I just wanted to start a fresh thread on this subject as the first one had a lot of input from unaffected parties, and I'm hoping that we can get a mature/respectful discussion and exchange of thoughts and ideas. For those of us that have put in a considerable amount of thought, time, and research in getting to this point, we are just asking that you have an open mind during this process. There are valid points on both sides of this issue. Please realize that Company supplied propaganda is just that. The Companies main goal is to scare you into submission, and the deck is stacked in their favor. You used the internet to get to this board, please, please....use it to educate yourself on this subject.
We're all on the same team. We all want job security, reward for the sacrifices we've shared to help make this Company profitable, and to be treated with respect from Management. We all want to do a great job by safely and efficiently working together, and not do things that hurt the Company. With that in mind, we don't appreciate the Company using us as the expendable unit to be deleted like a number on a spreadsheet. The last 6 years has been a rough economy to say the least. An economy that we the employees have all sacrificed through near stagnant salary, less hours, less miles, IRA matching contributions, higher health care contributions with lower coverage, loss of bonuses, and the loss of many of our co-workers through both layoffs and attrition. Many have been walked to the parking lot for trivial matters, and many more are leaving because they see the writing on the wall. We have sacrificed our share for the most part without complaint, until they started going too far.
This board is our best forum for discussion at this point. Please, spread the word to fellow Dock Workers, Drivers, Part Timers, and other affected employees to join in. Beware…Management does monitor this board, so I would suggest making sure you take the necessary precautions to remain anonymous. In discussing issues, let’s be respectful and leave individuals names out of the mix if/when referring to Management personnel.
:). Some just miss what I'm stating here, and perhaps you take my "beating a dead horse" approach as a blanket statement. That's not what I'm trying to beat the horse about, I may come off just generalizing but I'd think most who care to read "my" posts get where I'm coming from. I have a rock solid never no way absolutely not till death opinion when it comes to that issue. OK, no more from me. Later 
Back in the day when it was American Freightways most of us would never have dreamed of going union. We had great raises(average .65) we were not talked down to like we are now and the company paid our Insurance Premiums. Sheridan took care of us and we took care of him. We did our job to the best of our ability and we were rewarded for it. Now, I don't get that warm fuzzy feeling. All I hear now is hurry up, your going to miss service, you need to work on your bills per hour, don't scan to many bills at once or your name will end up some stupid report. It's all about the numbers. Before I wouldn't unionize but now it's a different story. FedEx has proven time and again they don't care about their employee's. The hand writing is on the wall. More and more freight heads out the door on truck load carriers or to the rail yard while drivers sit at home. What is to keep FedEx from running the rest of the road runs with other 3rd party companies and eliminating all road runs except for shuttle runs as they need the drivers to work the dock? I have been here over 20 years. I used to like going to work, even working the dock, but I am fed up with all the BS and no job security that is left with this company. Push comes to shove and the drivers will be gone. No drivers, no benefits and they save millions. Give me a card, I will sign it.
