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<blockquote data-quote="MrFedEx" data-source="post: 1675811" data-attributes="member: 12508">True. TUT, and others outside Express don&#039;t understand this. Neither do they understand the leverage Smith has, not just with politicians, but with suppliers/vendors. I&#039;ve mentioned Smith using the Boeing 777 deal to kill RLA reform, and the Senators from Boeing were both Democrats.Let&#039;s say FedEx is going to buy 2,000 Freightliners, and Obama proposes modifying the RLA again. Smith calls the Republican politician from the state that produces Freightliners and threatens to cancel the order if the legislation goes through (just like Boeing). Smith is so powerful that he probably calls Boehner or McConnell directly, and they answer. Even if Democrats represent the state, Smith gets his way because they don&#039;t want the political fallout if jobs or work are lost. So they cave...Smith wins. Even Obama has famously kissed Smith&#039;s ass with the &quot;good CEO&quot; comment.I&#039;ve long surmised that Hoffa gets some form of tribute from Smith to keep from mounting all-out campaigns. Sure, the IBT is trying to organize Freight, but they are weak and don&#039;t mount much of an effort. That way it looks like they&#039;re legit, and Hoffa can say he&#039;s fighting the fight.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MrFedEx, post: 1675811, member: 12508"] True. TUT, and others outside Express don't understand this. Neither do they understand the leverage Smith has, not just with politicians, but with suppliers/vendors. I've mentioned Smith using the Boeing 777 deal to kill RLA reform, and the Senators from Boeing were both Democrats. Let's say FedEx is going to buy 2,000 Freightliners, and Obama proposes modifying the RLA again. Smith calls the Republican politician from the state that produces Freightliners and threatens to cancel the order if the legislation goes through (just like Boeing). Smith is so powerful that he probably calls Boehner or McConnell directly, and they [B]answer. [/B]Even if Democrats represent the state, Smith gets his way because they don't want the political fallout if jobs or work are lost. So they cave...Smith wins. Even Obama has famously kissed Smith's ass with the "good CEO" comment. I've long surmised that Hoffa gets some form of tribute from Smith to keep from mounting all-out campaigns. Sure, the IBT is trying to organize Freight, but they are weak and don't mount much of an effort. That way it looks like they're legit, and Hoffa can say he's fighting the fight. [/QUOTE]

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