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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 545059" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>This will be the "dog and pony" show that I have been writing about (check my previous posts by clicking my ID). The primary thrust of this meeting will be to attempt to convince the fence sitters to not sign a union card should FedEx's RLA status gets converted. </p><p> </p><p>Whether or not any mention of the very strong rumor coming out of Memphis regarding a 2% pay raise being mentioned in these station meetings is unknown. As of this evening, I haven't heard anything yet that would indicate an impending announcement is imminent. My information is a bit stale on this issue (Saturday). </p><p> </p><p>At my working location, we haven't had an official announcement of the Sr. Mgr. meeting; but then again, the likeliehood of my station certifying a union in the event of FedEx having its RLA status revoked is extremely low right now (and they know that from the SFA results for each individual station). I'd imagine that my location would be close to last to certify a union, due to demographics and other factors which are "peculiar" to my location. </p><p> </p><p>Please give a summary of the meeting tomorrow evening on this thread, so we can better put together FedEx's battle plan.</p><p> </p><p>One of the things that amazes me is the almost complete lack of awareness of most employees about what is going on. Most are too scared to even actively seek out information. They take what FedEx states as Gospel, and literally put their trust in Fred. Having worked in a variety of different careers, I'm shocked by the complacency demonstrated by a majority of employees in my location. The majority don't even know the pay differential between FedEx and UPS. The majority don't even know the cost of medical insurance coverage for retirees each month. A lack of information and complacency are the greatest obstacles facing successful unionization. </p><p> </p><p>Even with the RLA exemption getting pulled, I believe that only about 35-45% of US stations would certify a union in their operating location immediately after the change in status. This is why FedEx is launching the ad campaign, and is attempting to engage in a veiled anti-union presentation by the senior managers. </p><p> </p><p>They were going to have either MT3 or someone else do a video, but they realized after the SFA that Memphis management has no credibility right now, so that is why the presentation was pushed down to the senior manager level to present. They are going to be speaking off a set of talking points, so once one presentation is given, we can post a synopsis and everyone can compare that to what they heard in their location.</p><p> </p><p>I imagine that it could be performed with a talking parrot: "SQUAWK,FedEx is good, FedEx is good, SQUAWK", "SQUAWK, Teamsters are bad, Teamsters are bad, SQUAWK!!</p><p> </p><p>The difference this time (as compared to '97) is that the salaried employees took an even bigger hit than the hourly employees (lost their bonuses, took a 5% pay cut). This is the screw-up of FedEx this time. The salaried employees were stuffed under the bus along with the hourly employees this time around. In a round-about way, the salaried employees are literally PRAYING that we succeed in unionizing.</p><p> </p><p>Here's why. Let's assume for the sake of argument that the Couriers, RTD's and mechanics get their defined benefit pension plan back on a national level. </p><p> </p><p>What incentive will a career hourly employee have to become a salaried employee and lose their defined benefit pension plan? Absolutely none. </p><p> </p><p>What is the primary source of Ops managers and Senior managers? Hourly employees that got tired of driving a truck.</p><p> </p><p>What incentive will hourly employees have to step into management a few years from now (when the surplus is gone) if they will lose beneflits and most likely lose take home pay (Ops managers make much less than UPS drivers and would make less than unionized FedEx Couriers/RTD's). Absolutely none.</p><p> </p><p>If the hourlies unionize, the benefits and salaries for the non-hourly employees would also have to start to gradually increase to keep attracting "talent". Fred know this, and this is part of the reason he is fighting so hard. If 70,000 full time equivalent employees end up bringing in $20,000 a year more in benefits and wages, Fred's annual labor expense goes up $1.4 BILLION. FedEx would have to trim some of the fat in Memphis (there are useless salaried employees in Memphis), increase the rate schedule slightly (explains UPS's motivation behind getting the RLA pulled), and most feared of all, reduce the outrageous compensation packages for the senior executives to keep the shareholders happy. Since Fred owns about 6% of FedEx personally, he'd take the biggest hit (both in terms of personal compensation and reduced dividends/stock growth). Explains why he is "fangs out" on this. </p><p> </p><p>In case any doubt-ers think a $1.4 Billion increase isn't sustainable by FedEx... FedEx brings in about $16 Billion in revenue in the last year (going off the top of my head, the annual financial report comes out late next week). FedEx has about 50% of its revenue going out to cover labor expenses. What is the percentage for UPS? About 65% of revenue covers labor expense. Having FedEx employees getting an average of $20,000 a year additional woudl increase FedEx's labor expense to about 60% of revenues, COMPLETELY ACHIEVABLE. This is the savings that Fred has been experiencing in having a union free company.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 545059, member: 22880"] This will be the "dog and pony" show that I have been writing about (check my previous posts by clicking my ID). The primary thrust of this meeting will be to attempt to convince the fence sitters to not sign a union card should FedEx's RLA status gets converted. Whether or not any mention of the very strong rumor coming out of Memphis regarding a 2% pay raise being mentioned in these station meetings is unknown. As of this evening, I haven't heard anything yet that would indicate an impending announcement is imminent. My information is a bit stale on this issue (Saturday). At my working location, we haven't had an official announcement of the Sr. Mgr. meeting; but then again, the likeliehood of my station certifying a union in the event of FedEx having its RLA status revoked is extremely low right now (and they know that from the SFA results for each individual station). I'd imagine that my location would be close to last to certify a union, due to demographics and other factors which are "peculiar" to my location. Please give a summary of the meeting tomorrow evening on this thread, so we can better put together FedEx's battle plan. One of the things that amazes me is the almost complete lack of awareness of most employees about what is going on. Most are too scared to even actively seek out information. They take what FedEx states as Gospel, and literally put their trust in Fred. Having worked in a variety of different careers, I'm shocked by the complacency demonstrated by a majority of employees in my location. The majority don't even know the pay differential between FedEx and UPS. The majority don't even know the cost of medical insurance coverage for retirees each month. A lack of information and complacency are the greatest obstacles facing successful unionization. Even with the RLA exemption getting pulled, I believe that only about 35-45% of US stations would certify a union in their operating location immediately after the change in status. This is why FedEx is launching the ad campaign, and is attempting to engage in a veiled anti-union presentation by the senior managers. They were going to have either MT3 or someone else do a video, but they realized after the SFA that Memphis management has no credibility right now, so that is why the presentation was pushed down to the senior manager level to present. They are going to be speaking off a set of talking points, so once one presentation is given, we can post a synopsis and everyone can compare that to what they heard in their location. I imagine that it could be performed with a talking parrot: "SQUAWK,FedEx is good, FedEx is good, SQUAWK", "SQUAWK, Teamsters are bad, Teamsters are bad, SQUAWK!! The difference this time (as compared to '97) is that the salaried employees took an even bigger hit than the hourly employees (lost their bonuses, took a 5% pay cut). This is the screw-up of FedEx this time. The salaried employees were stuffed under the bus along with the hourly employees this time around. In a round-about way, the salaried employees are literally PRAYING that we succeed in unionizing. Here's why. Let's assume for the sake of argument that the Couriers, RTD's and mechanics get their defined benefit pension plan back on a national level. What incentive will a career hourly employee have to become a salaried employee and lose their defined benefit pension plan? Absolutely none. What is the primary source of Ops managers and Senior managers? Hourly employees that got tired of driving a truck. What incentive will hourly employees have to step into management a few years from now (when the surplus is gone) if they will lose beneflits and most likely lose take home pay (Ops managers make much less than UPS drivers and would make less than unionized FedEx Couriers/RTD's). Absolutely none. If the hourlies unionize, the benefits and salaries for the non-hourly employees would also have to start to gradually increase to keep attracting "talent". Fred know this, and this is part of the reason he is fighting so hard. If 70,000 full time equivalent employees end up bringing in $20,000 a year more in benefits and wages, Fred's annual labor expense goes up $1.4 BILLION. FedEx would have to trim some of the fat in Memphis (there are useless salaried employees in Memphis), increase the rate schedule slightly (explains UPS's motivation behind getting the RLA pulled), and most feared of all, reduce the outrageous compensation packages for the senior executives to keep the shareholders happy. Since Fred owns about 6% of FedEx personally, he'd take the biggest hit (both in terms of personal compensation and reduced dividends/stock growth). Explains why he is "fangs out" on this. In case any doubt-ers think a $1.4 Billion increase isn't sustainable by FedEx... FedEx brings in about $16 Billion in revenue in the last year (going off the top of my head, the annual financial report comes out late next week). FedEx has about 50% of its revenue going out to cover labor expenses. What is the percentage for UPS? About 65% of revenue covers labor expense. Having FedEx employees getting an average of $20,000 a year additional woudl increase FedEx's labor expense to about 60% of revenues, COMPLETELY ACHIEVABLE. This is the savings that Fred has been experiencing in having a union free company. [/QUOTE]
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