Fred S, the master of bs.

MrFedEx

Engorged Member
No, really, it was the Dems who had the power to let us unionize locally but chose Fred's money instead. The Republicans made this all possible, but the Dems turned a blind eye rather than help working people out. That's supposed to be their shtick. Everyone knows the Republicans are anti-union, what's the surprise there? Democrats are supposed to be pro-union.

Fred is an equal opportunity oppressor, so he'll use both parties however he can to keep us down. Smith is obviously GOP all the way, but he happily buys compliant Dems too. Sickening.
 

El Morado Diablo

Well-Known Member
No, really, it was the Dems who had the power to let us unionize locally but chose Fred's money instead. The Republicans made this all possible, but the Dems turned a blind eye rather than help working people out. That's supposed to be their shtick. Everyone knows the Republicans are anti-union, what's the surprise there? Democrats are supposed to be pro-union.

I'm pretty sure it was Smith's threat to cancel his plane orders with Boeing. Why risk losing union jobs (and supporters) just to give folks at an anti-union company a chance to vote in a union? Political parties weigh every possible outcome to see how it will help or hurt them. It simply wasn't worth the risk for the Democrats.
 

vantexan

Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure it was Smith's threat to cancel his plane orders with Boeing. Why risk losing union jobs (and supporters) just to give folks at an anti-union company a chance to vote in a union? Political parties weigh every possible outcome to see how it will help or hurt them. It simply wasn't worth the risk for the Democrats.
There may be something to that, but ultimately he has to buy jets. We got thrown under the bus, and adding insult to injury the Dems agreed to require 50% of a class to sign union cards instead of 35% to force a vote. Makes it that much harder to organize. Money talks...
 

MAKAVELI

Well-Known Member
There may be something to that, but ultimately he has to buy jets. We got thrown under the bus, and adding insult to injury the Dems agreed to require 50% of a class to sign union cards instead of 35% to force a vote.
At this point I don't think that's impossible or necessarily a negative. Think about it. If 50% were to sign cards the probability of a successful vote increases substantially.
 

vantexan

Well-Known Member
At this point I don't think that's impossible or necessarily a negative. Think about it. If 50% were to sign cards the probability of a successful vote increases substantially.
But where are the organizers handing out cards? If the IBT thought 50% would make it easier wouldn't they be out there? The only thing we can hopefully count on is that as the middle class shrinks and anger builds the pendulum will swing back towards the unions. Corporate leaders can talk all they want about worldwide markets and competition keeping things tight, but this system is allowing them to cash in, and they're practically rubbing our faces in it.
 

thedownhillEXPRESS

Well-Known Member
But where are the organizers handing out cards? If the IBT thought 50% would make it easier wouldn't they be out there? The only thing we can hopefully count on is that as the middle class shrinks and anger builds the pendulum will swing back towards the unions. Corporate leaders can talk all they want about worldwide markets and competition keeping things tight, but this system is allowing them to cash in, and they're practically rubbing our faces in it.
I totally agree.
 

overflowed

Well-Known Member
But where are the organizers handing out cards? If the IBT thought 50% would make it easier wouldn't they be out there? The only thing we can hopefully count on is that as the middle class shrinks and anger builds the pendulum will swing back towards the unions. Corporate leaders can talk all they want about worldwide markets and competition keeping things tight, but this system is allowing them to cash in, and they're practically rubbing our faces in it.
But where are the organizers handing out cards? If the IBT thought 50% would make it easier wouldn't they be out there? The only thing we can hopefully count on is that as the middle class shrinks and anger builds the pendulum will swing back towards the unions. Corporate leaders can talk all they want about worldwide markets and competition keeping things tight, but this system is allowing them to cash in, and they're practically rubbing our faces in it.
This is happening already, you must be nostradamus.
 

MechLift

Well-Known Member
When was the last major, drawn out, strike of any union?

UPS 1997 for 16 days, which gave FedEx the resources to buy RPS, their current ground operation.

"UPS said the strike cost them about $650 million in lost business. And the union paid about $10 million in strike benefits to members who got $55 a week for manning the picket lines." - PBS NewsHour

I remember seeing your managers trying to make deliveries. They were incompetent trying to do business by the rules they hold you by (asking for full last names on signing, etc) but impressive nonetheless.

Having FedEx unionize would probably be the beginning of the the race to the bottom. A better paid and better quality competition is not going to be to your benefit.
 
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vantexan

Well-Known Member
UPS 1997 for 16 days, which gave FedEx the resources to buy RPS, their current ground operation.

"UPS said the strike cost them about $650 million in lost business. And the union paid about $10 million in strike benefits to members who got $55 a week for manning the picket lines." - PBS NewsHour

I remember seeing your managers trying to make deliveries. They were incompetent trying to do business by the rules they hold you by (asking for full last names on signing, etc) but impressive nonetheless.

Having FedEx unionize would probably be the beginning of the the race to the bottom. A better paid and better quality competition is not going to be to your benefit.
I'm Express, not UPS, but that was the last one I could recall.
 

MAKAVELI

Well-Known Member
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/wkstp.nr0.htm
The longest and most days idle of any major work stoppage beginning in 2013 was between the New York City Public Schools and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181, with 8,000 workers accounting for 176,000 days idle. The greatest number of workers involved in a major work stoppage beginning in 2013 was between the University of California Medical Centers and American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (including the University Professional and Technical Employees Union for one day), involving as many as 18,800 workers. (See table 2.) Other notable work stoppages beginning in 2013 included the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555. BART was involved in two major work stoppages, occurring in July and October. (See table 2.)
 

vantexan

Well-Known Member
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/wkstp.nr0.htm
The longest and most days idle of any major work stoppage beginning in 2013 was between the New York City Public Schools and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181, with 8,000 workers accounting for 176,000 days idle. The greatest number of workers involved in a major work stoppage beginning in 2013 was between the University of California Medical Centers and American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (including the University Professional and Technical Employees Union for one day), involving as many as 18,800 workers. (See table 2.) Other notable work stoppages beginning in 2013 included the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555. BART was involved in two major work stoppages, occurring in July and October. (See table 2.)
What's notable about the above is they're all public service unions. Where are the private corporate unions?
 

MAKAVELI

Well-Known Member
http://m.gurufocus.com/news_read.php?id=307862
FedEx Corp (FDX): Chairman/President/CEO Frederick W Smith sold 180,200 Shares

Chairman/President/CEO of FedEx Corp (FDX) Frederick W Smith sold 180,200 shares on 01/09/2015 at an average price of $172.86. FedEx Corp was incorporated in Delaware on October 2, 1997. Fedex Corp has a market cap of $50.08 billion; its shares were traded at around $176.76 with a P/E ratio of 21.90 and P/S ratio of 1.11. The dividend yield of Fedex Corp stocks is 0.42%. Fedex Corp had an annual average earnings growth of 2.90% over the past 10 years.

FedEx Corp. reported its second quarter results including revenues of $11.9 billion and net income of $616 million.

Chairman/President/CEO Frederick W Smith sold 180,200 shares of FDX stock on 01/09/2015 at the average price of 172.86. EVP GENL COUNSEL/SECTY Christine P Richards, EVP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFF Alan B Jr Graf, CVP PRIN ACCT OFFICER John L Merino, Director Shirley A Jackson, and EVP Chief Info Officer Robert B Carter together sold 131,368 shares of FDX stock in October and December.
 

UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)

Well-Known Member
To get a more clear picture of the point you are trying to make one would need to know the cost basis for the shares in question. Many of these shares were most likely awarded as part of their compensation package. Why shouldn't they sell when the time is right to do so?
 
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