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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 954812" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>Regarding the supposed ignorance of Express Couriers regarding the potental to unionize...</p><p></p><p>Ask Couriers in your stations with more than a year on the job if they know whether or not UPS drivers are unionized - and if so, with what union?</p><p></p><p>Then ask Couriers in your stations with more than 3 years on the job how their compensation compares to that of a UPS driver. </p><p></p><p>Most Couriers learn real quick that while Express is non-union (I grant you few know about the pilots), UPS is indeed unionized with the Teamsters. </p><p></p><p>After a few years on the job, the overwhelming majority of Express Couriers know two things:</p><p></p><p>1. That their pay progression is non-existant.</p><p></p><p>2. That their overall compensation compared to UPS drivers is an absolute joke. </p><p></p><p>You don't need union reps in the parking lot handing out literature to get that bit of information out.</p><p></p><p> Couriers haven't organized because those at the top of progression are either content or have consumed the KoolAid - and those at the bottom are too damn scared to organize. There are also many at the bottom which view being a Courier as being a temporary job rather than a career (those using the tuition reimbursement) - and don't want to get involved in anything which may jeopardize their going to school and having a part-time job with stable hours and some form of health insurance. </p><p></p><p>FedEx has obviously set up the distribution of their Courier work force to have these distinct groups (whether you realize it or not) precisely to aid in preventing any organization attempts. There is no solidarity between the college students and the 20+ year Couriers - those who have 20 years in are obviously content (or don't want to rock the boat before they retire) and those going to college aren't going to risk something they view as a temporary job which they'll do for 3 or so years and then quit - just to benefit those they'll "leave behind". </p><p></p><p>I realized this back in late 2009/early 2010 - that the interests of the various "groups" of Couriers were so differing, that even attempting to get a consensus among them was akin to herding cats - wasn't going to happen. </p><p></p><p>FedEx has a very good rationale for offering the young part-time Couriers that $3,000 annual reimbursement (which the overwhelming majority of full timers wouldn't use) - it keeps enough young part-timers in the craft to dilute any attempts by those in mid-progression (the prime candidates for organizing) from gathering enough support to persuade the Teamsters from even attempting an organization drive.</p><p></p><p>The deck is stacked against you if you are an Express Courier, RTD or Ramp Agent. The Express mechanics know better and FedEx pays them competitive wages just to keep them from organizing. The mechanics aren't exactly happy, but they know damn good and well how to fill out a rep card and send it in if they desire. </p><p></p><p>This is why the "leave, organize or bendover" options are still as valid as they ever were. </p><p></p><p>I knew before I left AGFS and went into DGO, that my time at Express was going to be limited - I decided to put my time to use in advancing my education and get out (the "leave" option). I still attempted to get the word out regarding the possibility of organizing - in a somewhat futile attempt to get those who did decide to make Express a career to see there was another way. </p><p></p><p>It was an elective course... Herding Cats 541... The only "class" in my life in which I utterly failed. I did learn a hell of a lot in the process of taking it though. </p><p> </p><p>The IBT (there are NO other union options available for Express employees, there just aren't any and I detailed some of the efforts looking into this question quite sometime ago) isn't going to expend its limited resources on attempting to herd cats. They've been burned before and simply don't have the inclination to assist workers who don't want to help themselves. </p><p></p><p>The wage employees of Express are going to have to see for themselves that they are getting a raw deal, put aside their petty differences, build some solidarity and organize. That what they need to do, but I don't believe for a moment (after my experience in attempting to build solidarity and get rep cards signed) that they will actually do it. I'd like to be proven wrong on this assumption of mine, but at this point, I'd bet a proverbial fortune against them actually doing it. </p><p></p><p>Since they won't do it, and the political climate requires them to have a full half of them petition for organization - the best options for an individual Express employee is to either get out of Express - or to look for some mayo to put on that turd sandwich that is being served up each year.</p><p></p><p>If they choose to remain in Express without doing anything to change the deal they are receiving, then there is absolutely NOTHING that can be done by anyone else to help them. They've got to help themselves (either by leaving or organizing). The sooner they realize this, the better off they will be. This is part of the reason I still spend time posting here, helping those who see the ship is sinking to realize that they don't have much time before they'll be sucked under (the best years of their productive life taken by Express - then handed a part-time job with even worse progression potential). </p><p></p><p>So don't try to absolve the Couriers of any blame when it comes to organizing. Yes, the deck is stacked against them - but if they were to get the wisdom and guts to put aside their petty differences and start signing rep cards, then they'll be better off for it. Till then, I understand that Sam's Club has those 5 gallon jugs of mayo going real cheap. Better stock up if you decide to stay.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 954812, member: 22880"] Regarding the supposed ignorance of Express Couriers regarding the potental to unionize... Ask Couriers in your stations with more than a year on the job if they know whether or not UPS drivers are unionized - and if so, with what union? Then ask Couriers in your stations with more than 3 years on the job how their compensation compares to that of a UPS driver. Most Couriers learn real quick that while Express is non-union (I grant you few know about the pilots), UPS is indeed unionized with the Teamsters. After a few years on the job, the overwhelming majority of Express Couriers know two things: 1. That their pay progression is non-existant. 2. That their overall compensation compared to UPS drivers is an absolute joke. You don't need union reps in the parking lot handing out literature to get that bit of information out. Couriers haven't organized because those at the top of progression are either content or have consumed the KoolAid - and those at the bottom are too damn scared to organize. There are also many at the bottom which view being a Courier as being a temporary job rather than a career (those using the tuition reimbursement) - and don't want to get involved in anything which may jeopardize their going to school and having a part-time job with stable hours and some form of health insurance. FedEx has obviously set up the distribution of their Courier work force to have these distinct groups (whether you realize it or not) precisely to aid in preventing any organization attempts. There is no solidarity between the college students and the 20+ year Couriers - those who have 20 years in are obviously content (or don't want to rock the boat before they retire) and those going to college aren't going to risk something they view as a temporary job which they'll do for 3 or so years and then quit - just to benefit those they'll "leave behind". I realized this back in late 2009/early 2010 - that the interests of the various "groups" of Couriers were so differing, that even attempting to get a consensus among them was akin to herding cats - wasn't going to happen. FedEx has a very good rationale for offering the young part-time Couriers that $3,000 annual reimbursement (which the overwhelming majority of full timers wouldn't use) - it keeps enough young part-timers in the craft to dilute any attempts by those in mid-progression (the prime candidates for organizing) from gathering enough support to persuade the Teamsters from even attempting an organization drive. The deck is stacked against you if you are an Express Courier, RTD or Ramp Agent. The Express mechanics know better and FedEx pays them competitive wages just to keep them from organizing. The mechanics aren't exactly happy, but they know damn good and well how to fill out a rep card and send it in if they desire. This is why the "leave, organize or bendover" options are still as valid as they ever were. I knew before I left AGFS and went into DGO, that my time at Express was going to be limited - I decided to put my time to use in advancing my education and get out (the "leave" option). I still attempted to get the word out regarding the possibility of organizing - in a somewhat futile attempt to get those who did decide to make Express a career to see there was another way. It was an elective course... Herding Cats 541... The only "class" in my life in which I utterly failed. I did learn a hell of a lot in the process of taking it though. The IBT (there are NO other union options available for Express employees, there just aren't any and I detailed some of the efforts looking into this question quite sometime ago) isn't going to expend its limited resources on attempting to herd cats. They've been burned before and simply don't have the inclination to assist workers who don't want to help themselves. The wage employees of Express are going to have to see for themselves that they are getting a raw deal, put aside their petty differences, build some solidarity and organize. That what they need to do, but I don't believe for a moment (after my experience in attempting to build solidarity and get rep cards signed) that they will actually do it. I'd like to be proven wrong on this assumption of mine, but at this point, I'd bet a proverbial fortune against them actually doing it. Since they won't do it, and the political climate requires them to have a full half of them petition for organization - the best options for an individual Express employee is to either get out of Express - or to look for some mayo to put on that turd sandwich that is being served up each year. If they choose to remain in Express without doing anything to change the deal they are receiving, then there is absolutely NOTHING that can be done by anyone else to help them. They've got to help themselves (either by leaving or organizing). The sooner they realize this, the better off they will be. This is part of the reason I still spend time posting here, helping those who see the ship is sinking to realize that they don't have much time before they'll be sucked under (the best years of their productive life taken by Express - then handed a part-time job with even worse progression potential). So don't try to absolve the Couriers of any blame when it comes to organizing. Yes, the deck is stacked against them - but if they were to get the wisdom and guts to put aside their petty differences and start signing rep cards, then they'll be better off for it. Till then, I understand that Sam's Club has those 5 gallon jugs of mayo going real cheap. Better stock up if you decide to stay. [/QUOTE]
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