FedEx workers at New Jersey facility vote against unionization

[LiberalElite]

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/13/us-usa-fedex-unions-idUSKCN0IX07D20141113

(Reuters) - Workers at a Newark, New Jersey, FedEx Freight facility voted against joining a union on Wednesday, in a blow to a concerted drive by the Teamsters to unionize FedEx Corp.

"We are proud of our employees for doing their homework on the union and making an informed decision against third-party interference," FedEx Freight said in a statement after the result was announced.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/13/us-usa-fedex-unions-idUSKCN0IX07D20141113

[valerief]

1. stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid OR

corrupt voting

Either way, wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong

[LibDemAlways]

2. People are so accustomed to voting against

their own best interest that it's become second nature.

[Pharaoh]

3. No! We don't want to collectively bargain!

We will be happy to get crumbs........

[SheilaT]

4. Hving been through unionization attempts

I can pretty much assure you that the company made many, many promises about how wonderful it will be so long as they don't vote in the union, none of which they will keep.

[Brigid]

19. Yes, this is exactly what happened.

You can be sure of it.

[abelenkpe]

5. Idiots. Nt

[silvershadow]

6. Well it is official. The 35 year war has finally been won. The people really are too ignorant of

history and how the world really works that this has happened. The United States as I was born into it and knew it is no more.

[freshwest]

7. Trying to be charitable: Did they dislike Teamsters? Can another union step in?

They shouldn't give up on organizing to get better working conditions. After all, FedEX, like UPS, does not have a reputation as being worker friendly.

In the UAW attempt which eventually prevailed in TN, there was massive PR put out on media and overt interference by the GOP elected officials that got the workers to vote against it the union. But it finally got voted in there.

Perhaps FedEx employees at that shop will change their minds and get a union later?

[hollysmom]

9. I haven't liked the teamsters since I was 16.

they organized my grandfather's plant, they charged their dues but were never there to handle problems, people would die all the time from the fumes in the bottom of tanks, they were supposed to be wearing masks but they were not always available and peopel were yelled at if they waited to get one, so some people could not handle the pressure and would climb in the tanks without safety equipment, When they died it was always blamed on the worker not wanting to wear the safety equipment. It was not a useful union in that site. Now the afl-cio was my father's union and they were on site all the time. The fact I worked in the office in the summer probably colored my opinion, but I thought it functioned fine.

[freshwest]

10. I agree. I was AFL-CIO. Not perfect, but good and got things done for us.

I'm not sure if AFL-CIO handles transportation jobs. FedEx works with the USPS, why not join their union as an alternative?

Oh, and sorry about the work conditions where your dad was working. That was wrong.

[happyslug]

18. THe USPS Unions are in a separate catagory

Till the 1970 Strike Postal Workers could join a Union, but could NOT strike. The Union could negotiate with management, but had no real power. When the Letter Carriers went on strike in 1970, it was an illegal strike and they were threatened with Jail. When the US Post Office was replaced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) postal workers were given the right to strike but the effort of the Postal Unions was to lobby Congress

Even today, the postal union's main function is to lobby Congress.Thus the Postal Unions are NOT a good option for a private carrier like FED EX. Maybe one of the other transportation unions could step in (Railroad or Airline).

Side note; The AFL-CIO is NOT a union, but a group unions belong to. THE AFL-CIO was formed to work out conflicts between member unions and to provide support for member unions from other unions AND to lobby Congress on general Labor issues.

Thus the AFL-CIO was NOT the union of the shop you mentioned, but the union for that shop was a member of the AFL-CIO. Just a comment is that you have to look at the unions that are members of the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters have been members of the AFL-CIO, but at other times dropped its membership.

Presently the Teamsters are NOT members of the AFL-CIO:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_to_Win_Federation

[Omaha Steve]

11. Where was OSHA?

Or was that pre-Nixon? OSHA was the result of UNIONS applying pressure on Congress for YEARS!

[hollysmom]

13. now you are making me feel old, yes it was pre-Nixon

[belzabubba333]

15. i was a teamster at ups and found it to be a great thing

[hollysmom]

20. maybe now, this was then - 1960's

I remember the strike where it went on for a long time and during that time there was no worker support strike fund. The strike lasted 6 months and when it was over all the workers got was a small raise and a hie in union fees that wiped out the raise. And I grew up in a very strong union family.

[SoapBox]

8. Idiots.

Give management about six months...then the cuts will slowly begin.

Same old crap and the workers fall for this shit every time.

[florida08]

12. This didn't help

http://www.oakdaleleader.com/section/44/article/13726/

[belzabubba333]

16. every village has to have its idiot

[onehandle]

14. New Jersey residents elected Christie, twice.

No comment.

[Sunlei]

17. fedex can now start sunday & holiday work, no complaints or someone else will take your job.