You're way too easy. Part-timers do not receive disability, nor overtime, and can be scheduled more or less to exactly fit FedEx needs. Since they probably have no seniority, they are also at the bottom of the 20-year wage progression. When they're needed for extra hours, FedEx specializes in pressuring them to comply..like at peak. Fred would love to have Express be all part-timers. If you want, I can keep right on going.
Amazing "logic". Sure, PT people get OT when they work it, which isn't often. That doesn't save money? The flexibility to have PT people come-in and fill a hole on straight time instead of paying a full-timer OT to do it is huge, which you just flat ignore. You've also ignored answering the RTD questions...because you cannot without looking like an apologist.
How many people can afford to transfer to one of those FT opportunities when their house just lost 40% of it's value, or it's in one of Fred's many markets where pay just plain sucks? Oh yes, you get to be a swing driver most of the time. Where do I sign-up? And where do you get the idea that most PT people make anywhere near their FT counterparts? Most PT couriers I know are low seniority/low pay, which is just where Fred wants them...hungry and willing to plug those holes on straight time.
Your barrel is empty because all the wood has been shot away. Keep trying.
I've quoted your original post to refresh your memory. You made a categorical statement that PT'ers do not get overtime. That is simply false and misleading. You then try to cover yourself by making a ridiculous statement about PT people getting overtime when they work it. First of all, who get's overtime when they don't work it? I'd like to work there. Secondly, you question my logic and yet you back up my statement that PT'ers get overtime.
I haven't ignored anything (although you would know as you are an expert at that). I explained my position and view on RTD's. I don't claim to know how UPS operates or how much Walmart pays their drivers. I did point out that it was irrelevant as I understand scheduling and work flow and know what the Express RTD's do.
You still haven't explained how you can save money by almost doubling your courier workforce and showing how the disability savings and lower wage will make up for that. Here, I'll help you out to start you off. Cut a FT courier to a PT courier. Assuming he was making $26/hour, you still have to pay him $26/hour but for only 20 hours. Now you hire a PT courier who makes $18/hour (I think it would be more as I think if the topped out courier is at $26, I don't think the range is $8 but I'll go with $18). So you save $8/hour X 20 hours = $160/week or about $700/month. You have to spend money on benefits, training, etc for the new employee. Your $8/hour savings diminishes as time goes on. You are stemming 2 routes out and back each day instead of 1, etc, etc. Eats away at your $700/month savings pretty quickly. As bad as morale may or may not be now, you absolutely destroy it with this move. All things being equal there is no way that Express will go to an all PT workforce. As much as you'd like to scare people into thinking that FedEx would do this, it isn't going to happen.
As for people being able to afford to move, at least FedEx gives them the opportunity. As much as you'd like to blame Fred, it really isn't his fault that the real estate market did what it did. Regardless of that, enlighten us all and show us a company that says to its employees "hey, we know our part time employees could use the money so we're going to make you full time. We don't have the work but we feel bad for you. What's that? The existing full timers? Well they can afford to have their hours cut more so that you new full timers have something to do. What's that? You don't want us to cut their hours? Ok, we won't. We know you'll stand behind us and pat us on the back for making the decision that drives us into bankruptcy. But hey, who the heck wants to plan for the future anyway."