Hey bbsam,
You are kind of being the poster boy for FedEx. If it works for you, it must be a good deal for everyone else, right? Wrong. All of the FedEx business models are exploitative on some level, especially the Ground version. If Fred is such a visionary, why does he need special treatment in order to compete? After all, he's the next best thing to God as an authority on the shipping business, isn't he? He's so freaking smart that he could make FedEx profitable with a fleet of oxcarts and some zeppelins, right?
The truth is that FedEx receives special treatment at both Ground and Express. For now, the IC model continues to be used, which is an extreme competitive advantage from any perspective. The RLA is a 36 year and counting special dispensation tailored exactly to meet the needs and desires of FedEx to stay non-union.
Brownbailout.com is less a public forum than it is an attempt to put the squeeze on politicians. I call the offices of politicians all the time and you'd be amazed how this whole deal is just a small blip on the radar screen. It's a big deal to us because we're directly involved, but the real negotiating is going on behind closed doors with lobbyists....not pressure from public opinion. I'm sure FedEx lobbyists point to their phony polls showing public "outrage" over the UPS "bailout", complete with equally phony heavily screened comments by "supporters" of this travesty against the kingdom of Fred.
For example, I recently called the offices of Senator Patty Murray of Washington State (Boeing country). Her staff didn't even know about Smith's Boeing blackmail deal, and had never heard of Brownbailout.com.
Maybe they were playing dumb, but I doubt it because I've received 2 phone calls from staffers asking for an explanation of Smith's clause in the 777 contract.