W Post: Taking the Hill By Air and Ground Shift in Congress Favors Labor, UPS Over FedEx

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091302253.html?tid=informbox

By Del Quentin Wilber and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 14, 2007; Page D01

Frederick W. Smith, the founder of FedEx, and Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, have not been getting along.

A couple of months ago, Oberstar arrived 50 minutes late for a meeting with Smith and then gave Smith just 10 minutes to make his case on pending legislation. After his spiel, Smith said, Oberstar ended the meeting abruptly by saying, "I know all of that, and it doesn't make any difference."

"I was shocked I got treated that way," Smith said. "It was the rudest I've been treated in Congress."

Oberstar said he had been tough but polite and had to cut the meeting short because he had to cast a vote. But, he added, "I guess he's not used to people talking back to him or standing up to him."

The disagreement was more than a clash of personalities. It was also a byproduct of the changed partisan makeup of Congress.

FedEx has long been at odds with organized labor, a close ally of Congress's Democratic majority. For years, Democrats such as Oberstar and unions had been angling for legislation that would open the way for more unionized workers at FedEx.

FULL story at link.

[pberq]

1. Cheers for Rep. Olberstar!

We need more like him in office.