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FedEx strike vote delayed
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November 6, 1998: 7:10 a.m. ET
Pilots keep flying as union goes back to the bargaining table
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Pilots at global delivery company Federal Express are giving a contract talks a last-ditch chance to succeed, possibly averting a call for a crippling strike.
After contract talks broke down October 30, leaders of the Federal Pilots Association (FPA) prepared to send strike authorization ballots to the union's 3,200 members.
The ballots were scheduled to go out on Thursday. However, the union decided to delay their distribution until Monday, union spokesman Bob Clement said.
"By holding the ballots, it increases the opportunity to facilitate negotiation between the parties," he said.
If the union and management do not reach an accord by Monday, pilots will refuse to work overtime during the busy holiday shipping season. Meanwhile, the union will wait until early December to count the ballots.
Under union bylaws, a two-thirds vote is needed to approve a general strike.
Memphis-based Federal Express did not appear concerned about the possibility of overtime stoppage, telling customers that "because overtime flying constitutes a small part of our operations, this would not affect your service."
The pilots are seeking a retroactive 5 percent pay raise and an additional 19 percent raise over the next four years. Management had proposed a contract containing a 17 percent raise, but was rejected by the union.
Federal Express is a unit of holding company FDX Corp. (FDX). It closes down 1 at 53-1/4.
-- from staff and wire reports
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