I'm talking generally, if FedEx announces that they are going to top us out faster, maybe raise top out a bit, I will vote no if a union vote comes about. If they offer that much and still a union is advocated with the rhetoric of getting even more then yes I will vote against a union. If FedEx makes a minimal offer then I will go with the union. But don't kid yourself. If the union pushes for UPS comparable pay and benefits it will set things in motion for major changes in how the company operates. And for all of the employees who live paycheck to paycheck, how are they going to survive a strike?
What makes you think that ANYTHING FedEx states it is going to do is going to 'stick' for any period of time? You must either be very trusting or have a memory deficit. FedEx does at it pleases, when it pleases, with its employees since the employees don't have a binding contract to prevent any such ploys by Fred.
Fred could announce tomorrow that starting in 2011 - pending no union certification - that top out times will be reduced to 6 years. Would you take him at his word? Fred could announce annual payraises of $1/hr for the next ten years - pending no union certification... Would you actually believe that he'd follow through on that, or he'd find a convenient excuse - such as the sun rising in the east - to get out of that promise?
FedEx wll make a 'minimal offer', it will be real minimal and there would be no way to ensure that the wage stagnation that has been standard fare at Express would end. Fred's 'promises' to the wage employees aren't even worth the cost to print them up and place them in an employee handbook - he'll change them whenever he thinks he can get away with it and not have a mass walkout. He gutted the pension plan and got away with that - what would lead you to think he'll stop there? He's paying Ground drivers the equivalent of $12/hr - that is fair compensation in his mind. Do you want to let him keep on stagnating Express compensation so that Express is compensated on the same levels as Ground?
At this point, still trusting FedEx outside a contract is insanity. I don't know what you are so fearful of. Going through life being fearful is no way to live. Gather up some 'intestinal fortitude' and make a decision to put an end to the games of FedEx. I said many months ago that there will be leaders in this effort and sheep. You have clearly identified yourself as being one of the latter - which is fine. I have never lived my life being a sheep and refuse to allow myself to have that mindset. It takes all kinds to make a world, it takes leadership to change the world. Playing it 'safe' won't get you anywhere but where you are at right now, undercompensated and having no means to have any say in your income. The most important freedom we all have is the freedom to say 'NO!', don't be afraid to tell Fred NO!
With the experience of many years in the military I can tell you this: Lead, Follow or Get out of the Way. You seem to be a follower, which is fine. Let those that have the intestinal fortitude to lead get things accomplished and then you can make the decision whether or not to take any personal risk in the outcome. You may want to spend some time reading Thomas Paine, especially
The American Crisis... Don't be a 'sunshine patriot', stick with the cause even at the risk of personal loss, you'll be a better person for it and have just a little more pride in yourself as a result.