........ Ok I haven't read every thread on this subject but have skipped around from page 1 through 10, that being said I'm gonna add my 2 cents.
First off union vs non union, the union is like many large corporations these days and needs the "WORKERS" to pay for the EXECUTIVES, a lot of trucking company's have folded over the last 12 / 15 years that takes Big$$$$ out of the general fund of the union. If the union can tap Fedex, Walmart...... sure the pay at the companies would rise unless they end up shutting the doors................... again think trucking companies, car companies. etc...
Next I am not @ or with Fedex Ground anymore but the relationships I built are still very strong, people above me, below me, contractors as well as second van drivers............. As far as I am aware the I.S.P. Model is still going strong. And most ISP's if they are in fact a business person like it better than being a contractor, so we shall see how that turns out. ( However I do know that in the great white palace in Pittsburgh they were always running scenarios to reinvent the wheel).
Last at my last building we had 3 express stations that all ran lower service than our ground station on average............ our worst service in the 6 months prior to me leaving was 99.1 Real Service and we usually were between 99.4 - 99.7 Real Service, that takes into account all 28000 + packages in the building each day.