One would hope that our senators will be looking at the issue very closely, without just scanning the Washington Post. Surely the millions that UPS has spent on lobbying has the senators well informed and lined up on the issue.
All of the rest of this going on is a dog and pony show.
They list a website where everyone's anonymous as a source????
That's pretty laughable. Lot's of credibility at the Post....
I agree it's all a dog and pony show.
What the Senators are really worried about is getting reelected. I'm sure wherever public sentiment is it going to influence their votes. Stuffing their mailboxes may help that influence. What would worry them is their name in the Washington Post in a negative light.
A politician has 2 basic goals:
1 To get elected
2 To get re-elected
In 1997, UPS and the Teamsters stuck a knife into small business. A lot of blood was let. Most of the wounds healed. Some didn't. It is small business that drives this economy.Of course that is the reason. Is UPS worried about the plight of the downtrodden Express couriers? Hardly. Will UPS be able to lower its rates if Fedex is under the NLRA? I don't see how.
If the threat of unionization forces Fedex to pay out more to its drivers in wages and benefits and causes Fedex to raise its rates, UPS stands to gain tremendously. It will only raise the cost of doing business for those firms that continue to use Fedex and pay their higher rates, since it will presumably cost less to ship with us. To say it raises the cost of living on America is a bit of a stretch, IMO.
Twin Raven
I agree that UPS will not race to increase rates. But they will bump them up to be on par with what FedEx does. There is a lot more copy cat going on at UPS than one would think. But they would raise rates to boost the earnings just to please the investors.
I realize that we are three years away from a new contract. And in that three years, a lot can happen. Like a new president, control of congress, and the list goes on.
I also believe that judging from what I have seen over the last few contracts, that the teamsters have really enjoyed nursing on the breast of success. Central states for example, without the infusion that UPS put in to get out, could have been the beginning of the end of the teamsters.
They want power. Pure power. And they are willing to wheel and deal with anyone that will give them more. That includes UPS and the Gooberment. They are also very willing to use anything and anyone to further their goals.
No one is indispensable.
When (notice I did not say if) FedEx is kicked into the mainstream, Hoffa and his bunch will focus their energy to creating a much larger union membership base. Not only the express (which will be a tough nut to crack) but ground, home and freight. UPS will take a supporting role for them to unionize FedEx. Many other unions will try to butt in, but the teamsters will win out.
But they also know that when FedEx is unionized, the teamsters will also give a lot during the negotiations in 2013 and beyond for the support of UPS during this time.
We have met FedEx on an un-level playing field and not only held our own, but made a huge profit during which time FedEx had had huge losses. Why would we need to level the playing field when we are cleaning their plow now? Yeah, Ive heard all the "strike" threats they have used. But after a while, crying wolf gets you what?
Its because of give backs and concessions from the teamsters, both now and in the future. Worth billions long term, dollars that are saved because the teamsters owes UPS.
So its not "just so where they are union employees, and now presto, we have a level playing field." UPS is not interested in leveling the playing field. They want, and will get, a distinct advantage once they have been removed from the RLA. And FEDEX being unionized is just a small portion of that picture.
The upside? Could be that our retirement plans come out of the red with the new influx of union members.
But that will be short lived. There are too few trees to pick from these days.
d
In 1997, UPS and the Teamsters stuck a knife into small business. A lot of blood was let. Most of the wounds healed. Some didn't. It is small business that drives this economy.
Tell you what, you do without a paycheck for a month, with all the expenses going out, but nothing coming in, and see how you weather the storm.
d
Klein
You are also not running a business, with a payroll, advertizing, employment taxes and the list goes on and on.
Besides, you posted you have all this money to venture to florida on, and all this other stuff you posted.
Also, you shot yourself in the foot when it comes to getting money coming in. You dont have anyone to blame but yourself. Now, try someone else causing you to loose what you have accomplished ans worked so hard to build.
d
No reason to be sorry.
Everybody thinks I am making a killing now that I own my own business. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Per hour worked, I make less than anybody that works here. And when there is not enough money to make the payroll, I am the first that does not get paid.
In two weeks, with a booming business, you can dig a hole so fast, it would take you years to climb back out of. Sometimes you can never do it.
My brother was one. Everything hit at once, paid 150 grand to ship out a new catalog. Within two weeks, he had everyone but himself on layoff, and he was working for free. Tried to keep the business running for another 5 weeks, and had to declare bankruptcy. His was not all on the UPS strike, but it was what pushed him over the top.
The year before, his net profits on the business was 200 grand plus. Didnt lay back for that rainy day.......
d
I was wondering who was going to bring this up first?Klein
You are also not running a business, with a payroll, advertizing, employment taxes and the list goes on and on.
Besides, you posted you have all this money to venture to florida on, and all this other stuff you posted.
Also, you shot yourself in the foot when it comes to getting money coming in. You dont have anyone to blame but yourself. Now, try someone else causing you to loose what you have accomplished ans worked so hard to build.
d