the US.
"Free" healthcare is great, until it's not.
Bot_Marvin@reddit
Just go to a different GP. You live in the U.S, you can do that.
OnionDart@reddit
You think thats any different? Everyone is booked out months.
ntilley905@reddit
I tried seeing my primary care provider because I was sick. Their next available was 9 months out. Then I had to reschedule my cardiologist because of my work schedule. Their next was 14 months out.
We have long waits too, we just get the privilege of paying for them too.
Bot_Marvin@reddit
Maybe donāt be cheap and buy the lowest tier plan.
BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit
I can make $800 in two hours, so that's fine.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
Yeah, fuck those people, as long as I got mine, right?
Also, it'd be a shame if you get sick when you get furloughed, something that obviously never happen in this ultra stable industry.
Bot_Marvin@reddit
If you work for a legacy airline and you donāt have enough money to immediately pay for your own insurance upon furlough, you are being irresponsible with your money.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
And for all those people in the country, not working as pilots for a legacy airline?
Bot_Marvin@reddit
They are pretty irrelevant for a discussion on a flying subreddit about professional pilots.
Mike__O@reddit (OP)
You mean you don't want to get the Canadian choices?
Wait 6 months or more to be seen
Pay out of pocket at US prices or higher to be seen by a private doc
Die (with government assistance)
KITTYONFYRE@reddit
to be fair, this is a Canada issue and not a single payer healthcare issue - canada's healthcare system just sucks ass
and it took me 2.5 months to see a specialist here in the US anyway lol so it's not like we're really that far ahead!
TristanwithaT@reddit
Flair checks out
Bot_Marvin@reddit
My health care is a couple hundred dollars a month for a Cadillac plan with zero deductible.
Retirement is covered by my 18% DC.
Not seeing where the extra 100k I make over another country is supposed to be going.
hitchhiketoantarctic@reddit
How about the day after you retire? Who covers your healthcare then?
Bot_Marvin@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)
That, along with the several million dollars I will have, and can use to purchase private insurance.
yourlocalFSDO@reddit
Healthcare and retirement are both paid outside of salaryā¦
Mike__O@reddit (OP)
Um, healthcare is already paid for as part of the benefits package above and beyond the compensation in the CBA.
F1shermanIvan@reddit
I mean thereās some truth to that⦠but that payscale is $424,000 higher than the top of my airlineās jet scale.
Thatās a lot of healthcare.
InterestingYak6777@reddit
wondering when those who keep those planes safe will see some crumbs?
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
Better than TA1.0, leaves much room for improvement and is still massively insulting, but is sure to pass.
prex10@reddit
What was not obtained or conceded? Asking as an outsider
Bandolero101@reddit
For one, they trashed the pension for anyone hired after theoretical DOS of the TA
prex10@reddit
When's the last time you guys actually hired someone?
Bandolero101@reddit
I do not work there, but Iām not a fan of the idea of setting future generations on fire for oneās own personal gain
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
Posted below in bullet points in response to someone else :)
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
Lmao come the fuck on man
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
Truly spoken like someone who has no understanding of the sacrifices and history of FedEx pilots. Zoom out a little from that number and then come back to the conversation.
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
Alright then elaborate if you're going to bitch about it. Tell me what you don't like.
I don't see a single concession in here, and quite a few notable improvements.
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
Ok, you asked for it...
It would mark the first time in airline history a pension was voted away when the airline is making a profit (a record-breaking profit this peak, actually)
DOS + 18 & 3% raises after missing an entire negotiating cycle?????
APRP doesn't come close to adequately covering lost income
Still a 15-year payscale
Post-amendable dates are a necessity
No profit sharing, despite generating more revenue per pilot than at any other carrier
No resolution for 4a2c
Student lines
For training events, including new hires: still no company-provided hotels or transportation to training
No holiday pay. No snap-up pay.
Doesn't address the growing threat of reduced crew operations for cargo.
Massive loopholes in scope. Unlimited wet lease. Can furlough and then wet lease.
Still not a Part 117 airline. Still the most fatiguing flying in the 121 world. No commuter hotels. See point above about no hotels during training.
I urge you to reach out to purple pilots (if you care beyond the scope of this discussion), especially those who flew during covid, and ask for their thoughts...there is so much more to consider here beyond hourly pay.
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
Nah that's fair, and I can admit when I'm wrong. I'm glad you pointed these out.
No training hotels and being able to fully dodge 117 despite being that profitable is legitimately bullshit and it's unfortunate that this made it into a revised agreement.
Strega007@reddit
"I don't see a single concession in here". lol.
Bandolero101@reddit
Another point, even if youāre JUST looking at pay rates, it takes until 2030 to surpass current WBCA rates at the big 3⦠By which point the pax guys will probably be another contract aheadā¦.
I have no idea how the union thought this was a good idea to push this
KITTYONFYRE@reddit
as a PPL I don't understand much of this but the only one I'll bother you about:
is that too long or too short?
prex10@reddit
Virtually every other airline in the US is 12 years. So too long. Takes longer to track the top
Strega007@reddit
Too long to reach the top of the pay scale, compared to 12-year scales at other comparable airlines.
changgerz@reddit
lol wtf thatās actually nuts
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
It is. It's completely on you to find a safe and affordable crashpad, and ultimately drive out or buy a shitty local airport car and drive it to training every day...in the city that consistently leads the country in homicide/violent crime, pedestrian fatality rates, and traffic fatalities :)
Drunkenaviator@reddit
What the actual fuck. This is 2007 regionals shit. I had no idea that was happening at FedEx.
prex10@reddit
Even Delta ended this like 6 years ago too
DFWmovingwalkway@reddit
What you fail to realize is that these contracts are thousands of pages long, and there is more to life than just base pay rates. Go ahead and ask AA pilots.
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
I'm well aware of how they work, thanks.
Anyone doing the "massively insulting but sure to pass" thing is just looking for somewhere to whine. If it's that bad, fucking vote it down. They already did it once and clearly this one is better. It's not like we're dealing with regional work rules here.
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
Project much?
Youāre right. In many ways, they are literally worse
DeltaTule@reddit
Give me a break. You have no idea what āmassively insultingā even means. Count your blessings
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
If you arenāt insulted then you arenāt looking close enough. Or youāre completely out to lunch, which seems to be an equally strong possibility. Howās that kool-aid taste?
So your argument is essentially ājust be thankful you have a job?ā No wonder itās so hard to advance contracts when plebs like you stay afraid, keep leaning forward and selling out scope for some meaningless, substandard increases in other areas š„±
DeltaTule@reddit
That contract will make you the highest paid pilots in the industry. Iām just saying count your blessings.
And I donāt think you know what āplebā means old man
OrganicParamedic6606@reddit
This is the kind of attitude that undermines unionism.
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
But it won't. Lacking any significant soft pay options, having missed an entire negotiation cycle, DOS + 18 (??), 3% raise, student lines, no profit sharing despite generating more revenue per pilot than any other pilot group, etc. etc. on top of many other things.
On paper FedEx may be the highest paid pilot group, but if that's all you're relying on to make that computation, then you meet the definition of a "Pleb:" a commoner, often lacking intelligence, and although I won't accuse you of lacking intelligence, your inability to consider deeper problems beyond hourly pay surely suggests it...I recommend reaching out to FedEx pilots you know and informing yourself on this contract (if you care about it beyond the scope of this post).
554TangoAlpha@reddit
Can I get a summary of the summary
gonzlofogous@reddit
Here you go:
The 2026 FedEx Tentative Agreement (TA) is a comprehensive overhaul of the contract, with major gains in pay, stronger scope protections, and meaningful quality-of-life improvements. The headline item is compensation: pilots receive an immediate ~39.8% pay increase at date of signing, followed by 3% raises at regular intervals through 2030, along with a sizable amendable period recovery payment (estimated up to ~$150K for captains and ~$102K for FOs). Per diem increases, improved guarantees, and additional pay provisions (like disruption pay and better standby compensation) further boost total earnings. ļæ¼
On the job security side, the TA significantly tightens scope protectionsāespecially around wet leasing. It introduces a progressive penalty system tied to how much outsourced flying is used, adds stronger transparency/reporting requirements, and includes new protections like no furloughs while certain wet leases are active and financial penalties if furloughs occur alongside outsourcing. There are also expanded protections around mergers, acquisitions, and āalter-egoā airlines to ensure flying stays on the FedEx seniority list. ļæ¼
Quality-of-life improvements are widespread across scheduling, rest, and work rules. These include better rest requirements, reduced duty extensions, improved vacation flexibility and cancellation protections, higher per diem, better hotel standards, and more control in scheduling (like enhanced trip trading visibility and new tools such as SMU). There are also improvements to deadheading, expense reimbursements, and medical coverage. Overall, the TA aims to balance significantly higher pay with stronger job security and incrementalābut meaningfulālifestyle upgrades.
Strega007@reddit
"Stronger scope protections"? Delete this AI tripe, because it has no idea what it is talking bout.
phxees@reddit
If you trust AI:
Hereās a summary of the FDXMEC 2026 Tentative Agreement between FedEx Express pilots (ALPA) and the company:
Compensation (Section 3) ⢠~40% initial pay raise at date of signing, followed by three additional 3% annual increases ⢠Wide-body Captain top rate goes to $469/hr, First Officer to $332/hr ⢠Amendable period recovery payment: up to $150K for Captains, $102.5K for First Officers (pensionable)
Scope (Section 1) ⢠Stronger wet lease protections with a progressive penalty schedule tied to block hours as a percentage of total revenue hours ⢠New alter-ego airline prohibition ā FedEx Corp canāt create or acquire a separate carrier flying heavy aircraft outside this contract ⢠Expanded successorship protections covering acquisitions of FedExās parent company ⢠No involuntary furloughs while wet leasing is occurring Hours of Service (Section 12) ⢠Reduced extension limits: domestic drops from 36 to 30 hours, international from 84 to 72 hours ⢠Increased minimum rest periods across multiple scenarios (e.g., domestic scheduled rest up to 9:30 hrs) ⢠After a fatigue call, pilots return from sick leave after 24 hours instead of automatically at tripās end Scheduling (Section 25) ⢠Real-time trip trading implemented ⢠Minimum R-24 reserve lines increase from 13% to 20% ⢠New āstudent linesā for First Officers in training with SMU (Student Make-Up) pay at 125% ⢠Text message notifications for open time trips and draft assignments
Retirement (Section 28) ⢠Three options for existing pilots: (1) Legacy DB with increased $340K cap + 9% DC, (2) Market-based cash balance plan + DC, or (3) Enhanced 18ā19% DC with cash over IRS cap ⢠New hires go into the MBCB + DC plan; legacy DB is closed to new hires Traveling Expenses & Hotels ⢠Per diem increases (domestic $2.85, international $3.85 at signing, rising further) ⢠Joint approved hotel list with new safety/quiet/environmental criteria Other Notable Items ⢠Medical freedom provisions: no mandatory vaccinations beyond FAA first-class medical requirements ⢠Enhanced flight data privacy protections, including prohibition on video recording devices in aircraft ⢠Gender-neutral language adopted throughout the agreement ⢠Contract effective June 29, 2026, with a 4.5-year duration (amendable late 2030)
Negative_Swan_9459@reddit
What's the initial reaction from membership? Seriously hope you folks knock it out of the park.
miianwilson@reddit
Thereās an anonymous straw poll being passed around our pilot group, currently sitting at 62% NO.
So itāll probably pass 70/30
Mike__O@reddit (OP)
Same as any pilot group. Bitching, pissing, and moaning. IMO it's far from perfect, but a lot better than the 2023 shit sandwich
Negative_Swan_9459@reddit
So it will pass 80/20 lol.
Mike__O@reddit (OP)
My crystal balls say that so long as there isn't some poison pill buried in the full text that's not reflected in the summary released today it will likely pass by a wide margin. I'm sure there are things people would have preferred to have, (more money, tighter scope, etc) but IMO this puts enough on the table to not feel like you held out 3 more years for a raw deal
Negative_Swan_9459@reddit
I seriously hope itās a good one for the group. I read the summary but as pax bro itās hard to comprehend much outside the pay rates.
Bandolero101@reddit
I hope for UPSā sake, this does not pass
Checkeide-failure@reddit
Are they hiring?
Memryan901@reddit
Probably soon
lil_layne@reddit
Now itās your turn Allegiant
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
Won't happen. Hopefully their pilot group votes in ALPA from the Sunny merger and uses that to hold their management's feet to the fire.
PILOT9000@reddit
What would actually change? Itāll be the same guys on the MEC but sporting a different logo.
120SR@reddit
Woah, woah, woah. Frontier first
landcruiser33@reddit
You guys have several years. And itāll be a hot dog water contract.
DeltaTule@reddit
Woah. Low-IQ comment of the day award.
Theyāve been in negotiations for like two years and they just got a new CEO. Times are a changing. They also are the last to sign other than Allegiant. Letās root for them. Or we can just bring them down like the loser you are
landcruiser33@reddit
They have a trainwreck alpa comitee and the last contract they voted overwhelmingly for was a joke. Call me a loser all you want. It'll be years before they get another embarrassing contract.
DeltaTule@reddit
Fair enough. Time will tell. I disagree and will save your comment
goatfuckersupreme@reddit
!remindme 2 years
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landcruiser33@reddit
I hope I'm wrong. Sincerely. I worked there for three years. Those guys can't seem to get it together and most people have had easy opportunities to go to any airline with bases everywhere. Denver captains could have gone to DE CA at United for double pay and no commute....it's strange.
DeltaTule@reddit
Stockholm Syndrome is strong in this industry. Arguably more so that any other industry
landcruiser33@reddit
It's for that reason you stated, weak union leadership, heavy attrition ( you'd be a fool to accept that contract) and an increasingly weak business model that's being exploited by the legacies - it's a wonder anyone stays there. Stockholm syndrome is an apt description. It's inherently illogical.
Scary_Revolution3998@reddit
Or, hear me out, not everybody lives in Denver or Atlanta where they can drive to work at a legacy. Or maybe they arenāt willing to go from $240 > $150 an hour even if they make it back up in 3 years. Or maybe they have hope that between growth and consolidation things will improve. Or maybe they like doing day turns. Nothing illogical about staying as long as you recognize it comes at a cost.
What we donāt need is some outsider, especially a former insider, rooting against us and assuming we are gonna vote in some POC just to be last in the industry. It may very well be true, probably is, that will be be x% behind the legacies. But if its within a reasonable shot and allows people to keep years of seniority and a good schedule and flexibility that works for them are we going to call it dogwater for them to accept a $330k/yr job at min guarantee?
landcruiser33@reddit
Yay Yay, half pay! Goooo contract 2032!
Memryan901@reddit
That looks fantastic
hobbseltoff@reddit
I heard they still aren't paying for hotels during training.
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
Or transportation to the training center
OnionDart@reddit
Damn, just saw some PnP in there. Didnāt know FedEx was into that⦠we could have been hanging out much sooner.
velosnow@reddit
Damn that took awhile, hope itās a good one!
Mike__O@reddit (OP)
I updated the OP with the link to the summary. I didn't know if it was a public site or required an ALPA login, but it looks like it's public
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Press release. There's a summary document out there from ALPA, but AFIK the full TA text hasn't been released yet.
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