Let's see. 2% in 1990, 2% more in 1995. That's a total of 4% over a 9 year period. If you use the cost of living formula that FedEx told us to when planning for our retirement than it goes up 3% a year. So, by their own admission, our costs went up an estimated 27% and they gave us a 4% raise. Looks like pilot's buying power decreased by 23% while FedEx made record profits. I wonder what kind of bonuses and raises upper management were given during the same time frame?

Fast forward to today. We are 2 years past the end of a 5 year contract that gave us about a 17% pay increase. So, in a period of 16 years, we have seen raises of 21%. According to FedEx's own formula, the cost of living has gone up 48%. This equates to a total loss of 27% of our buying power. In other words, while FedEx has set record profit levels every one of these years, and upper management have secured huge pay and bonus increases for themselves, we have actually taken a pay cut by default.

This is why I choose to stay home on my days off, and why I can't understand those that continue to fly extra.