The negotiating committee works for the MEC. This failure to get move negotiations forward falls firmly not on the NC but on the MEC.

When the TA failed 47-53% the NC returned to the table with a TA that was nearly double the value of the failed TA. That means either one of two things:

(1) The NC got their guidance from the MEC to return with untenable negotiating positions. The fact is that the previous TA only failed by 3%….to return with twice the cost would be received by anyone on the other side of the table as extreme. Imagine buying your car and coming close to a deal only to return the next day to find they are asking for double the price….it doesn’t signal you are actually serious about getting a deal. If this is how it was conducted ENTIRELY on the MEC.

(2) The negotiating committee went rogue. The MEC offered reasonable guidance to the NC and they went rogue. They independently came up with an untenable initial position. If this is what happened, then it was the responsibility of the MEC to reign in the NC and provide leadership and guidance. If this is how it was conducted ENTIRELY on the MEC.

Our union continues to engage in end fighting and finger pointing. Never have we needed strong steady professional leadership more. Two years later we continue to see a rotating door to our union. It is a rudderless ship that is lost in bickering and petulance towards one another. Obtaining/enforcing a contract is THE PINNACLE RESPONSIBILITY of our union leadership. THE MEC IS FAILING. Not every block is going to get everything they desire. The negotiating position of our union needs to be attainable.

Everyone sees this lack of leadership….the Company, The NMB, and the pilots here at FedEx. You want the pilots to be committed to unified in purpose behind the union? You’ve got to get your house in order first….the chaos we continue to see is thoroughly inconsistent with any leadership model people want to follow.