Strike update as of today:
Monday December 14, 5:19 pm Eastern Time
FedEx , pilots hopeful of agreement soon
CHICAGO, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Federal Express, the world's largest air express package shipping company, and the union representing 3,600 of its pilots said Monday that progress has been made in negotiations and a contract agreement could be reached soon.
In a statement, Fedex Pilots Association President Frank Fato said negotiations ''have been very constructive and we should expect a contract prior to Christmas.''
Talks aimed at reaching the first-ever contract between FedEx and its pilots resumed in November after the pilots called off a possible strike that would have hit Fedex during the peak holiday shipping season.
In the weeks leading up to the pilots's agreement not to strike for 60 days, the company had signed contracts with other carriers to carry packages overseas and in the United States, while also making plans to expand its ground network.
A spokesman for Memphis, Tenn.-based FDX Corp., the parent company of FedEx, said progress had been made but would not give a timetable for a contract agreement.
''Substantial progress has been made and we hope an agreement will be reached in the very near future,'' FDX spokesman Gregory Rossiter said.
The two sides talked all weekend, working on key issues such as scheduling and work rules, a spokesman said.
Even if a contract agreement is reached, it would still have to be approved by the union's membership, which has rejected contract agreements in the past.
FDX shares were down 6/16 at 71-7/16 Monday. |
