Ricochet1a
Well-Known Member
Addressing your misconceptions one by one...
1. Ground merging with Express...
I've NEVER said any such thing. My posts are all on record, go back and pull up a post of MINE which says ANYTHING to that effect. Some of the Ground contractors have speculated about Express going to a contractor model and I've shot that down constantly. They don't know how Express operates and those who do, know that a contractor model won't work for overnight shipping.
2. Did Express unionize...
Again, where in the hell did you get that from me. My post record is present for all to examine, pull up a post of mine where I stated that Express was about to unionize, or that the IBT was making "in-roads" to unionizing Express. To the contrary, I've slammed the IBT for their inaction, combined with a healthy realization of the situation as it exists "on the ground" within Express - making it impractical for Express to be a target of a union drive by the IBT.
The IBT is in the BUSINESS of organizing labor. Like all businesses, they have to analyze their capital expenditures, and make decisions as to where they'll get the "biggest bang for their buck". Express as it is currently classified under RLA, makes attempting to organize its labor a losing proposition for the IBT.
3. Did they lay everyone off...
Again, where in the hell did you get that from me. What I'm getting from you, is your attempting to read FAR MORE into what I write, then trying to make a generalization based on some emotional reaction of yours. Again... read my posts carefully. I've stated time and time again that the career full-time Courier is coming to an end at Express. It won't be a sudden announcement - it will be a slow transformation of the company - look at my past posts, I've written tens of thousands of words on the issue.
4. Did Ground take XS and E2....
Again, read my posts going back almost 3 years on this issue. Ground IS about to take Express Saver from Express. Express Saver is about to disappear as a service offering from Express, and FedEx is going to inform its customers to utilize Ground for non-urgent shipping needs. I've posted on the LONG RANGE business plans of FedEx, not what they are going to do 2 weeks out (although I have posted on things a few weeks before they were made public). You, like many people, have what I refer to as a "microwave mentality" - you expect to see immediate results when you are told something is going to happen. It doesn't work that way with LONG RANGE business planning. These things take years to unfold. Again, pull up my past posts, and READ THEM. Don't look at them through the lens of personal emotion, but look at them as the unfolding of a story which is being told with bits of information that get out to the storyteller.
When it comes to the shifting of delivery of non-overnight volume over to Ground, it is going to happen. FedEx is moving slow, getting service compliance by its contractors up to a level which is acceptable to FedEx (as far as insuring service compliance with E2 product). If Express had lost its RLA status back in 2009, FedEx WOULD'VE pulled the trigger back then. Again, read my past posts regarding this, its all there. By buying off the politicians in 2010, FedEx bought some time for itself to GRADUALLY transform itself at its schedule. Whether you choose to stick your head in the sand or realize that massive change is coming to YOUR career, is up to you. T
he signs are unmistakable regarding the transformation of Express. Looks at the shift in equipment, the announcements to the investors, the internal statements made to its employees. One has take all of these in TOTALITY, to get a grasp of the big picture which is unfolding. Again..... I've posted repeatedly on all of this.
5. "Inside Sources..."
Yes, I know plenty of people that aren't happy with the direction that the company they chose to make a career with, is taking. It all started in 2008 with the dumping of the DBPP - that is when people started getting angry. I started posting in 2009 here, using informaton that was passed onto me by these people. I knew I was gettting ready to leave Express, so I had nothing to fear. Again... read my posting history.
I continue to post, because I have many friends still in the Express hell hole and I have some forlorn hope that enough will recognize what a screw job they are getting before it is too late for them. Virtually all of my sources are in Memphis, and saw the only way they could get THEIR pension back, was if the hourlies were to organize and get a contract which restored the DBPP for THEM (yes, that is THEIR motive), again, I've stated this repeatedly in my posting when someone questions "motives". Express couldn't have a system where its hourlies (under a labor contract) were receiveing a DBPP, while its salaried workforce was stuck under the joke of the PPP. Most salaried employees know that if the hourlies were organized, that THEY (the salaried employees) would get a better deal for themselves (how could Fred justify a DBPP for organized Couriers, while denying it to his "loyal true FedEx-ers"?)
Most have given up that hope (of the Couriers organizing), but I still think that there is time for the hourlies to realize that: the screw job is only going to get worse, there is only one alternative (short of leaving Express) to possibly prevent that screw job from happening - that is to organize PDQ.
6. "The Teamsters were coming"....
Were in the hell did you get that misconception?
I've constantly stated, that the Couriers of Express were and are going to need to do the legwork themselves - its called grassroots organizing. Again..... reference a post of mine where I wrote, "The Teamsters are coming to your rescue". To the contrary, I've wrote just the OPPOSITE. The Couriers are going to have to save themselves. They are going to have to do the organizing, get the 'nads to sign those representation cards and send them in and NOT expect a representative of the IBT to wait outside their station with a stack of cards on a silver platter, with gold leaf printing on them, with a personal appeal by Jimmy the Hoffa. Isn't going to happen.
The Couriers of Express aren't all that special, they do need to accept that (years of propaganda from Fred telling them that they WERE special, even the non-KoolAid drinkers sucked that up). If they want an alternative to what Fred is offering, they are going to either need to make an exit plan, or sign that rep card - it is as simple as that, no debate, no uncertainty, no bull. Take what Fred is offering (and taking away), try to get Jimmy to get a better deal for you, or get the hell out, simple as that.
Responding to a PM from another poster (want to do this publically).
Over a year ago, I did some research (calling, using my contacts in the dark world of "organizing") into what other potential unions could organize Express Couriers (conduct organizing drives and such). It came up that there was only one, the IBT.
The reason for this (I posted EXTENSIVELY on this at the time, PLEASE pull up the history for a complete rundown - use the search function), is that organized labor has, for the lack of a better term, "terf".
Back in the late 60's, early 70's, labor unions were competiting among themselves for membership. There wasn't clearly defined "terf" among the unions, and the competition was causing unions to fight amongst themselves, rather than against the companies they were trying to organize. They realized that they were being played as "stooges" by the companies, so they made a deal amongst themselves.
Salad Bowl strike - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The above link gives some history as to the "jurisdictional issues" that were faced amongst the unions.
To make a long story short, the unions more or less worked out "terf" amongst themselves to end the conflict (and waste of resources). Each union defined its potential membership by either craft, or industry - all in an effort to prevent "turf wars" between different unions trying to organize the same group of employees.
When it comes to Express, the Couriers, Ramp Agents and RTDs are clearly within the "turf" of the IBT. There are options for the aircraft mechanics OTHER than the IBT, but for the other employees of Express, no union will even attempt to organize them. The primary reason is the "turf" reason, the other is due to the RLA. The RLA makes organizing attempts almost prohibitive for any union, even the IBT (all due to cost).
There are 2 main organizations, the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Federation (under which the IBT is affiliated with). There are also independent unions, whose "terf" isn't clearly deliniated.
List of trade unions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scroll down to the bottom of the page, look under "United States".
I or people I know, contacted many of the "potential" unions listed on this list back when I first addressed this issue. We learned about "jurisdictional issues" (turf by any other name), and how the IBT has "dibs" on those who operate a motor vehicle in Express, along with the Ramp Agents. The Ramp Agents in theory, could be organized by by a couple of "transportation unions", but they are under the terf of the IBT (no union other than the IBT will make ANY attempt at organizing Ramp Agents). The mechanics do have options, and this explains why Fred hasn't pushed them too much, they could organize rather quickly if Fred pushed them too much, they do communicate amongst themselves and like the pilots, are smart enough to NOT trust Fred too much.
