A “growth strategy” is an objective of every airline. Obviously, a business isn’t going to force growth at the expense of costing/losing money, but the statement above is self-evident. Be that as it may, an airline’s business plan (any airline) is NOT to ensure their company has the most qualified applicants on file. Rather, the aforementioned (recruitment ability) is a byproduct of a successful business that also bequeaths much of its success back to the employees.

There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind if FedEx were to announce that projected demand require they double their fleet over the next 5 years that we would see a spiked “interest” in FedEx. I believe this even if FedEx’s current PWA extended another 4-years. Likewise, if FedEx announced plans to furlough 1000 pilots on December 31st, but needed to hire 200 before the inevitable fallout – recruitment ability would suffer EVEN if a leading industry contract were awarded in every single section.

Point: FedEx’s ability to recruit top applicants isn’t entirely reflective of its PWA.

We are permitted to feel disappointment now that FedEx has been surpassed by a couple of carriers in a few sections; that is called “Conspicuous Consumption”. However, I don’t think we should feel as though we can somehow leverage a better PWA by inferring FedEx could be forced to recruit inept pilots without significant enhancements to the contract. That’s complete conjecture and we know it. I openly submit nobody has suggested that, but I think our interests would be better served if we see things as they are. I hope we don’t collectively try and invent reasons to be disappointed, put energies into worthless bargaining chips, or seek leverage that has no traction. We know who we are and we know what we do. This too is self-evident. Keep the swagger, but we don’t to be haughty in the process.

FedEx is an outstanding place to work – period.

We will see an enhanced contract in the eye of the pilot; this is certain. These enhancements won’t be a result of FDX looking for a way to recruit pilots, because WE deserve them, or because we are the best. If any of those were the basis behind a richer PWA, we would not be paying our ALPA negotiating team for their services.

At the end of the day, contractual gains will be leveraged by a group of professionals that ensures FedEx’s success as well as ours. It’s nothing personal, it’s just business.