Doomsday Clock
- Thread starter vantexan
- Start date
MrFedEx
Engorged Member
We're going to start tattooing our employee numbers on our arms. His analogy, although extreme, rings true. Ground contractors do quite well, fully at the expense of others who don't do very well at all. Nobody is killing anyone, but the Ground model exploits the "herd" while rewarding a group of semi-elites who do better because the herd gets mistreated.
You and the other contractors on here amaze me in the way you rationalize the Ground business model. It's "OK" to keep people in poverty because "it's just business", and "it's the new reality", or the "new normal". Actually, it's just plain greed and exploitation.
I was just using an extreme situation to make a point. Name one situation anywhere where those in power who exploit a large group aren't assisted in the exploitation by those who see an opportunity to help themselves?
The biggest problem I have with the whole system is people are never satisfied with plenty. I'm all for people getting ahead financially and being rewarded for their efforts. It's what makes the whole thing work. But it's not enough to have a decent home in a safe, decent area, or even a spacious home in an upscale area. Everything is about having the biggest, the best, the latest and greatest. About making it on some list of the richest. Extremely expensive cars. A private jet, a huge yacht, huge closets full of expensive, rarely worn clothes. And this poison filters down to our ranks. I hear coworkers not talk about the quality of a golfer's game, but where he stands on the earnings list this season. How so and so made hundreds of thousands sinking one shot in a "skins" game. The latest big baseball, football or basketball contract. Thousands being killed over the billions flowing south as the drugs flow north. You aren't truly anyone in this country unless you drive a hot car that's parked in a beautiful home stocked with a huge pool and giant tv. Meanwhile there are close to a billion people living on less than $2 a day and billions more living on not much more. It takes alot to live decently in this expensive country but there are billions who'd trade their situation in a heartbeat for our working class lives. Be satisfied with enough, with plenty, not excess, not ostentation. THAT's what I dislike about a union, not that it will improve our situation, but that it's seen by many as the ticket to a life where we too can have the big house, the hot car, the Caribbean vacation. If a union will get me $50k a year so that I can meet my obligations, have a decent car to drive, visit my family on vacations I'm all for it. The management of this company say that's fine if I can manage it on $35k which appears to be about where they want to see me as a fulltime employee. And don't expect much more. It's frustrating, and don't be surprised bbsam if people resent you coming on here talking about getting a "crapload" of cash and such. You are, whether you admit it or not, helping those who are making our lives difficult.
Who van? Who is not complicit in the take-down of the Express courier and the middle class in general? That is a conversation we can have but your extreme example goes too far and makes me wonder if you aren't just feeling sorry for yourself. As to resenting me, that is something people will have to work through for themselves...or not.
Nowhere did I call you a Nazi. I was talking about collaborators. I used an extreme example but look around you. It's the way of the world. Some aren't bright enough to see they are being exploited and too many in management think most of us aren't that bright or we would be in management. Thus they think they can get away with what they do. I just want to get away from it, but I'm not going quietly.
So if you can't lick'em join them?
That is a choice you can make. What did factory workers do when the market sent their jobs overseas?
Too many took McJobs because that was all that was available. Some become entrepreneurs, sure, but sending those jobs away just grew the permanent underclass that Ground is drawing off of.
A collaborator doesn't have to necessarily sympathize with an off the wall ideology, he's looking out for himself and will work with the powers that be. That doesn't mean you'll work with Nazis so don't take it to heart. But hey, it's only business!
Cactus
Just telling it like it is
Don't worry about it 'cause we're not gonna explain things to people that exploit their workers. Like you.
Now go back to watching Beavis & Butthead.
Not everyone is screwing over everyone else. And if a company is offering a job at $8hr with limited benefits they are being honest and upfront about it. Maybe they offer a track for promotions and raises. Maybe they don't. If a company makes promises, however, to lure people in, and don't come through then they should be exposed for who they are. I've heard plenty of times over the years that this company is a good outfit to work for, or stay away from those guys, they screw you over. If FedEx wants to emphasize Ground and be alot less generous it's their business. But be honest about it and honor the promises they made to their older employees. For example they started hiring people, in I believe 2003, under the Portable Pension Plan. Later they asked people to make a choice between staying with the traditional plan or going with the new plan. If we chose to stay then they should have honored that. They were still hiring people under the new plan, it was just a matter of phasing us out over time. It's what good guys would do. Bad guys put their wallets ahead of the interest of the people they are supposed to be leading. Do right by your people and when times are hard the employees will understand not getting a raise because the company is fighting to survive. Screw your people over enough and your people will help your company go under, and enjoy doing it.
But what about the collaborators? Who are they? The Democrats? The Republicans? The Chamber of Commerce? The shippers? The people willing to work for Ground contractors? The consumers? Where does it end? The point is that there is nothing happening to couriers that isn't happening to the entire middle class in America. And yes, that goes for promises made and broken. This isn't a conspiracy against Express couriers and it's nothing new to this economy.
thedownhillEXPRESS
Well-Known Member
Nazis and Jews!!??
Comparing the holocaust to what is happening at Express!!??
Like I said, the UPS posts sure aren't this good!!(or crazy sounding)
Comparing the holocaust to what is happening at Express!!??
Like I said, the UPS posts sure aren't this good!!(or crazy sounding)
thedownhillEXPRESS
Well-Known Member
Maybe bbsam will turn out to be Fedex's version of Oscar Schindler?
MrFedEx
Engorged Member
He won't be rescuing any of us any time soon. But on the Nazi theme, one thing that is eerily similar is the merging of corporate and political interests we are seeing, along with the attacks on unions. Not very reassuring.
et tu TDHE?
