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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 926353" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>The Teamsters see Express as a lost cause as long as it is covered under the RLA instead of NLRA. I posted last autumn that like most things in the world, this all comes down to money. Express is willing to spend millions and often times tens of millions a year solely to keep the RLA classification, while the Teamsters have a much smaller budget for fighting corporations such as FedEx. When FedEx is willing to spend that kind of money to keep its special deal, it is no wonder the Teamsters don't try to take on FedEx head-on. </p><p></p><p>In addition, there is the "reality" of potential loss of face in case one side or the other loses in a straight up fight (as nearly occurred in Massachusetts late last summer). Loss of face brings with it a loss of prestige in the political arena. In addition to money, it is the reputation of a side (reputation that it won't lose a fight it chooses) that enables it to push through either contract demands in case of certification - or on the flip side, to have the guts to threaten a lockout if employees do choose to certify. It is a game of brinksmanship - or automotive "chicken"; neither side wants to get into a contest unless it KNOWS it will win in the end - thus the standoff. </p><p></p><p>As long as Express remains under the RLA, the employees of Express will have to do all of the legwork themselves and do grassroots organizing. Once the Teamsters have enough signed representation cards to win a certification election, they'll petition the NLRB for an election. Till that happens though, don't expect to see the Teamsters handing out literature around Express stations - the Express employees will have to do it themselves.</p><p></p><p>This is something that most don't realilze or comprehend - since their personal experience is working in an enviroment that is covered under NLRA rules instead of RLA rules. They are radically different beasts, with the RLA deliberately designed to make unionization practically impossible to pull off without a MASSSIVE organization effort - an effort which requires MASSIVE national level organization and therefore MASSIVE levels of cash on hand to pull it off. In the case of Express, there isn't the will among the Teamsters to fight such a fight (they see it as a losing fight - and rightfully so), so it is up to FedEx employees to do it themselves - grassroots organizing. There's nothing "fair" about being under the RLA, but it is what it is - so if the employees of Express want to organize, they'll have to do it on their own. it did look like for a few months in 2009 that Express would've been removed from being covered by the RLA - but Fred pulled out the pocketbook and the cash flowed. Express is still firmly covered under RLA today. </p><p></p><p>What has changed in the many years since the original RLA was passed into law - is this - social networking. Prior to the internet and social networking, it was impossible for employees in separate locations to communicate with each other and initiate organizing efforts. Express loved this situation - the isolation of stations from one another caused organizing to be a practical impossibility. It is still difficult, but much easier now with social networking. This is one reason why Express so aggressively threatens their employees with their jobs if they are "caught" engaging in any activity which places Express in a "negative view". </p><p></p><p>In reality, all it takes is someone to be sufficiently motivated to sign that representation card and send it in. Then talk to their coworkers and see if they'll sign one and send it in. If there are enough employees who choose to not believe the bull coming out of Memphis and decide to do something about it, there may be a day where the Teamsters will file a petition with the NLRB for a certification election for certain crafts within Express. Fred will crap a brick if this ever happens (and believe me, he'll have every lawyer fighting the NLRB on any grounds possible, including the "validity" of signed representation cards). But if enough cards are signed - an election scheduled - and a majority in a nationwide vote choose certification - then the game is over for Fred.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 926353, member: 22880"] The Teamsters see Express as a lost cause as long as it is covered under the RLA instead of NLRA. I posted last autumn that like most things in the world, this all comes down to money. Express is willing to spend millions and often times tens of millions a year solely to keep the RLA classification, while the Teamsters have a much smaller budget for fighting corporations such as FedEx. When FedEx is willing to spend that kind of money to keep its special deal, it is no wonder the Teamsters don't try to take on FedEx head-on. In addition, there is the "reality" of potential loss of face in case one side or the other loses in a straight up fight (as nearly occurred in Massachusetts late last summer). Loss of face brings with it a loss of prestige in the political arena. In addition to money, it is the reputation of a side (reputation that it won't lose a fight it chooses) that enables it to push through either contract demands in case of certification - or on the flip side, to have the guts to threaten a lockout if employees do choose to certify. It is a game of brinksmanship - or automotive "chicken"; neither side wants to get into a contest unless it KNOWS it will win in the end - thus the standoff. As long as Express remains under the RLA, the employees of Express will have to do all of the legwork themselves and do grassroots organizing. Once the Teamsters have enough signed representation cards to win a certification election, they'll petition the NLRB for an election. Till that happens though, don't expect to see the Teamsters handing out literature around Express stations - the Express employees will have to do it themselves. This is something that most don't realilze or comprehend - since their personal experience is working in an enviroment that is covered under NLRA rules instead of RLA rules. They are radically different beasts, with the RLA deliberately designed to make unionization practically impossible to pull off without a MASSSIVE organization effort - an effort which requires MASSIVE national level organization and therefore MASSIVE levels of cash on hand to pull it off. In the case of Express, there isn't the will among the Teamsters to fight such a fight (they see it as a losing fight - and rightfully so), so it is up to FedEx employees to do it themselves - grassroots organizing. There's nothing "fair" about being under the RLA, but it is what it is - so if the employees of Express want to organize, they'll have to do it on their own. it did look like for a few months in 2009 that Express would've been removed from being covered by the RLA - but Fred pulled out the pocketbook and the cash flowed. Express is still firmly covered under RLA today. What has changed in the many years since the original RLA was passed into law - is this - social networking. Prior to the internet and social networking, it was impossible for employees in separate locations to communicate with each other and initiate organizing efforts. Express loved this situation - the isolation of stations from one another caused organizing to be a practical impossibility. It is still difficult, but much easier now with social networking. This is one reason why Express so aggressively threatens their employees with their jobs if they are "caught" engaging in any activity which places Express in a "negative view". In reality, all it takes is someone to be sufficiently motivated to sign that representation card and send it in. Then talk to their coworkers and see if they'll sign one and send it in. If there are enough employees who choose to not believe the bull coming out of Memphis and decide to do something about it, there may be a day where the Teamsters will file a petition with the NLRB for a certification election for certain crafts within Express. Fred will crap a brick if this ever happens (and believe me, he'll have every lawyer fighting the NLRB on any grounds possible, including the "validity" of signed representation cards). But if enough cards are signed - an election scheduled - and a majority in a nationwide vote choose certification - then the game is over for Fred. [/QUOTE]
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