Redracer3136
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Whatever you say JB, looks like Jeff has allowed you to come back as well.
FedEx Freight | The Union Debate Thread
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trucking62
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These 3 FedEx Corporation’s History of Opposing Unionization
The FedEx Corporation’s History of Opposing Unionization
FedEx’s effort to keep FedEx Express’ ground transportation employees under the RLA is not– as the FedEx website would have it – a battle between rival package-delivery companies, specifically, FedEx Express and UPS. It is rather a battle between FedEx Express and its own employees, who seek the same opportunity to be represented by a union as counterpart employees at other package-delivery companies. In this regard, the actions taken by FedEx are just the latest in a long history of vigorous resistance to efforts by its employees to unionize:
• As early as 1983, a FedEx booklet titled “Managers Labor Law Book” credits the company’s success in large part to being “union free.”66 On the second page, the booklet declares that the corporate goal is to remain “union free;”
• In 1989, shortly before acquiring Tiger International Airline, many of whose pilots were union members, FedEx’s founder and chief executive officer, Fred Smith, declared: “I don’t intend to recognize any unions at Federal Express;”67
• In 1993, FedEx distributed to its managers a booklet produced by the company’s legal department titled “Keeping the People Philosophy Alive: Making Unions Unnecessary.” The cover letter said, “Enclosed you will find a new guide designed to provide Federal Express managers with basic information about union avoidance and union organizing;”68 and
• As recently as 2006, FedEx’s Human Resource Services and Diversity Organization published a paper calling on human resources staff to “co-develop strategy with Labor Relations team on union avoidance,” and listing five “union avoidance strategies.”69
The Leadership Conference recognizes the right of an employer, including FedEx, to resist unionization by its employees – provided that in doing so, the employer respects the rights of the employees and complies with its own legal obligations. But that has not always been the case with FedEx.
In 1991, for example, the National Mediation Board found that FedEx Express illegally interfered with the representation election for the company’s pilots.70 In another election, the pilots voted for union representation, becoming the only group of FedEx Express’ employees to unionize.71
In 2007, The Leadership Conference issued a report titled “Fed Up with FedEx: How FedEx Ground Tramples Workers Rights and Civil Rights,” which documents how another division of FedEx, FedEx Ground – a shipping company that relies entirely on trucks rather than airplanes, and whose employees are covered by the NLRA – misclassifies approximately 15,000 of its truck drivers as “independent contractors.”72 This misclassification excludes these employees from the coverage of labor, employment, and civil rights laws, including the NLRA, and among other things, denies them the right to form and join unions. Although several courts, federal agencies, and state officials have ruled that these FedEx Ground truck drivers are employees – as one court put it, FedEx Ground’s agreement with its drivers is “a brilliantly drafted contract creating the constraints of an employment relationship …. in the guise of an independent contractor model”73 – FedEx Ground continues to adhere to this policy in most of the nation.
The tactics used by FedEx in its campaign to keep FedEx Express’ ground transportation employees under the RLA – while aggressive and disingenuous – have not to date been unlawful. But the statement made by Sen. Kennedy in the 1996 Congressional debate to restore the special exception for FedEx Express is as apt today as it was then:
Federal Express is notorious for its anti-union ideology, but there is no justification for Congress becoming an accomplice in its union-busting tactic.74
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The FedEx Corporation’s History of Opposing Unionization
FedEx’s effort to keep FedEx Express’ ground transportation employees under the RLA is not– as the FedEx website would have it – a battle between rival package-delivery companies, specifically, FedEx Express and UPS. It is rather a battle between FedEx Express and its own employees, who seek the same opportunity to be represented by a union as counterpart employees at other package-delivery companies. In this regard, the actions taken by FedEx are just the latest in a long history of vigorous resistance to efforts by its employees to unionize:
• As early as 1983, a FedEx booklet titled “Managers Labor Law Book” credits the company’s success in large part to being “union free.”66 On the second page, the booklet declares that the corporate goal is to remain “union free;”
• In 1989, shortly before acquiring Tiger International Airline, many of whose pilots were union members, FedEx’s founder and chief executive officer, Fred Smith, declared: “I don’t intend to recognize any unions at Federal Express;”67
• In 1993, FedEx distributed to its managers a booklet produced by the company’s legal department titled “Keeping the People Philosophy Alive: Making Unions Unnecessary.” The cover letter said, “Enclosed you will find a new guide designed to provide Federal Express managers with basic information about union avoidance and union organizing;”68 and
• As recently as 2006, FedEx’s Human Resource Services and Diversity Organization published a paper calling on human resources staff to “co-develop strategy with Labor Relations team on union avoidance,” and listing five “union avoidance strategies.”69
The Leadership Conference recognizes the right of an employer, including FedEx, to resist unionization by its employees – provided that in doing so, the employer respects the rights of the employees and complies with its own legal obligations. But that has not always been the case with FedEx.
In 1991, for example, the National Mediation Board found that FedEx Express illegally interfered with the representation election for the company’s pilots.70 In another election, the pilots voted for union representation, becoming the only group of FedEx Express’ employees to unionize.71
In 2007, The Leadership Conference issued a report titled “Fed Up with FedEx: How FedEx Ground Tramples Workers Rights and Civil Rights,” which documents how another division of FedEx, FedEx Ground – a shipping company that relies entirely on trucks rather than airplanes, and whose employees are covered by the NLRA – misclassifies approximately 15,000 of its truck drivers as “independent contractors.”72 This misclassification excludes these employees from the coverage of labor, employment, and civil rights laws, including the NLRA, and among other things, denies them the right to form and join unions. Although several courts, federal agencies, and state officials have ruled that these FedEx Ground truck drivers are employees – as one court put it, FedEx Ground’s agreement with its drivers is “a brilliantly drafted contract creating the constraints of an employment relationship …. in the guise of an independent contractor model”73 – FedEx Ground continues to adhere to this policy in most of the nation.
The tactics used by FedEx in its campaign to keep FedEx Express’ ground transportation employees under the RLA – while aggressive and disingenuous – have not to date been unlawful. But the statement made by Sen. Kennedy in the 1996 Congressional debate to restore the special exception for FedEx Express is as apt today as it was then:
Federal Express is notorious for its anti-union ideology, but there is no justification for Congress becoming an accomplice in its union-busting tactic.74
© www.CivilRights.org
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- See more at: http://www.civilrights.org/publicat...edex-opposes-unions.html#sthash.TEZWajXm.dpuf
trucking62
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Let's set the facts straight. Whatever you get we 3 get as long as it's beneficial the union is not going to tell the company no if it benefits us.2nd I don't know where you come up with a revote the voting is over and the 3 of us won . 3rd do not speak for those 3 terminals because they have already spoken.
Redracer3136
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So what's your point?
Most companies want NOTHING to do with unions, that's why 93% of companies are non-union....Fred/FedEx is no different.
Express drivers ARE covered under the RLA, that doesn't stop them from organizing if they so choose.
Ground drivers ARE independent contractors, not company employees.
Thing is he has to cash his check at the bank, you though can cash yours at the convenient store!! lol
Thats sad, I just had a major back surgery and didn't cost me a dime!!! Surgery and 9 days in the hospital plus 25 physical therapy sessions!!
What post have you been reading? All I have seen is butt kissing!!!!
Purple Hammer
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Why wouldn't FedEx or any other company oppose unionization. A third party coming between the employees and management creates many barriers to a productive profitable company. The sordid past of the teamsters littered with many instances of violence and corruption are yet another reason for an anti union stance. FedEx surely doesn't want to be brought to it's knees and face the fate of many other union carriers such as paycuts to employees, lost market share, shaky pension plans, or the ultimate killer bankruptcy.
Redracer3136
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1st - If the union would allow the company to give bonuses and raises, why would you need the union in the first place? By allowing those to take place would not only give the appearance that the union is weak but would also undermine the process of them trying to negotiate a "better" deal for these 3 centers.
2nd - a re-vote "could" be allowed if the federal courts side with FedEx by ruling that the dockworkers, FT & PT, should have been included with the original election since they were included with the original petition.
3rd - yes, they have spoken for now. You may have won they battle but you haven't won the war...it's just begun and it's far from over. Once the federal courts give their ruling and the appeals are finalized, which could take years, the one year clock will finally start which will lead to a decertification election...IF the federal courts side against FedEx.
Pup Driver
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Bet one thing that if the mob with its violence and corruption were still there Fed X would be in the union guaranteed .
Answer me ONE question. Why did they change and start screwing us in the first place? Do you have that answer? AF, Viking and Watkins were all profitable companies when the Big F bought them....
The only reason Fed Ex is against unions is because it would cost them money. If it's going to cost them money the employees would make more not less. Don't know why any employee would not want to make more. Your pension plans gloom are getting old,you wouldn't be in CSPF.
The only thing hammer does on TB is lie. Dont fret though you are still the king of spreading the bs around here.
Dick Dastardly
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If the courts even hear the case that is. The company must prove it has a basis to appeal the decision to the courts. I'm guessing it won't make it past the preliminary hearing considering they've appealed everything, every step of the way already, and LOST every appeal to this point. If they do, so be it, they will lose there too, and restart the twelve month clock once again. Be forewarned however; in doing so they make the movement stronger for ALL the yes voters by making them angry by fighting so adamantly to deny them their legal rights. This movement will gain even more momentum soon. The six month windows are closing fast on the first pulled petitions. Those centers will be back stronger now realizing the promises of change never came to fruition. (Isn't it ironic you all accuse the Teamsters of making false promises and it was really the company?) Feel free to keep that pipe dream of decertification alive my friend since it's obvious this has consumed your life and filled it with such bitterness and depression. I'm sure that fantasy is all you have to get you through the day. I'll send you a p.m. for the ******* prevention hot line number. Hang on to the number you're going to need it when you read this: Only members get to vote on the first, and all subsequent contracts. It's the one and only way right to work is in our favor. That's right Red! I get to vote on what you get and you have no say! I gotta go for now red racer. I've got a race to run myself. Hang on to that ******* prevention hotline number! I'm worried about you buddy! Let's go Muttley!
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Redracer3136
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Define "screwing us"?
Nope... But thanks for the tip... He is gone
Redracer3136
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You are correct, they've lost every appeal to the NLRB, which is in the union's back pocket, thus the reason for seeking a ruling within the federal courts...it's not rocket science.
The twelve month clock has yet to start.
Warned? Many of the yes voters are actually upset that their island has shrank to a sandbar due to the fact that the lack of a tsunami that was "promised" never materialized. Talk about broken promises!
Not worried about those centers that pulled petitions, they pulled for a reason...THEY HAD NO SUPPORT! In six months you expect them to magically conjure up more support? You're dreaming again. Your movement is dying..slowly...just like the union itself.
As I've said to others, not consumed at all, I have plenty of things to do.
As for voting on contracts, that's up to the local union, it's at their discretion as to who votes....which is irrelevant since you'll never get a contract to vote on.
How is that membership drive working out for ya? Have you reached 50 drivers yet?
Dick Dastardly
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Actually, we aren't having a membership drive. That said however, if you'd like to join now you're welcome to do so. I'm done with the whole union debate on trucking boards myself so you'll have to catch up with me at the February monthly membership meeting at the union hall. Keep posting though buddy, because the more you post, the more I have incentive to vote on an inferior contract that gives you a pay cut.
How many on this thread have actually been in the Teamsters? I was a dues paying teamster for 23 years. CF Yellow ABF. I enjoyed complete free medical. Wife almost died from major problems. 100k in hospital bills. All paid. Them days are gone. I'm not anti union at all. But what I cant figure out is why certain terminals voted the Teamsters in. Now what? Do you negotiate a contract?
It's certainly likely the PRIMARY reason, but not the only reason. What if your neighbor started telling you how you have to run your household? Well, at least said you have to sit down and negotiate in good faith about how your household is run?
30yearman said:
Quite a simplistic viewpoint, I could pay you the same wage, same benefit package and lose money just because the reduced flexibility and strict work rules. The only one guaranteed to gain from successful organization is the IBT.
Well, they'll do what they can with what they have (or will get) in terms of added support. Their position would be much MUCH stronger if those that said they were ready to petition (if only that big HUB would go), would have joined.
As for WHY those that were KNOWN to have more than enough support, did not folow through? We're left to speculate, since they've not said publicly. But that left those 3 to fend for themselves, for now, and THAT is a shame...
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