FedEx Contractor Troubles??

pretzel_man

Well-Known Member
ATTORNEYS GENERAL CUOMO, BULLOCK AND MILGRAM ANNOUNCE INTENT TO SUE FEDEX GROUND OVER VIOLATIONS OF STATE LABOR LAWS


FedEx Ground Improperly Classifies Drivers as Independent Contractors, Denying them Benefits and Crucial Protections Under New York, Montana and New Jersey Law


Letter Sent Today Demands that FedEx Ground Change Policies or Face Lawsuit

NEW YORK, NY (October 20, 2009)- New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock, and New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram today announced their offices’ intent to sue FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (“FedEx Ground”) for violations of state labor laws. Today’s announcement is the latest in a string of actions taken by the Attorneys General to protect their states’ workforces and enforce labor laws.
According to the letter sent today to FedEx Ground, the company unlawfully misclassifies its drivers as independent contractors. As such, drivers do not receive Workers’ Compensation coverage through FedEx Ground. Moreover, independent contractors are not protected by anti-discrimination laws, labor relations laws, and other important laws that protect New York, Montana and New Jersey workers. At the same time, drivers are required to spend thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for their trucks, repairs, fuel and uniforms while being held to strict FedEx Ground rules that control the hours they work, the way they dress, and their ability to contract with anyone else outside the company.
“By blatantly misclassifying its drivers, FedEx Ground has denied these individuals the employment rights they are guaranteed by law,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “FedEx Ground drivers have been forced to pay thousands out of pocket for work-related expenses and adhere to strict employment policies, despite being deprived of the protections of full-time employee status. Our letter today demands that these policies be reversed or this office will not hesitate to bring legal action immediately.”
“This is an issue of fairness. By classifying their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, FedEx Ground is denying the drivers rights and protections afforded to all workers in our state. And in the process, FedEx Ground is shifting its tax obligations onto hardworking Montanans,” said Attorney General Bullock. “These drivers are the backbone of the business and they should not have to give up the protections they are guaranteed just so FedEx Ground can circumvent our laws.”
“FedEx Ground’s failure to fairly classify and adequately protect its drivers is a violation of New Jersey’s labor laws,” said Attorney General Anne Milgram. “This company denied its drivers the benefits they should be guaranteed, while forcing them to be financially and personally accountable for strict employment requirements. Today’s letter is a multi-state effort to get FedEx Ground to end its unlawful business practices and protect the hardworking men and women who tirelessly support the company.”
The investigation by the Attorneys General revealed that the level of control FedEx Ground exercises over its drivers merits, under New York, Montana and New Jersey state law, employee status and the protections inherent in that status. FedEx Ground strictly controls all aspects of the work of drivers doing pick-up and delivery. Hours are prescribed by FedEx Ground with drivers having almost no discretion as to the hours they work. Workers’ performance of their tasks - from the loading of their trucks to their hand-off to customers - is directed and supervised by FedEx Ground. Drivers’ uniforms are mandated by FedEx Ground, even down to the colors of drivers’ socks, and drivers’ opportunities to engage in non-FedEx Ground related work are also almost entirely constrained by FedEx Ground rules. Drivers are only allowed to use their own trucks for non-FedEx Ground purposes if the trucks are used outside of FedEx Ground working hours. Additionally, the work of FedEx Ground drivers is at the very core of FedEx Ground’s business activities; drivers are completely integrated into the overall business functions of the company.
FedEx Ground drivers must also undertake significant expenses to perform their jobs in the manner required by FedEx Ground. These expenses range from purchasing or leasing trucks for as much as $70,000, to paying approximately $40 per week for the use of a FedEx Ground uniform and scanner. Drivers must also purchase fuel and do required maintenance for their trucks, and must purchase their own Workers’ Compensation insurance, as required by FedEx Ground.
This matter is being handled by Deputy Labor Bureau Chief Patricia Kakalec under the supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Mylan Denerstein in New York and by Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Anders for Montana.
 

BLACKBOX

Life is a Highway...
Are states suing independently against FDX ground? What's preventing all states to go after FDX as a class action?

This got to be costing FDX a bundle, if I was a lawyer this would be a potential goldmine with a favorable ruling.
 

helenofcalifornia

Well-Known Member
About time those drivers got benefits. I know one driver that is forking over $5000 in medical bills. He was too sick one day to work and the guy that owns the route told him he "only" had to deliver half the route that day. Lucky guy.
 

Bubblehead

My Senior Picture
What's the source of this story?
Looks like the Wall Street Journal to me?
My guess is that the other states will watch this precedence setting case unfold and proceed accordingly.
Crazy Fred will fight it to the bitter end, he always does.
I'm sure he'll find a way to blame it on UPS.
 

brownmonster

Man of Great Wisdom
What's the source of this story?
Looks like the Wall Street Journal to me?
My guess is that the other states will watch this precedence setting case unfold and proceed accordingly.
Crazy Fred will fight it to the bitter end, he always does.
I'm sure he'll find a way to blame it on UPS.

More bad news for Fedex. Means their stock will go up.
 

MrFedEx

Engorged Member
FedEx always uses the verbage that they will "vigorously defend" themselves against any and all legal actions. These latest actions aren't anything new...just more states jumping on the bandwagon. FedEx often settles out of court, but this one is probably eventually headed to the Supreme Court.

My personal opinion is that this is going to eventually cost FedEx a ton of money to resolve, and that would tend to make FedEx stock go down sharply.

This is the one item that has prevented a wholesale shift of Express products over to Ground, so every time someone sues FedEx over the IC issue, it makes me a happy boy.
 

bbsam

Moderator
Staff member
Are you guys serious? This is a blip on the radar screen. Three months ago, it was three other states. Seems like attorneys general like to put out statements, but don't bring charges. Why wait? Ground's business model is well known and has been for decades. Why would the states wait to act? Because they feel they can't win a case with the IC definition so ambiguous and subject to individual interpretation.
 

MrFedEx

Engorged Member
Are you guys serious? This is a blip on the radar screen. Three months ago, it was three other states. Seems like attorneys general like to put out statements, but don't bring charges. Why wait? Ground's business model is well known and has been for decades. Why would the states wait to act? Because they feel they can't win a case with the IC definition so ambiguous and subject to individual interpretation.

Then why say anything at all? Just for show? I doubt it. If the Ground model is so iron-clad, why does anyone ever dare to challenge it? The original RPS model has been altered by FedEx as little as possible and only because of the legal challenges. Also, if FedEx is so supremely confident, why did they go to the multiple IC model at all? Because they had to.
 

JustTired

free at last.......
FedEx often settles out of court, but this one is probably eventually headed to the Supreme Court.

Are you serious???
In this type of case (involving state government) settling out of court shouldn't even be an option. What does it solve? Who gets any monetary awards? If it is the state, then it amounts to no more than a fine and business continues as usual. The employee ( I mean contractor) doesn't get any benefit.

If a state accepts an "out of court" monetary settlement.....then shame on them. So much for looking out for the injustice to their constituents.

My feelings are that a non-union company has a right to contract out their work. But when that company is forcing all of the rules that they hold their regular employees to, it ceases to be a company-contractor relationship. JMO
 

bbsam

Moderator
Staff member
Then why say anything at all? Just for show? I doubt it. If the Ground model is so iron-clad, why does anyone ever dare to challenge it? The original RPS model has been altered by FedEx as little as possible and only because of the legal challenges. Also, if FedEx is so supremely confident, why did they go to the multiple IC model at all? Because they had to.
Yes, for show. It is good politics to go after greedy capitalists and those tax dodgers and makes for wonderful theatrics Elliott Spitzer style. But if they are serious, why not bring charges? Remember that in going to the multiple IC model met the requirements of the California court. ISP models in some states. So why does anyone believe that without an overhaul of federal guidelines for IC/employee classification Fedex even could be forced to abandon an IC model?
 

MrFedEx

Engorged Member
Let me add that simply calling an employee an "independent contractor" doesn't make it so, although FedEx would like to think it does. It was a scam when it was RPS and it's still a scam. How many billions has FedEx saved while simultaneously gaining a large part of the UPS market share by running this con?

The state AG's see a cash cow here because the scheme has allowed FedEx to illegally benefit from not paying millions in taxes. In a down economy, where sales tax, gas tax, and other revenue streams have dried-up, what makes anyone think that the states won't pursue this until they get their hands on some of Fred's money. And since he didn't earn it honestly, they are entitled to receive the taxes Fred didn't have to pay.

If he'd been an honest businessman from the get-go, he'd have nothing to worry about. But that's not exactly Smith's forte', is it?
 

bbsam

Moderator
Staff member
Oh look who might run for governor--Attorney General Cuomo. Looks even more like a show all the time.
 

MrFedEx

Engorged Member
then they would have done it 15 years ago.

The economy wasn't in a meltdown 15 years ago. And has there ever been a politician who wasn't aspiring to a higher office? The reality is that they are going after someone with deep pockets who deserves to pay-up. A scam is a scam.
 
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