UPS Airline pilots represented by the Independent Pilots Association have ratified an eight-yearlabour agreement that runs through 2011. The deal gives them high pay rises and flying guarantees
for international routes.The 2,623 members who voted ratified the contract by a 13% margin of 56.5% to 43.5%, UPSannounced. The contract covers 2,775 captains, first officers and flight engineers working for UPSAirlines.
Contract details have not been publicly disclosed but US media reported UPS pilots will getan immediate 18% wage increase, followed by annual 3% increases from 2008 onwards and a 4% rise in2012. There are also guarantees that non-US flights will not be outsourced to non-UPS pilots.
“We are thrilled to have a ratified contract,” said Bob Lekites, vice president of UPSAirline and International Operations. “This contract meets our longstanding goals of rewarding ourpeople while maintaining the ability to remain competitive,” he added.
Capt. Tom Nicholson, IPA president, commented: “From the beginning of the process ourpilots wanted a comprehensive contract and the union wanted a contract that could keep pace withthe global expansion of UPS and its evolution from package delivery to total supply chain solution.What resulted is a contract that increases pilot compensation, retirement and benefits along withcomprehensive work rule improvements and a Scope clause that guarantees our pilots theinternational flying in the UPS system.”
Approval for the UPS pilots’ deal, which was agreed earlier this summer, comes just daysafter FedEx Express and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents FedEx pilots,reached a tentative agreement (TA) on a new, four -year labour contract. This will be voted onshortly.
Although details of the FedEx agreement have also not been announced, US media reported thatpilots would get a 9% pay increase in the first year, followed by 3% increases in each of thefollowing three years.
