Friday, December 28, 2007

Happy Holidays From Your FedEx Freight West Committee ...

A Letter From "FedEx Watch" To FedEx Employees

The cause of the FedEx Ground and Home Delivery drivers is undeniably just: the offer of independence was made under false pretenses and FedEx misled the drivers into a relationship where they were illegally controlled like employees. Many many drivers fell victim to a bait and switch.

The Teamsters want to see the drivers properly classified and FedEx adhere to the law like other employers. Drivers who want to join the Teamsters must first win the legal argument at the NLRB that they are illegally labeled 'contractors' but should have the rights of employees like the right to unionize. This is not something created by the Teamsters. And as the NLRB has ruled in the drivers' favor, this position is also not a real debate any more.

The core issue is that drivers want to be truly independent or they want the rights and protections that all employees are entitled to and and have earned. Since FedEx has proved repeatedly they will not grant drivers more than token independence, then the just fight is for drivers to take back their rights. Reclaim their rights through the courts, through the NLRB, through the state and federal tax procedures. By any legal means necessary.

So to the drivers who are fighting and winning, the Teamsters salute you. Your fight in 2007 made great strides closer to a just outcome.

The Home Delivery drivers in Wilmington, MA and Hartford, CT secured their rights to join the Teamsters at the NLRB.

The drivers in the national class action lawsuit got the first of a series of class certification orders from a federal judge.

The drivers in the California class action lawsuit won their case.

The drivers in Massachusetts who filed complaints with the Attorney General caused an investigation, citations and orders to be treated as employees.

The drivers who filed SS-8 Forms with the IRS got the feds to audit FedEx and the audit found that FedEx was illegally not paying proper taxes.

As individual headlines, these are each big news. Taken together, they show the world that FedEx isn't getting away with the Big Lie.

The lawyers are watching. The accountants are watching. The analysts are watching. The hr managers are watching. The competition is watching. The activist community is watching. Wall Street is watching.

The issue of misclassification and the fight for justice by Ground and Home Delivery drivers was once something FedEx dismissed as coming from a small group of malcontents and failures.

But the drivers have done what they felt was right and fair and the drivers are succeeding. Who are the failures now?

Thursday, December 27, 2007

LET’S DEFINE 401K RETIREMENT FUNDS

First of all, you on your own, have to contribute money from your hard earned wages, meaning you have to put aside money from your paycheck, so that you could retire.
Sure FedEx will match 50 cent to the dollar that you put in and that’s only up to 6% of your earnings, but the matching is only going to cover the taxes for your benefit at the end of your time of employment at age 65, meaning no less of your exact age.
Meaning you paid for your retirement, because the matching from FedEx is tax deductible for FedEx Corporation and they don’t loose anything!
Let me give you my example of my contribution, per week, they deduct $ 78.80 per weeks X 4 weeks = $314.40 X 12 months = $3772.80 per year, plus FedEx matches $1886.40 which equals to a total of $5659.20 per year.
Now under a Teamsters contract, we could negotiate a $5.00 per hr, meaning for every hour you work you’ll get $5.00 per hour, here is an example: you work 40hrs =$200.00 per week now times it by 4 weeks =$800 per month and times it 12 months =$9600.00 going into the Western conference pension funds.
Not Vanguard, who is totally control by our one and only FedEx Corporation!


Joe Nuno

Sunday, December 23, 2007

General President Hoffa Mentions FedEx in Holiday Greetings ...

December 21, 2007

As we enjoy the holiday season and the countdown to 2008, our union has much to be proud of. We accomplished several significant goals this year and we have many worthy challenges on our horizon.

Read full letter; Holiday Greetings

Change FedEx to Win
Would like to wish you and your families all the best for the holidays and a prosperous
New Year!
BE WISE AND ORGANIZE!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Freight 'Two-Man' Meeting Scheduled January 8

Members Can Review Tentative Agreement After January 8

December 14, 2007

Representatives from local unions that represent freight Teamsters will meet Tuesday, January 8 in Washington, D.C. to review and approve the tentative National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) that was reached this week with TMI/YRC Worldwide.

Before members review the contract, the January 8 “two-man” meeting must take place first. After the January 8 meeting, local unions are being asked to hold membership meetings during the weekend of January 11-13. Members will get a chance to review the contract during the membership meetings. Then, members will be sent ballots a short time later.

The tentative agreement contains good wage increases and protects members’ jobs and their health, welfare and pension benefits, said Tyson Johnson, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division and lead negotiator.

TMI, Trucking Management, Inc., is the primary multi-employer bargaining arm of the unionized freight trucking industry. The subsidiaries include Yellow Transportation, Roadway Express, USF Holland and New Penn.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

1 in 3 teens won't have 401(k) funds

Jesse J. Holland Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Teenagers flipping burgers, stocking shelves or studying for finals don't think about their retirement. The government does, however, and the prognosis isn't good.

More than one out of every three American workers born in 1990 will have zero dollars in a 401(k)-style plan at retirement, a government report said Tuesday, an ominous sign considering many businesses are dumping pension plans.

The Government Accountability Office report "makes it especially clear precisely how important it is to make sure every American worker has the opportunity to save for their retirement," said David John, a retirement expert at The Heritage Foundation.

The GAO report estimated 36.8 percent of today's 17-year-olds will have no money in a 401(k) or similar plan when they retire. The numbers will be worse for low-income workers: 63 percent of them will have zero dollars in a 401(k)-type account when it comes time for them to retire.

With the reduction of pension plans and the uncertainty of Social Security, that number means millions of Americans will face rough going when it comes time for today's teenagers to retire, lawmakers said.

"Today's workers will more likely struggle to make ends meet during retirement than previous generations," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., who is chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Part of the problem is because people withdraw part or all of their retirement savings, the GAO said, and they don't participate in retirement plans when they're offered.

Only 36 percent of workers in 2004 participated in 401(k)s and similar accounts when offered, the most recent data available, according to the report.

Making it automatic is key, John said, because people freeze up when left on their own.

"They know that this is a really important decision and that if they don't make the right choice, they can look back and really regret it when they reach retirement age," John said. "And what they do, like so many of us who are faced with that, they're paralyzed, inertia takes over, they don't do something."

GAO found that automatically enrolling workers in 401(k)s and similar plans would cut the number of those without money in those plans to 17.7 percent. Automatic enrollment would halve the number of low-income workers with zero retirement dollars from 63 percent to 30 percent.

Defined contribution plans are becoming more important to workers. Social Security provides about 40 percent of preretirement income for current retirees but that's projected to fall by the time today's young adults retire.

And the number of pension plans being offered is dropping fast. In 1980, pension-style plans had 38 million participants and 401(k)- style plans had 20 million participants.

By 1994, 401(k)s and other defined-contribution plans included 64.6 million participants, while pension plan and other defined benefit plans included only 41.7 million participants.

Another problem is availability, John said.

The GAO report noted that in 2004, only 62 percent of active workers were offered any kind of retirement plan -- pensions or 401(k) style -- by their employer. John and others advocate an "automatic IRA," which would allow employers to transfer money into an individual retirement arrangement for the 75 million employees who don't have a 401(k) option.

Automatic 401(k) investments mean employees who freeze up on retirement decisions still have some type of plan, John said. "What we've got to do now is take the same sort of thing and apply to the workers who don't work for a company that offers a 401(k)."

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Mr Smith goes to Washington. A Posting From Our Brothers At FedxMx...

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I would just like everyone to know that FedEx corp has taken a real liking to our blog. I have traced their ip address back to the emerald empire on hacks cross road(like we didn't expect this).
the language change on the senate bill will keep everyone under the railway act. The senates version takes out the language and the house's version keeps it in. It's not like we did not expect this. Even if it was passed with the language, President Bush would have vetoed it anyway.It is so funny how this company always says change is good yet they standby a law passed in the 1800's
The reason I do not care about this is because the more united we all are the more power we have. Since you are keeping up with us in the Purple Palace let me tell you this! We are coming and the little cookie you tossed our way did not work. You have been trying to divide and conquer us for so long we expected this tactic. I feel you have only brought us more together and have pissed off the other class and crafts you screwed on the last raise. What have we ever done to be treated so bad. I believe that FedEx express employee's worked their butts off to help build this corporation so that you could start FedEx ground, Kinko's and Freight. What is the thanks we get for this effort? Our retirement cut and this cash balance joke put in its place!
Then you hire a VP that reputation precedes him by taking our jobs and farming them out.
We have kept your pilots safe and your company profitable and this is the thanks we get. TEAMSTERS ARE COMING, AND YOU HAVE NO ONE TO THANK BUT YOUR MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR SCREWING US OVER. We where the leaders in aviation maintenance and what do you do? You manage to hire every upper management from every failing airline and bring them to our house and you expect us not to fight for our jobs!
We love this company and we work weekends, nights, holidays, rainy& icy days, in the freezing rain and the scorching days of summer and this is what we get for it. I was the most purple guy you could have ever Hired when this was Federal Express. I remember when you said change is good and we became FedEx. Follow the arrow was the slogan but what you did not do correct was point the arrow down because that's what we have seen our benefits and pay go. But as long as the shareholders and Board get their Dividends and bonus's(it is public information, we are not that dumb as you think)I guess things are going great. Well take a look at how ups takes care of their employees. Why must we pay $260.00 a month plus deductibles($3000.00 per family) and prescriptions while they pay Nothing, zero, Nada? Why must our retiree's pay close to $800.00 a month for medical while ups pays only $50.00? Because being self insured and using cigna to make money off your employees is sad sad sad. I have only scratched the surface. TEAMSTERS ARE COMING YOU CAN REST ASSURE. YOU HAVE THE LAW AND THE RAILWAY ACT IN YOUR FAVOR BUT WE HAVE THE RESOLVE TO BE TREATED FAIR AND EQUAL AND WE EARNED IT.
Keep on checking on us we are not going anywhere but are doing it together!!
tducksoup1 director of communications Memphis core committee

Saturday, December 15, 2007

From X-Man,Southern Regional Manager ...

Original comment from "Change To Win Archives":

Xman,
10/12/2006, 02:38
Question 3-YOUR WRONG-You have 4 chances per year to talk to an Executive or A Regional Director during your employee meeting week.

Could someone from this website ask for Joe to respond to this question? Maybe he's too scared to sit down and really find out the REAL FACTS about our Company and that HE can look forward to a pension--It's not the best...but it's something.

Well X-man we do want the best, it's the Western Conference Pension Fund.

Joe.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Must Read Infromation ...

FedxMX Organizing Committee Newsletter
We would like to take this time to highlight some of the changes that are going to take effect in the near future here at FedEx Express. All of these changes will affect everyone differently but they are important to your financial future.
Pension Changes-
The pension plan is changing, effective June ’08, from the Traditional Pension Plan to a Portable Pension Account. You have no choice in this matter and this change affects each employee differently and is hard to forecast how this change will affect your retirement security.

Continues on comments:

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

United We Stand ... ( doesn't sound communist to me Andy L.)

This is a letter from the FedxMx blog site in response to a airline mechanic who spoke out at a meeting and was escorted out of work. This is what is possible when we all stand together and do what is right thing, BE WISE AND ORGANIZE!


I want to personally thank everyone who has responded to our posts on the raise and what happened to our brother in lax.
I have never been so proud of everyone for staying on the same page and standing with our fellow brother and sisters in the other class and crafts. I have gotten so many private emails and phone calls and posts on the website confirming that we will not be fooled again and we will all stand together on this till its done.
The company never knew what kind of communications we have when they decided to try and intimidate one of our leaders in lax. The emails went out in one day and the teamsters and their law firm Baptist and Wilder where in communication with the amt.
To make this simple lets call the amt Andy lol. Andy's fellow amt's stood their ground and wrote up affidavits saying what they claim happened (the company) never did happen.
From what I heard from all these people that management was going crazy trying to figure out what the hell was going on, who is this guy they walked out and who caused this. I can only imagine the phone calls and crap hitting the fan. Andy was actually called out on a Sunday to go talk to upper management. You know they love coming out on their Sunday.
The reason Andy is back at work so fast is because all of us stood together and the communication tools have been put in place and we acted as brothers and sisters with one purpose. God I love it and I can't tell you all how proud I am to be associated with the teamsters and all of you. I know now the brotherhood that is formed when you have so many people who stand together and say we are not going to be dealt from the bottom of the deck anymore. We will not be bought out, we already seen what happen's when we did. I
Didn't want this to be a cheerleader type letter but we have come so far in such a short amount of time I see nothing but light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you all again, you make me so proud to be a part of this.

fraternally yours Tducksoup1

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Teamsters Reach Agreements on Nearly All Freight Supplements

Union Negotiators Review ‘Complex’ Issues

December 6, 2007

Teamster negotiators announced today that they have reached tentative agreements on all but one of the freight supplements.

Meanwhile, National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) talks resumed Wednesday, December 5. Teamster negotiators are reviewing complex proposals submitted by Trucking Management, Inc. (TMI) aimed at dealing with the employers’ declining revenues and market share.

TMI, the primary multi-employer bargaining arm of the unionized freight trucking industry, has introduced the proposals to address the challenges its employers are facing. The employers say they need to develop new services to compete and to stop the erosion of the unionized companies’ market share.

“The Teamsters are studying TMI’s proposals—these are very complex issues,” said Tyson Johnson, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division who is Co-Chairman of the union’s National Negotiating Committee. “We are developing responses to the employers’ proposals. Our goal remains to make sure our members’ interests are protected. That means securing our members’ jobs and excellent benefits.”

The union and TMI are also involved in intense negotiations to resolve the issue of forced overtime, a key concern of members.

Meanwhile, after meeting daily since early October, union negotiators reached tentative agreements on all supplements this week.

“We have maintained and improved working conditions in the supplements,” Johnson said. “Making progress on the supplements has given us strong momentum as we resume national contract talks today. We are making significant progress toward reaching an agreement on the master contract sometime this month.”

About two-thirds of the shippers typically sign contracts by the end of the year to determine who their carriers will be for the following service period.

Johnson has asked all National Negotiating Committee members to prepare to negotiate over the next two weeks to work on the national contract.

“I appreciate our members’ support up to this point, and we will need more support as we make our final push during the next two weeks,” Johnson said.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

tducksoup1 said...

We the Memphis committee for teamsters under fedex express just want to say how we wish you all the best in you fight for what is right. Although we also have a hard battle ahead, together we can pass information along to each other and one day become brothers and sisters under the Teamster umbrella.
Joe you have posted some very wise and excellent information on our site and I will pass this on to our fellow amt's. We can use our communication's to help contact and support each others efforts. thanks again for your hard work. tducksoup1 aka Tom Perusi director of communications Memphis core committee

Sunday, December 2, 2007

209 FedEx Ground Drivers to Receive Share of $11 Million Settlement

Contact: Galen Munroe,
(202) 624-6911

November 30, 2007



(Washington, D.C.) – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa commended the California Supreme Court for denying FedEx Corp.’s (NYSE: FDX) final appeal of lower court rulings determining that FedEx Ground’s independent contractors are direct employees.

“Thanks to the California Supreme Court, FedEx is going to have to compensate these drivers for exploiting them for so many years under its bogus independent contractor model,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “FedEx’s illegal model has been exposed and drivers across the country are standing up for their rights and proper compensation.”

In August, the California Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that the drivers are employees and not independent contractors. FedEx, in an attempt to limit future liabilities, responded in California by firing the drivers who were affected by the court decisions.

The 209 workers will receive a share of more than $11 million in repayments for expenses related to gas and insurance directly related to the execution of their jobs.

In addition to the California case, 150 FedEx Ground workers in South Bend, Indiana, are also challenging the company classifying them as independent contractors. A federal judge certified the class-action lawsuit in October that claims the company denied the drivers benefits and proper wages.

“It’s game over for FedEx and its independent contractor scam,” Hoffa said.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.