Saturday, March 13, 2010

Teamsters Canada files to represent FedEx Ground employees

Teamsters Canada, an affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has filed an application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board to represent 45 administrative workers for FedEx Ground in Mississauga, Ontario.

The board is expected to render its decision within the next few weeks.

“I would like to congratulate these men and women who had the courage to stand up to their employer, well known for his anti-unionism,” James P. Hoffa, general president for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said in a statement. “Signing a card is the first step to improving their work conditions.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million workers in North America, including 125,000 in Canada.

Memphis Business Journal - by Andy Ashby
Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Teamsters issued a press release announcing the application filing and stated that “For the first time in the history of organized labor in Canada, FedEx workers have decided to join a union, and they have chosen the Teamsters.”

FedEx issued this statement in response:

"Contrary to the inaccurate claims of the Teamsters' press release, this application does not mean that the union represents any FedEx Ground employee or has majority support at this time,” FedEx Ground spokesman Perry Colosimo said. “The company will request a hearing to challenge this application, which resulted from a card signing organizing effort. Until this challenge is resolved, FedEx Ground is under no obligation to bargain with the Teamsters."

FedEx Ground is a division of Memphis-based shipping giant FedEx Corp.

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