non-pilot Jumpseat benefit axed at FedEx
FedEx ends free trips for some workers
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, August 27, 2005
By KATIE FAIRBANK / The Dallas Morning News
Following a review of safety and security concerns, FedEx Corp. has changed its policy on employee travel privileges, halting trips for staffers in its package operations who aren't on company business.
"Since personal jump seating was resumed over a year ago, we have regularly reviewed our policies and procedures to ensure that they take into consideration the latest developments in aviation safety and security," the company said in an e-mail message to employees last week.
"As a result of that review, we have made the difficult decision to suspend personal jump seat travel. At this point, we cannot say when personal jump seating might be reinstated."
The company initially included pilots in the rule change. But FedEx later restored the privilege for pilots cleared through the national Cockpit Access Security System, a program engineered by a coalition of pilot unions that allows for a pilot's identity and employment status to be verified.
"They have not shared with us any reasons why the change in policy was initiated," said Scott Sherrin, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association. "We have not been given much information."
Some workers at the company say the decision to cut employee travel was due to a security breach on a recent flight from California to Memphis.
But FedEx spokesman Maury Lane said, "We have not had any flights impacted by the actions of any company personnel."
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration was unable to verify whether such a breach occurred.