Friday, December 19, 2008

Los Angeles FedEx Workers Testify Before Blue Ribbon Commission Panel

FedEx workers in Los Angeles testified today before a Blue Ribbon Commission panel that they are on the verge of slipping from the middle class because of dwindling benefits, higher out-of-pocket medical costs and an overall decline in workplace conditions.


The Blue Ribbon Commission hearing is co-sponsored by: the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). Economic experts, clergy members and workers discussed ways to help the workers remain in the middle class and remedy the anti-union situation they are battling. The commissioners on the panel are: U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA); Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl; and Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of the United Methodist Church, Los Angeles area."

The workers said they hope to form a union with the Teamsters to gain a good contract that would guarantee them job security, better wages and benefits. But they said those efforts have created an anti-union backlash at many workplaces, with the company holding anti-union mandatory meetings, distributing anti-union literature, showing anti-union videos at work and engaging in many acts of intimidation.

“Pro-union employees are followed into restrooms by managers who look over stalls,” said Rudy Hernandez, a 20-year FedEx employee who currently is a FedEx Freight driver. “Dispatchers tell drivers if they vote the union in, FedEx will close down this terminal.”

But despite all the anti-union activities, Hernandez and four FedEx Express aviation mechanics testified that they remain committed to forming a union with the Teamsters

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I was followed into the bathroom and looked at by management. That was harassment pure. The purest form of harassment invading my private space using the restroom just because I am organizing out of work on my own time. Andy Lessin would pull me aside for over an hour talking about the Union. Wasting my time. I wonder if Andy has ever read the preamble to the constitution you know the part where our founding fathers say,"We the the people of the United States of America in order to establish a more perfect UNION."
That's right our founding fathers had a Union going on back in 1776. It is just like the nazis to impede on the progress of the people to form a Union. There needs to be a neutrality aggreement at Fedex where managers supervisors or the Andy Lessins of the world cannot spy or interfere with the Union activity while we are on break or lunches. I cannot wait fo the LA Times to call me so I can share my story with them. The best way to expose these Fedex unionbusters is to expose them and their story out in the media.