William B. Cassidy | Jun 30, 2010 4:14PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
LTL| Labor| Trucking| United States
Hoffa says his union will hold carrier’s ‘feet to fire’ for 2011
The Teamsters union is aiming to get YRC Worldwide to resume some pension contributions starting in January 2011, union officials said Tuesday.
"We're going to make sure we hold their feet to the fire so they start the payments in some fashion, and that is our goal," said General President James P. Hoffa.
"The main issue is that we bring YRC back into our plans at some contributory rate," said Tyson Johnson, director of the Teamsters National Freight Division.
That implies the union might agree to allow YRC Worldwide to pay less than the full amount that would be due when its pension contribution suspension expires.
"We don't know what things will be like toward the end of the year," Johnson told YRC Worldwide Teamster employees in a June 29 conference call.
"We will do our work, we will have this company postured to return to our benefit trust," said Johnson. "They fully understand our intent. We confirm it weekly."
Johnson said negotiations with the company on the pension issue got under way in June, establishing the framework and guidelines needed for further talks.
"We need to have the bumps and wrinkles rubbed out before we reach the Jan. 1 date," he said. "It's not something you do in a couple of days."
YRC Worldwide faces about $30 million a month in renewed pension obligations starting in January, according to the Wolfe Trahan research firm.
The $5.3 billion trucking operator won an 18-month suspension of pension contributions from the Teamsters last August, along with a 15 percent wage cut.
Starting next year, YRC also faces $155 million in deferred pension contributions from the first half of 2009 and $200 million in deferred interest payments.
Investment analysts say the company needs to have its pension deadline extended to 2012 as it struggles to return to profitability after three years of losses.
The international union and $5.3 billion trucking operator set up two joint committees to start talks on the pension issue and YRC's "competitiveness" in May.
The Teamsters leaders said they are willing to help the company be more competitive, but they will not renegotiate the National Master Freight Agreement.
"We have not opened the contract for negotiations," said Johnson. "We are not renegotiating national language. We are not renegotiating supplemental language."
Read More
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Conway at LVS yard.jpg
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Railroaded out of Their Rights: How a Labor Law Loophole Prevents FedEx Express Employees from Being Represented by a Union
Conclusion and Recommendation
A basic equitable principle informs this report: companies that provide a similar service and that are structured and operate in a similar way should be treated similarly under the law. This principle should apply to the regulation of labor relations in the package-delivery industry, and in turn should guide Congress in determining the appropriate labor law coverage for FedEx Express' ground transportation employees.
Because RLA coverage of these employees is an "historical anomaly" that is unfair to the FedEx Express employees involved and gives FedEx Express an unwarranted competitive edge, Congress should close the FedEx Express labor law loophole. The Leadership Conference urges Congress to level the playing field by bringing these employees under the coverage of the NLRA and providing them with the same right to be represented by a union as similarly situated employees at other package-delivery companies. Toward that end, we recommend that the Oberstar amendment be included in the final version of the FAA Reauthorization
Read Full Report Click Here
A basic equitable principle informs this report: companies that provide a similar service and that are structured and operate in a similar way should be treated similarly under the law. This principle should apply to the regulation of labor relations in the package-delivery industry, and in turn should guide Congress in determining the appropriate labor law coverage for FedEx Express' ground transportation employees.
Because RLA coverage of these employees is an "historical anomaly" that is unfair to the FedEx Express employees involved and gives FedEx Express an unwarranted competitive edge, Congress should close the FedEx Express labor law loophole. The Leadership Conference urges Congress to level the playing field by bringing these employees under the coverage of the NLRA and providing them with the same right to be represented by a union as similarly situated employees at other package-delivery companies. Toward that end, we recommend that the Oberstar amendment be included in the final version of the FAA Reauthorization
Read Full Report Click Here
Thursday, June 17, 2010
FedEx Freight Reports $153 Million Loss
William B. Cassidy | Jun 16, 2010 4:27PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
LTL| Trucking| United States
Shipping volume increases, but price discounting cuts into earnings
FedEx Freight's losses more than tripled in the fiscal year ending May 31, as steep price discounting in 2009 cut deeply into its earnings, despite market share gains.
The less-than-truckload carrier reported a $153 million loss on $4.3 billion in revenue for its fiscal year, compared with a $44 million loss on $4.4 billion in sales the previous year.
The company did narrow its losses in the fourth quarter, as LTL carriers called a truce in their price war and began trying to prune unprofitable freight from their books.
FedEx Freight lost $36 million on $1.23 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, compared with a $106 million loss a year ago, when sales totaled $948 million.
Over the past year, FedEx Freight became the largest stand-alone LTL carrier in the nation, passing YRC Worldwide's nationwide LTL subsidiary YRC in sales.
Its shipment volume increased 11 percent for the full year, rising from 74,400 shipments to 82,300 shipments per day. LTL yield, however, dropped 10 percent for the year.
In the February-to-June quarter, daily LTL shipments increased 34 percent at FedEx Freight. The company's LTL yield declined, but at a lower rate than in the third quarter.
Revenue per hundredweight fell 6 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with 8 percent in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, FedEx Freight handled 91,500 shipments a day.
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
LTL| Trucking| United States
Shipping volume increases, but price discounting cuts into earnings
FedEx Freight's losses more than tripled in the fiscal year ending May 31, as steep price discounting in 2009 cut deeply into its earnings, despite market share gains.
The less-than-truckload carrier reported a $153 million loss on $4.3 billion in revenue for its fiscal year, compared with a $44 million loss on $4.4 billion in sales the previous year.
The company did narrow its losses in the fourth quarter, as LTL carriers called a truce in their price war and began trying to prune unprofitable freight from their books.
FedEx Freight lost $36 million on $1.23 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, compared with a $106 million loss a year ago, when sales totaled $948 million.
Over the past year, FedEx Freight became the largest stand-alone LTL carrier in the nation, passing YRC Worldwide's nationwide LTL subsidiary YRC in sales.
Its shipment volume increased 11 percent for the full year, rising from 74,400 shipments to 82,300 shipments per day. LTL yield, however, dropped 10 percent for the year.
In the February-to-June quarter, daily LTL shipments increased 34 percent at FedEx Freight. The company's LTL yield declined, but at a lower rate than in the third quarter.
Revenue per hundredweight fell 6 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with 8 percent in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, FedEx Freight handled 91,500 shipments a day.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
FedEx Loophole Prevents Express Drivers From Joining Unions
As many as 100,000 workers who drive trucks and deliver packages for FedEx Express face unfair obstacles to organizing unions because the company has been misclassified under federal labor laws, according to a new report from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
The report, "Railroaded out of Their Rights," explores the history of FedEx Express' coverage under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), a 1920's era labor law that was intended to regulate the railroad and airline industries. FedEx Express has lobbied aggressively to remain covered under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), while similar package-delivery companies such as UPS are covered under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
The report, "Railroaded out of Their Rights," explores the history of FedEx Express' coverage under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), a 1920's era labor law that was intended to regulate the railroad and airline industries. FedEx Express has lobbied aggressively to remain covered under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), while similar package-delivery companies such as UPS are covered under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Monday, June 14, 2010
Anaheim Driver Says
The Los Angeles service center has taken manpower management to a new level; commonly known as terrorism, yes, terrorism. Los Angeles management made it mandatory for hourly employees to view anti-union videos (propaganda) and sign statements denouncing unionization. This is simply a scare tactic, pure manipulation focused on the uninformed and the uneducated segment of FedEx employees. Are we entering a new phase of Human Resource Management? Are we entering a new era of employer vs. employee warfare? If so, I pray that it remains non- violent.
According to the National Labor Relations Act (or Wagner Act) which is a 1935 United States federal law limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector that create labor unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take part in and other forms of concerted activity in support of their demands. Employers cannot prevent employees from organizing or participating in union organizing efforts.
Whatever LA management used to manipulate their FedEx workers into signing, there will be legal ramifications.
What is truly sad is that every manager at the Los Angeles service center could be deported if pulled-over without their birth-certificates in Arizona.
So to me, that says that the sorry group of managers in that non-diverse part of Arkansas singled out the minority controlled service center in Southern California to conduct this Nazi type program.
Patients are wearing thin, organize now!
According to the National Labor Relations Act (or Wagner Act) which is a 1935 United States federal law limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector that create labor unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take part in and other forms of concerted activity in support of their demands. Employers cannot prevent employees from organizing or participating in union organizing efforts.
Whatever LA management used to manipulate their FedEx workers into signing, there will be legal ramifications.
What is truly sad is that every manager at the Los Angeles service center could be deported if pulled-over without their birth-certificates in Arizona.
So to me, that says that the sorry group of managers in that non-diverse part of Arkansas singled out the minority controlled service center in Southern California to conduct this Nazi type program.
Patients are wearing thin, organize now!
Friday, June 11, 2010
A Truck Driver is a Truck Driver, Not an Airline Pilot
By Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa
Published By The Hill on June 10, 2010
A truck driver is a truck driver is a truck driver. All the bullying and threats by FedEx Chief Executive Fred Smith to Congress won’t change that simple fact.
But Smith is demanding that Congress preserve a special loophole that applies only to FedEx Express – or else. In 1996, Smith lobbied for, and essentially received an exemption from the labor law that governs every other package delivery company in the United States.
As a result, FedEx Express is covered by a labor law that applies to only airlines and railroads. So even though FedEx Express drivers pick up and drop off packages exactly the same way as every other delivery driver in the United States, they are treated like airline pilots under labor law. Because of this, they face legal barriers to joining a local union.
The Teamsters Union has launched a campaign to remind Americans that truck drivers are not airline pilots.
You’d think we wouldn’t need to explain the difference – that truck drivers’ cruising level is about four feet off the ground, and pilots don’t have to stop the plane to use the bathroom.
But FedEx Express insists on telling Congress that it’s an airline. That’s quite a pronouncement for a company that employs more than 90,000 truck drivers, sorters, loaders and unloaders who don’t even touch an airplane. FedEx has 13,000 more truck drivers than UPS, according to the U.S. Transportation Department.
And FedEx trucks log about 165 million more miles a year than UPS trucks.
READ MORE
Published By The Hill on June 10, 2010
A truck driver is a truck driver is a truck driver. All the bullying and threats by FedEx Chief Executive Fred Smith to Congress won’t change that simple fact.
But Smith is demanding that Congress preserve a special loophole that applies only to FedEx Express – or else. In 1996, Smith lobbied for, and essentially received an exemption from the labor law that governs every other package delivery company in the United States.
As a result, FedEx Express is covered by a labor law that applies to only airlines and railroads. So even though FedEx Express drivers pick up and drop off packages exactly the same way as every other delivery driver in the United States, they are treated like airline pilots under labor law. Because of this, they face legal barriers to joining a local union.
The Teamsters Union has launched a campaign to remind Americans that truck drivers are not airline pilots.
You’d think we wouldn’t need to explain the difference – that truck drivers’ cruising level is about four feet off the ground, and pilots don’t have to stop the plane to use the bathroom.
But FedEx Express insists on telling Congress that it’s an airline. That’s quite a pronouncement for a company that employs more than 90,000 truck drivers, sorters, loaders and unloaders who don’t even touch an airplane. FedEx has 13,000 more truck drivers than UPS, according to the U.S. Transportation Department.
And FedEx trucks log about 165 million more miles a year than UPS trucks.
READ MORE
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
A Message From The FedEx Mechanics Website
Fellow FedEx Express Employee,
As we all already know, we keep hearing that the inclusion of our legislation into the final FAA reauthorization bill will most likely take place prior to the Congress's recess for the July 4th holiday. If this all bears true, June is the most important month to all of us.
The House and Senate are currently attempting to reconcile their two bills to attain the final bill. We all know we need our language included in the final legislation. It is paramount that we use this time to contact every legislator to make sure they are of the mindset to include our language, the Express Carrier Employee Protection provision. Encourage the decision-makers through phone calls, letters, emails, and personal contact to go to our newest website, www.FedExDriversArentPilots.com. Encourage them on behalf of all FedEx Express employees to include our legislation in the final FAA Reauthorization Bill.
Help the legislators to check out our FAA fact sheet which gives a common sense, but tongue in cheek comparison of training, licensing, qualifications and duties performed by pilots and drivers. This helps to point out how ludicrous Fred Smith's argument to keep all of FedEx Express under the RLA really is. The FAA fact sheet taken directly from our FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots website, asks the million dollar question we are all waiting to hear answered:
Are FedEx Drivers.....Truckers or Airline Pilots?
In fact, download the FAA fact sheet by clicking on the underlined phrase and distribute it to our fellow employees, your legislator, your newspaper and anyone else you talk to, so they can decide for themselves whether FedEx Drivers are actually Pilots. We think not.
Keep up your great work and encourage your coworkers to do the same. Don't let it be said that "I did not do everything I could to get our legislation passed".
Fraternally,
Your Organizing Committee for Change at FedEx Express
Our website: www.fedxmx.com
As we all already know, we keep hearing that the inclusion of our legislation into the final FAA reauthorization bill will most likely take place prior to the Congress's recess for the July 4th holiday. If this all bears true, June is the most important month to all of us.
The House and Senate are currently attempting to reconcile their two bills to attain the final bill. We all know we need our language included in the final legislation. It is paramount that we use this time to contact every legislator to make sure they are of the mindset to include our language, the Express Carrier Employee Protection provision. Encourage the decision-makers through phone calls, letters, emails, and personal contact to go to our newest website, www.FedExDriversArentPilots.com. Encourage them on behalf of all FedEx Express employees to include our legislation in the final FAA Reauthorization Bill.
Help the legislators to check out our FAA fact sheet which gives a common sense, but tongue in cheek comparison of training, licensing, qualifications and duties performed by pilots and drivers. This helps to point out how ludicrous Fred Smith's argument to keep all of FedEx Express under the RLA really is. The FAA fact sheet taken directly from our FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots website, asks the million dollar question we are all waiting to hear answered:
Are FedEx Drivers.....Truckers or Airline Pilots?
In fact, download the FAA fact sheet by clicking on the underlined phrase and distribute it to our fellow employees, your legislator, your newspaper and anyone else you talk to, so they can decide for themselves whether FedEx Drivers are actually Pilots. We think not.
Keep up your great work and encourage your coworkers to do the same. Don't let it be said that "I did not do everything I could to get our legislation passed".
Fraternally,
Your Organizing Committee for Change at FedEx Express
Our website: www.fedxmx.com
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Food for thought...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to recommend to all my brothers and sisters here at LTLboards to read Why Union Matter 2nd edition by Michael D. Yates. Because this is the kind of material that FedEx corporate or any other corporation from the U.S Chamber of Commerce doesn’t want you to read...
• Unions have been permanent features of capitalist economies.
Given the inherent conflict between workers and their employers, workers in most workplaces band together informally to improve their circumstances. However, unions provide workers with a more permanent and formal power at work.
• Unions benefits workers in many ways. Unionization has a positive independent effect on the wages and benefits of employees. Unions also give workers a voice in workplace decisions. Unions benefit all workers and not just those who are organized. Higher wages stimulate spending in the overall economy and this leads to more employment. Union reduces inequality in incomes and fight for things beneficial to all workers, such as unemployment compensation and universal health care. Nonunion employers frequently raise wages and provide workers with some voice just to avoid unionization.
• Unions in the United States usually operate under the provisions of the National Labor Relations Acts (or some similar federal or state statute). As amended and interpreted by the NRLB and the courts, the act makes it difficult to organize workers. However, unions that utilize aggressive organizing models can succeed in organizing workers and build strong unions despite the law. Unions can also be organized without using the act, and unions have begun to do so.
• Collective bargaining is one primary function of a union. Bargaining should be viewed as an extension of organizing and conducted as a militant and democratic campaign utilizing escalating pressure tactics, including work-to-rule, strikers, picketing, corporate campaigns, and civil disobedience. Collective bargaining agreements represent truces in the war between capital and labor.
Joe Nuno
I would like to recommend to all my brothers and sisters here at LTLboards to read Why Union Matter 2nd edition by Michael D. Yates. Because this is the kind of material that FedEx corporate or any other corporation from the U.S Chamber of Commerce doesn’t want you to read...
• Unions have been permanent features of capitalist economies.
Given the inherent conflict between workers and their employers, workers in most workplaces band together informally to improve their circumstances. However, unions provide workers with a more permanent and formal power at work.
• Unions benefits workers in many ways. Unionization has a positive independent effect on the wages and benefits of employees. Unions also give workers a voice in workplace decisions. Unions benefit all workers and not just those who are organized. Higher wages stimulate spending in the overall economy and this leads to more employment. Union reduces inequality in incomes and fight for things beneficial to all workers, such as unemployment compensation and universal health care. Nonunion employers frequently raise wages and provide workers with some voice just to avoid unionization.
• Unions in the United States usually operate under the provisions of the National Labor Relations Acts (or some similar federal or state statute). As amended and interpreted by the NRLB and the courts, the act makes it difficult to organize workers. However, unions that utilize aggressive organizing models can succeed in organizing workers and build strong unions despite the law. Unions can also be organized without using the act, and unions have begun to do so.
• Collective bargaining is one primary function of a union. Bargaining should be viewed as an extension of organizing and conducted as a militant and democratic campaign utilizing escalating pressure tactics, including work-to-rule, strikers, picketing, corporate campaigns, and civil disobedience. Collective bargaining agreements represent truces in the war between capital and labor.
Joe Nuno
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