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FedEx Ground warehouse workers are unionizing right now.
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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 866428" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>Over a year ago, when I was still with Express and actively "working with" the Teamsters, I made requests much like the requests listed by Mr. FedEx. Most significant of my requests was that each Express station be assigned an IBT organizer to lead meetings off-site for Express employees to be able to have open ended Q&A sessions, along with a visible presence off company property, to "show the face" of the Teamsters. Every time I pressed for this, they refused. I got a song and dance, then was handed literature to distribute myself. Through associates, I moved up the IBT hierarchy to try to get some positive response, there was lots of sympathy, but absolutely NO real assistance offered. It was solely up to the employees of Express to do all the legwork, get cards signed, then have the IBT petition for a certification vote when THEY felt comfortable. Knowing the choice was between Fred and IBT, I still tried, but it was a futile effort. </p><p></p><p>Needless to say, I wasn't going to have that flashing bull's eye on my back when I was uncertain of my departure date from Express. Once I had a firm departure date set, only then I broke cover and learned real quick the measures Express will go to in order to squelch union activity and organizers. I know damn good and well what the organizers at that Ground terminal are going to be subjected to in the coming weeks. My advice to them is to start putting out resume's/applications next week, you'll save yourself some time in finding a new job. </p><p></p><p>This is why I would REALLY like for someone in Massachusetts who has first hand knowledge of the organizing drive to post here, <u>without revealing their identity</u>. We don't care about grammar and proper spelling, we just need some real first hand accounts, to fill in the gaps in the information coming out of MA. This information is CRITICAL, since it will reveal the tactics and measures that FedEx engaged in to discourage or outright intimidate the work group prior to the scheduled vote. The implications of the attempt in MA have consequences which reach FAR beyond the handlers of that terminal and beyiond the Teamsters; the consequences stretch across all FedEx op-co's. </p><p></p><p>I started posting here again due solely to the impending vote in MA. It was hoped that if FedEx were to have a crack develop in its anti-union armor, that there would be some hope of eventually having that vulnerability spread throughout FedEx and get some real change for the benefit of the wage employees done, if not actual outright unionization. That hope is now dashed. </p><p></p><p>No one in their right mind will "break cover" now in Express. Since the Teamsters have more or less made it known that the employees of Express will need to not just come half way across the proverbial bridge, but practically all of the way before they'll step in and make a presence - there is no point in Express employees working with the Teamsters given those conditions.</p><p></p><p>I do know that the IBT understands the climate that exists within FedEx and in particular Express. They know it well since there are a number of former Express employees either directly associated with the IBT, or in regular contact....... However, the national leadership of the IBT has made their decision regarding Express, no significant expendature of resources or possible loss of face in a direct confrontation with FedEx. This is why they sat on their hands all through late 2009 and into 2010 waiting on Congress to pull Express' RLA status. They'll take a slam dunk if it is set up for them by the employees of Express, but they're not going to spend any time on the court hustling against the machine of FedEx for an uncertain return. </p><p></p><p>At this point, it is merely an exercise in information gathering. What did FedEx do specifically at that terminal, what did the IBT do in terms of drumming up support? The national media isn't even going to cover this story. I got an email that the Commercial Appeal covered it (surprise, surprise), but outside of that, only a few business oriented news organizations even put up a paragraph about the event. I doubt that even the local MA press will do anything in-depth, like actually TALKING to one of the handlers (off the record) to get some background as to the inside story. </p><p></p><p>This is why it is CRITICAL for someone - perferably one of the handlers at that terminal - to get some account down so that the tactics of Express (and the failure or IBT) can be analyzed and possibly used to assist another union if they want to attempt organization sometime in the future - I know, for all the good that will do. You don't even have to post it openly, just open a profile on BC, then private mail one of the posters who you believe are sympathetic to unionization. Don't reveal personal information, but try to fill in the picture with as many facts as possible. It will help others in the future.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 866428, member: 22880"] Over a year ago, when I was still with Express and actively "working with" the Teamsters, I made requests much like the requests listed by Mr. FedEx. Most significant of my requests was that each Express station be assigned an IBT organizer to lead meetings off-site for Express employees to be able to have open ended Q&A sessions, along with a visible presence off company property, to "show the face" of the Teamsters. Every time I pressed for this, they refused. I got a song and dance, then was handed literature to distribute myself. Through associates, I moved up the IBT hierarchy to try to get some positive response, there was lots of sympathy, but absolutely NO real assistance offered. It was solely up to the employees of Express to do all the legwork, get cards signed, then have the IBT petition for a certification vote when THEY felt comfortable. Knowing the choice was between Fred and IBT, I still tried, but it was a futile effort. Needless to say, I wasn't going to have that flashing bull's eye on my back when I was uncertain of my departure date from Express. Once I had a firm departure date set, only then I broke cover and learned real quick the measures Express will go to in order to squelch union activity and organizers. I know damn good and well what the organizers at that Ground terminal are going to be subjected to in the coming weeks. My advice to them is to start putting out resume's/applications next week, you'll save yourself some time in finding a new job. This is why I would REALLY like for someone in Massachusetts who has first hand knowledge of the organizing drive to post here, [U]without revealing their identity[/U]. We don't care about grammar and proper spelling, we just need some real first hand accounts, to fill in the gaps in the information coming out of MA. This information is CRITICAL, since it will reveal the tactics and measures that FedEx engaged in to discourage or outright intimidate the work group prior to the scheduled vote. The implications of the attempt in MA have consequences which reach FAR beyond the handlers of that terminal and beyiond the Teamsters; the consequences stretch across all FedEx op-co's. I started posting here again due solely to the impending vote in MA. It was hoped that if FedEx were to have a crack develop in its anti-union armor, that there would be some hope of eventually having that vulnerability spread throughout FedEx and get some real change for the benefit of the wage employees done, if not actual outright unionization. That hope is now dashed. No one in their right mind will "break cover" now in Express. Since the Teamsters have more or less made it known that the employees of Express will need to not just come half way across the proverbial bridge, but practically all of the way before they'll step in and make a presence - there is no point in Express employees working with the Teamsters given those conditions. I do know that the IBT understands the climate that exists within FedEx and in particular Express. They know it well since there are a number of former Express employees either directly associated with the IBT, or in regular contact....... However, the national leadership of the IBT has made their decision regarding Express, no significant expendature of resources or possible loss of face in a direct confrontation with FedEx. This is why they sat on their hands all through late 2009 and into 2010 waiting on Congress to pull Express' RLA status. They'll take a slam dunk if it is set up for them by the employees of Express, but they're not going to spend any time on the court hustling against the machine of FedEx for an uncertain return. At this point, it is merely an exercise in information gathering. What did FedEx do specifically at that terminal, what did the IBT do in terms of drumming up support? The national media isn't even going to cover this story. I got an email that the Commercial Appeal covered it (surprise, surprise), but outside of that, only a few business oriented news organizations even put up a paragraph about the event. I doubt that even the local MA press will do anything in-depth, like actually TALKING to one of the handlers (off the record) to get some background as to the inside story. This is why it is CRITICAL for someone - perferably one of the handlers at that terminal - to get some account down so that the tactics of Express (and the failure or IBT) can be analyzed and possibly used to assist another union if they want to attempt organization sometime in the future - I know, for all the good that will do. You don't even have to post it openly, just open a profile on BC, then private mail one of the posters who you believe are sympathetic to unionization. Don't reveal personal information, but try to fill in the picture with as many facts as possible. It will help others in the future. [/QUOTE]
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