FedEx Opposing Union Option in House Legislation
FedEx Corp. truck drivers would be able to join unions more easily under legislation that the U.S. House began debating May 21.
Drivers in FedEx's Express unit could vote locally to join unions under the plan rather than having to hold a national election to gain representation. The House approved similar legislation in 2007 that wasn't taken up by the Senate.
The planned vote sets up a clash in the Senate between FedEx and larger competitor United Parcel Service Inc., which says the legislation would even the playing field with UPS' union work force. UPS workers organize under the National Labor Relations Act, which allows local organizing. FedEx operates under the national organizing standard used for airlines.
''We expect the House will do the right thing by closing this unfair loophole,'' Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said in a statement. ''FedEx Express workers have been deprived their right to form unions like workers at other package-delivery companies.''
The labor provision was included by Representative James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, in broader $70 billion legislation to finance the Federal Aviation Administration through fiscal 2012. The Senate hasn't yet crafted its version of the bill.
''Americans shouldn't tolerate more bailouts for companies that can't compete,'' FedEx spokesman Maury Lane said in an e-mail statement. ''Hopefully the Senate will understand the unintended consequences of these actions.''
The Teamsters have been trying to organize FedEx drivers for years. Atlanta-based UPS is the biggest employer of Teamsters, with about 240,000 workers. Pilots are the only major worker group represented by a union among FedEx's 290,000 employees and contractors.
John Hughes
Bloomberg News
For many years UPS has pointed out the obvious unfairness of having FedEx not classified under the NLRB. It seems like a no brainer to me, because FedEx has totally entered the same package market as UPS, and for years has hidden behind their classification under the Airlines standard.
It is high time UPS got it's wish on this issue. Talk about unfair to the workers! FedEx workers have never had a chance to be unionized, until now.
I am assuming FedEx will automatically be reclassified under the Employee Free Choice Act? Does it have to be a separate move by Congress? I am not sure how it works, but it needs to happen regardless.
In my years as a UPS driver I talked with many FedEx drivers, and only one I can remember did not want to be organized in the Teamsters Union. I am sure they want to be organized and soon. It just makes sense and I hope it happens quickly after the legislation passes.
Isn't it a kind of dramatic irony that UPS is kind of on our side in this issue? Am I stretching on this? I am sure they want to level the field with FedEx and their classification, so it appears they are on our side.
EFCA must pass! I have been writing my letters to Congress.
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