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Originally Posted by barnyard  It's funny to me that most people seem to think that a change in the RLA rules would mean immediate unionization of FedEx. Right to work states might not see an organizer for years. If the rules change, I would bet that it takes a year to identify the 1st station to organize, a year to get it done and another year to get a contract (maybe more, look at Overnite Transportation, owned by Union Pacific, a union railroad.)
I would almost bet that if the RLA is changed and IF a station is organized, that Fred himself would sit in on negotiations. I'd also bet that it will/would not be pretty.
Once that happens, then start getting card checks at other stations. Problem is, 3-5 years later is enough time to integrate the networks.
If I were a FedEx employee, I would be concerned for my future. Not because FedEx may go out of business, but because they may embrace the IC for all their operations. |
This is what I've been trying to get across for a few weeks with my "pragmatic" posts. Fred's long term plan (assuming he can keep the IC charade going on at Ground) is to move non-overnight volume over there, keeping his labor costs lower that he is currently experiencing. Even under NLRB rules, it will take a few years to get widespread coverage of unions across the US. Fred wants to prevent having to fight that battle at any cost, that is why he has spent millions to keep the RLA. I know my station wouldn't vote in a union until they saw other stations get successful contracts in force (by then I'll be long gone). So for me it is a lost cause. It is all principle for me now.
Given the model of Express, he can't convert them to the IC model. He can't simultaneously argue to keep the RLA AND want an IC model. RLA exists to keep EMPLOYEES on the job and prevent work stopages. No company can control contractors like this. Employees under RLA that engage in "illegal" strike activity can be punished by Federal action. ICs can't be touched (they're independent after all).
Re: AGFS Panic Call 
