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Amazon to use HD and Ground instead of Express
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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 1131378" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>Left in 2010 when I found a 'job' using the advanced degree I obtained while working part-time as a Courier. I considered that to be a 'starter' job for my career (looked at it as being a quasi-paid internship), and have moved to another job that pays very well and uses the skills I have to the utmost.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>LMAO!!!! No, I don't 'sound' a lot like any of the other Couriers here... When I hired into Express (went into AGFS ramp location), Fred got a hell of a lot more than he bargained for. My original intent way back then, was to quickly move into management, then (ahem...), become what I have since referred to as a "Memphoid" (didn't have a clue as to the reality of FedEx Express at that time). I knew people professionally who were with Express for a number of years before I hired on, and they encouraged me (knowing my skill set), to come in, learn the operation and move on up the chain (they were in Memphis).</p><p></p><p>This was in the mid part of the last decade and their (the people I already knew in Express/Memphis) insight as to the conditions in operations (especially in AGFS) was a bit off. Things had changed. Their experience in wage level operations was in the late 80's to mid 90's, and they hadn't really kept up with the changes in conditions OR in pay progression. Things were going well for them, so they assumed that things were no different for the wage employees (which many of them had been at one time). Ignorance can be bliss...</p><p></p><p>When I told them what I was experiencing, they initially thought I was exaggerating a bit - I wasn't. They knew me along with my physical capability, and quickly came to learn about how the company they hired into (Federal Express), was transforming into something they didn't quite recognize (FedEx Express). When the Defined Benefit Pension Plan was pulled back in 2008, that is when they had their "eyes opened" (it affected them in a BIG way), and thus started their and my futile (it has been a learning process) campaign to try to get the Couriers to organize to prevent the downslide of Express as a CAREER. <em>Their 'motivated self interest' was if the Couriers got organized and restored the DBPP for themselves, then Express would have to do the same for the salaried employees or face a real problem.</em></p><p></p><p>I transferred into a station before the DBPP was pulled - knowing that there was no way in hell I was going to make a career with Express. I was in a situation where I needed the insurance, so having a 'bushel of lemons' in front of me (working for Express), I decided to head back to get my Graduate Degree, and work as a part-time Courier (went ahead and made some lemonade). While doing this, I made more and more contacts with people, all of whom recognized that Express was changing (deliberately) and it wasn't for the benefit of the employees. When the DBPP was yanked, that is when 'it all started' as far as my (and others) attempt to get the Couriers to organize in an effort to put a halt to the crap which was rolling down. I stumbled onto the Examiner website then this one in early 2009 and started posting. </p><p></p><p>Information was given to me about the direction of Express as far as BUSINESS plans (not necessarily translating into OPERATIONAL plans), and I revealed as much as I could. The only variance between what was given to me as far as business plans and what has actually transpired in the past 4 years operationally, is the PACE at which the change is being conducted. FedEx is taking it real SLOW. Looking back, this was and is the best move for FedEx (from a corporation's standpoint), since the change has been so gradual (yet very deliberate), that most don't recognize what is going on around them. If FedEx moved at the pace which I and others believed would happen back in 2009 - the employees may have just pulled their heads out of their asses and done something. </p><p></p><p>As a side note, many of the business plans (I saw) were drawn up anticipating Express losing their RLA status and subsequently having the IBT enter in a BIG WAY in 2010. This is why FedEx fought SO HARD to keep its RLA status (spent at least $40 million in lobbying alone, would've spent MUCH more if they had to). It is also why Express had the contingency plans of shifting volume over to Ground should Express organize (to prevent having work done by higher compensated Express wage employees). Those plans still exist, FedEx is just taking their time in implementing them. For those who can remember, the performance of the Ground contractors wasn't quite stellar in the last half of the last decade and the shifting of volume should the Couriers have organized was seen as the best option from a variety of 'poor options' (from FedEx's standpoint). </p><p></p><p>This (contractors' performance) has CHANGED (Fred dropped the hammer). Right now, volume shifting is already going on, the customers are the ones doing the shifting right now. Since the profit margin on this volume is HIGHER for FedEx with it moving through Ground as opposed to Express, FedEx likes it a lot. So much in fact that eventually the delivery of ALL non-overnight volume will be shifted over to Ground. FedEx is reorganizing from the 'top-down' right now (spending big bucks on getting rid of salaried employees which will no longer be needed in the 'new' Express). The whole 'key' to the final transformation of Express on the operational side is DRA - that is going to be the game changer and the death knell of the 'career Courier' (the career Courier ended about 10 years ago - any hired in during the past 10 years are barely above entry level wage). </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Strictly as a wage employee, although I knew and know MANY that are in salaried positions in Memphis along with a handful of people in operations (Sr. Managers and engineers), who recognized the transformation of Express as being something THEY didn't want to happen (they were like-minded as I). They are who fed me much of the information I posted (they knew I posted here, they read my postings to make sure I wasn't 'outing' them in some way). </p><p></p><p>I spent a very short amount of time as a handler (kicked my butt), took a DG position when it opened, was talked into taking a Team Leader position by a VERY good individual who was an operational manager at the time (he hired in during the 80's, damn good guy). He got fed up with Express and left soon afterward (he was fed up with the direction things were taking, so he completed his bachelors degree and hit the door). </p><p></p><p>I became a Ramp Agent, then realizing that everything I saw and was being told about Express was NOT favorable, I made the decision to go ahead and get my Graduate Degree (I was really hesitant to do so, I didn't look forward to splitting my time between having to work part-time to maintain insurance and going to school) and took a Courier position that 'fit' the needs of my going to school while working. During the process, I made more and more contacts with people (including organized labor) and did what I could at station level to get rep cards out. </p><p></p><p>I had this crazy hope that enough Couriers would either do likewise (all acting independently of each other), or establish a network to get Courier organizers in enough stations to overcome the RLA obstacle and pull off organizing the Couriers - as we all know, didn't and won't happen. I continued to post on and off (getting ready to quit though, it is obvious that nothing is going to happen at this stage), after I left Express to try to get some semblance of organization among the Couriers out there who happen across this forum, to get them to organize - primarily, organize THEMSELVES into a network which could overcome the RLA.</p><p></p><p>There is no organization out there (grassroots) to my knowledge - if there was a real grassroots organization out there which could pull off getting Courier organizers in 400+ stations, I would know about it. There are posters here which state that they have made attempts to get rep cards out in the stations which they work, <u>I congratulate them on their efforts</u>. Under NLRA rules, this would be a viable start;. under RLA rules, it is pissing in the wind. </p><p></p><p>Given the fact that the IBT has taken the Couriers to be DOA, there won't be any organizing happening until and unless the Couriers who post and lurk this forum realize that they will need to become part of a network, work on their own time to recruit Couriers in nearby stations (to where they work), and have the process continue until that critical mass of 400+ Courier organizers (all in separate stations), is working to get out rep cards. THEN, there may be a real chance of getting the IBT to change its assessment on the Express Couriers, and start doing something. I don't see that happening at this point. </p><p></p><p>If everything that has happened in the past 4 years hasn't motivated enough Couriers to do something (and especially in the last 2 months), virtually nothing will short of Fred coming out and actually shifting the delivery of all non-overnight volume over to Ground. This would get the complacent full-time Courier to finally realize that the game is up, and they had better do something. However knowing Fred's actions, he won't pull something like that until his "Ace" is ready to pull out of his sleeve - DRA....</p><p></p><p>At that point, it will be checkmate (or time to 'fold' if the Ace analogy is used) for the full-time Couriers and Fred will have realized his master plan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 1131378, member: 22880"] Left in 2010 when I found a 'job' using the advanced degree I obtained while working part-time as a Courier. I considered that to be a 'starter' job for my career (looked at it as being a quasi-paid internship), and have moved to another job that pays very well and uses the skills I have to the utmost. LMAO!!!! No, I don't 'sound' a lot like any of the other Couriers here... When I hired into Express (went into AGFS ramp location), Fred got a hell of a lot more than he bargained for. My original intent way back then, was to quickly move into management, then (ahem...), become what I have since referred to as a "Memphoid" (didn't have a clue as to the reality of FedEx Express at that time). I knew people professionally who were with Express for a number of years before I hired on, and they encouraged me (knowing my skill set), to come in, learn the operation and move on up the chain (they were in Memphis). This was in the mid part of the last decade and their (the people I already knew in Express/Memphis) insight as to the conditions in operations (especially in AGFS) was a bit off. Things had changed. Their experience in wage level operations was in the late 80's to mid 90's, and they hadn't really kept up with the changes in conditions OR in pay progression. Things were going well for them, so they assumed that things were no different for the wage employees (which many of them had been at one time). Ignorance can be bliss... When I told them what I was experiencing, they initially thought I was exaggerating a bit - I wasn't. They knew me along with my physical capability, and quickly came to learn about how the company they hired into (Federal Express), was transforming into something they didn't quite recognize (FedEx Express). When the Defined Benefit Pension Plan was pulled back in 2008, that is when they had their "eyes opened" (it affected them in a BIG way), and thus started their and my futile (it has been a learning process) campaign to try to get the Couriers to organize to prevent the downslide of Express as a CAREER. [I]Their 'motivated self interest' was if the Couriers got organized and restored the DBPP for themselves, then Express would have to do the same for the salaried employees or face a real problem.[/I] I transferred into a station before the DBPP was pulled - knowing that there was no way in hell I was going to make a career with Express. I was in a situation where I needed the insurance, so having a 'bushel of lemons' in front of me (working for Express), I decided to head back to get my Graduate Degree, and work as a part-time Courier (went ahead and made some lemonade). While doing this, I made more and more contacts with people, all of whom recognized that Express was changing (deliberately) and it wasn't for the benefit of the employees. When the DBPP was yanked, that is when 'it all started' as far as my (and others) attempt to get the Couriers to organize in an effort to put a halt to the crap which was rolling down. I stumbled onto the Examiner website then this one in early 2009 and started posting. Information was given to me about the direction of Express as far as BUSINESS plans (not necessarily translating into OPERATIONAL plans), and I revealed as much as I could. The only variance between what was given to me as far as business plans and what has actually transpired in the past 4 years operationally, is the PACE at which the change is being conducted. FedEx is taking it real SLOW. Looking back, this was and is the best move for FedEx (from a corporation's standpoint), since the change has been so gradual (yet very deliberate), that most don't recognize what is going on around them. If FedEx moved at the pace which I and others believed would happen back in 2009 - the employees may have just pulled their heads out of their asses and done something. As a side note, many of the business plans (I saw) were drawn up anticipating Express losing their RLA status and subsequently having the IBT enter in a BIG WAY in 2010. This is why FedEx fought SO HARD to keep its RLA status (spent at least $40 million in lobbying alone, would've spent MUCH more if they had to). It is also why Express had the contingency plans of shifting volume over to Ground should Express organize (to prevent having work done by higher compensated Express wage employees). Those plans still exist, FedEx is just taking their time in implementing them. For those who can remember, the performance of the Ground contractors wasn't quite stellar in the last half of the last decade and the shifting of volume should the Couriers have organized was seen as the best option from a variety of 'poor options' (from FedEx's standpoint). This (contractors' performance) has CHANGED (Fred dropped the hammer). Right now, volume shifting is already going on, the customers are the ones doing the shifting right now. Since the profit margin on this volume is HIGHER for FedEx with it moving through Ground as opposed to Express, FedEx likes it a lot. So much in fact that eventually the delivery of ALL non-overnight volume will be shifted over to Ground. FedEx is reorganizing from the 'top-down' right now (spending big bucks on getting rid of salaried employees which will no longer be needed in the 'new' Express). The whole 'key' to the final transformation of Express on the operational side is DRA - that is going to be the game changer and the death knell of the 'career Courier' (the career Courier ended about 10 years ago - any hired in during the past 10 years are barely above entry level wage). Strictly as a wage employee, although I knew and know MANY that are in salaried positions in Memphis along with a handful of people in operations (Sr. Managers and engineers), who recognized the transformation of Express as being something THEY didn't want to happen (they were like-minded as I). They are who fed me much of the information I posted (they knew I posted here, they read my postings to make sure I wasn't 'outing' them in some way). I spent a very short amount of time as a handler (kicked my butt), took a DG position when it opened, was talked into taking a Team Leader position by a VERY good individual who was an operational manager at the time (he hired in during the 80's, damn good guy). He got fed up with Express and left soon afterward (he was fed up with the direction things were taking, so he completed his bachelors degree and hit the door). I became a Ramp Agent, then realizing that everything I saw and was being told about Express was NOT favorable, I made the decision to go ahead and get my Graduate Degree (I was really hesitant to do so, I didn't look forward to splitting my time between having to work part-time to maintain insurance and going to school) and took a Courier position that 'fit' the needs of my going to school while working. During the process, I made more and more contacts with people (including organized labor) and did what I could at station level to get rep cards out. I had this crazy hope that enough Couriers would either do likewise (all acting independently of each other), or establish a network to get Courier organizers in enough stations to overcome the RLA obstacle and pull off organizing the Couriers - as we all know, didn't and won't happen. I continued to post on and off (getting ready to quit though, it is obvious that nothing is going to happen at this stage), after I left Express to try to get some semblance of organization among the Couriers out there who happen across this forum, to get them to organize - primarily, organize THEMSELVES into a network which could overcome the RLA. There is no organization out there (grassroots) to my knowledge - if there was a real grassroots organization out there which could pull off getting Courier organizers in 400+ stations, I would know about it. There are posters here which state that they have made attempts to get rep cards out in the stations which they work, [U]I congratulate them on their efforts[/U]. Under NLRA rules, this would be a viable start;. under RLA rules, it is pissing in the wind. Given the fact that the IBT has taken the Couriers to be DOA, there won't be any organizing happening until and unless the Couriers who post and lurk this forum realize that they will need to become part of a network, work on their own time to recruit Couriers in nearby stations (to where they work), and have the process continue until that critical mass of 400+ Courier organizers (all in separate stations), is working to get out rep cards. THEN, there may be a real chance of getting the IBT to change its assessment on the Express Couriers, and start doing something. I don't see that happening at this point. If everything that has happened in the past 4 years hasn't motivated enough Couriers to do something (and especially in the last 2 months), virtually nothing will short of Fred coming out and actually shifting the delivery of all non-overnight volume over to Ground. This would get the complacent full-time Courier to finally realize that the game is up, and they had better do something. However knowing Fred's actions, he won't pull something like that until his "Ace" is ready to pull out of his sleeve - DRA.... At that point, it will be checkmate (or time to 'fold' if the Ace analogy is used) for the full-time Couriers and Fred will have realized his master plan. [/QUOTE]
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