And yes, it would be a PR nightmare. Who'd want to work for FedEx if made to stay all day with a long break for 35-37 hrs? Oh, right, it would force out FTers to replace them with PTers. But most PTers are looking for FT work. It would be bad public relations, not to mention it could get the scrutiny of oversight boards who determine if we are to be under the RLA or not. Yeah, have a field day with that one but you know if FedEx starts abusing the privilege then they could lose it.
A PR nightmare... you are so deluded about your real importance in regards to your employer, you are beyond help.
Look at Ground. If there was going to be a "PR nightmare" for FedEx, it would've involved how the real Ground drivers are getting paid.
Let's listen to the public outcry regarding what is going on in Ground right now why don't we?
....................................................................
Didn't hear anything.... how about you.
The ONLY PR Nightmare that FedEx had to worry about was the "monitor toss over the fence" right before last Christmas. THAT WAS a PR nightmare for FedEx. What you get paid and how your work schedule is done is of NO CONCERN to the public. As long as DOT requirements are met, there is no one that cares about you.
Get it??
As far as FedEx not getting people who are willing to work with an unpaid split....
Let's hear it from the Ground drivers... how many of you would be willing to put in a 10-11 hour day, get paid for 7-8 (35-38 hours paid), get about $600 a week pre-tax ALONG WITH health insurance, 2 weeks paid vacation, a 401k worth 3.5% of your base and an Express "retirement" plan that kicked in 5% of your wages? Oh, forgot to mention the fact that your volume will be considerably lighter (lots of FedEx boxes and documents) with far fewer pieces over 40 pounds.
There is a ready pool of Ground drivers that would JUMP at the opportunity to have your job - AND WOULDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
GROW UP. You are not that important, and if Fred ever needed to replace you (even after the transformation), he's got a ready supply of experienced drivers who are already familiar with FedEx operating procedures - who'd LOVE to work at Express starting wages - even knowing there isn't going to be any progression.
As far as the RLA, it has NOTHING to do with how hours are worked - it is all about Congress granting the status to companies who they deem are "express carriers".
Designed to get us to sign those cards because, after all, you have absolutely no dog in this fight. You aren't a union shill sent to push signing cards. You aren't trying to hurt FedEx by getting us to quit if you can't get a union in. No sirree, you do everything for purely altruistic reasons.
Ah yes, everyone here talks about how great and wonderful things would be IF Express were unionized, but then when it comes to actually accomplishing that goal - every excuse and accusation one can imagine is thown out to make oneself feel better about NOT signing union cards.
You've shown your colors. You feel you were screwed over because you trusted in Fred - but God forbid if others aren't as trusting as you were, and did something to prevent becoming what you are today.
"You are trying to hurt FedEx".... Terminal case of Stockholm Syndrome going on here. One one hand you are screaming that you are getting screwed, but then you are deathly afraid that your beloved FedEx might be harmed in some manner if the employees DID get the collective balls to finally organize and not be perpetually bent over.
And yes, my posting here is purely altrustic. Yours is a combination of misery seeking company (trying to validate your own failures and insecurity by trying to get your twisted speculation and fears out into the public), along with your inate confusion regarding just exactly where you are in this world.
Newsflash, you aren't a "capitalist" - you are labor. The best interest of labor isn't in spewing classical economic theory, but rather recognizing that classical economic models result in labor getting progressively "screwed" the longer and longer they don't act on correcting the inequity that always results when classical economic models go without check. That "check" can be done in two ways: governmental regulation... and when that isn't enough, organized labor.
And yep, that ship has sailed. If the IBT won't stick their necks out, and employees won't stick their's out either, stalemate.
Ah yes, the "I'm not going to make any effort to save myself, the lifeboat is going to have to come all the way out to where I'm at without my making any effort whatsoever", justification for not doing anything (but screaming for help all the while).
In survival situations, there are people who won't do a damn thing to save themselves. They'll sit down and expect help to come to them. These are the people who in a true survival situation, DIE. You are already dead - you just won't admit it. There are others who do have some sliver of hope to get out of the situation. I frankly don't give a damn about those who aren't willing to do anything to save themselves (you foremost among them). For those who need some encouragement to get off their butts and start moving, I still have hope.
And in case you haven't noticed THEY are the huge organization, I'm one courier expressing an opinion. I have no influence on what our workforce does. If THEY are discouraged by the opinions of one courier then there was never a sincere, good faith effort to organize us. But we must all goose step together, eh comrade?
They are a large organization, but they do have limited financial means - especially when it comes to fighting for a group of employees who haven't shown ANY real sign of wanting to save themselves - namely, YOU and those that will make excuses in not organizing.
It is people like YOU, that make the IBT feel it would be a complete waste of their resources to even attempt an organizing drive. You will continue to make every excuse you can to not sign a union card - your entire life has been an neverending excuse it seems. There are NO EXCUSES for those who work as Couriers to not organize (oh, you'll come up with some excuses if need be).
For those Express Couriers who haven't given up, don't make excuses like this terminally confused, self-loathing, wanna be capitalist does. You have ONE hope, that is to start a grassroots organizing effort, get those cards in and maybe the IBT will see there is some "life" out there and make a decision to put some resources into Express. You've got to be willing to save yourself, BEFORE the IBT will put any effort into helping convince others they can be saved from Fred.
If you aren't willing to put in the effort yourself (you read this forum, you might as well put some time into handing out representation cards and getting your coworkers to realize they DO have an alternative to Vantexan's "bendover and scream loudly" approach to life) then there isn't any hope for you. You've got to be willing to get those cards in and get your coworkers to do the same.
If not, then don't look for sympathy from the public. Oh, Vantexan is thinking that public outcry will save the day. That is merely a fanciful vision that occurred during one of his head in the sand moments. The public doesn't give a damn about your wages or work schedule, all they care about is if their package arrives on time and undamaged. Your pay and working conditions are something that YOU will have to fight for, don't think for a minute that the public is going to get all concerned about YOUR work conditions - they have their own problems to worry about, forget about the issues of some Couriers who think they have more importance in this world than they really do.
By the way, your employer owes you NOTHING for all the work you have done for them - don't keep on thinking that you are owed something (entitlement mentality in a "conservative" it seems... how hypocritical). You are only as good as your last stop and the score is settled up at the end of each paycycle. The only way to get what you are really worth to your employer is to organize - there is no other option.
Leave, bendover or organize.
All those who are looking for the best way to bendover and scream about it - follow Vantexan's lead.
Everyone else, better start looking at one of the other two remaining options out there...