What is H.R. 915 *Brown Bailout*
Hey everyone,
I work for UPS, and today at work my boss was asking every employee to write a letter(s) to out senators about H.R. 915 (Section 806 of the 2009 FAA Reauthorization Act). Here is a picture of the form letter they wanted us to fill out http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/americandodo/UPSBrown...
Basically I need to know what it is, and if it will impact anything. I refused to write the letter before I had time to read the bill itself. What he told me was that UPS and FedEx are not on the same set of laws, and rules. I understand that, as in a way we are different companies and use different techniques. One for instance is the fact that FedEx contracts their ground drivers. The ground drivers have to maintain their own vehicles, buy gas, etc.. While UPS is a union, and they supply all of this.
I asked my boss what these special rules that FedEx has over UPS, and he told me that they cannot form a union as easy as UPS. So I asked him how that affects UPS. he basically told me that by forcing FedEx to go by the same laws would make their shipping prices go higher IF they unionized.
So basically all I see is this....
UPS the company will benefit from this by having less competition, and if FedEx unionizes then they will have to pay employees more money, therefore forced to raise the rate of shipping...UPS sees this as evening the playing field.
The union (Teamsters) will benefit IF FedEx unionizes by expanding their power, and wealth generated by union dues from a huge company like FedEx. The union getting too large is scary as they already have too much political power and were really pushing Obama as president to us Teamsters. I do not want the union to get to large or they may have the power wealth, and people to push any law it sees fit.
So I need to know what this is all about. I only have a few days to know the truth, but sadly I don't have much time to look into this myself, as my wife and I just had a new baby, and I have very limited time between work, and baby duties....so I was hoping you all could help me.
I feel like there is something very screwing going on here, and feel like I need to let my colleagues know the truth behind this. maybe I am just paranoid, and think everything has a hidden agenda....but this just seems weird, especially with UPS, and the Teamsters pushing this so hard.
So if you can please help, I would be very appreciative! I know in the past I have offended a few people by some forum posts I have made, and I hope we can put that behind us and move forward (please accept this as an apology). I want to help out, and do what is right, and I would really like to know the truth behind this. I am sorry I do not have time to research all this myself, but as I said...baby comes first!
Thank you very much!
God Bless you all!
The lowdown
Both sides are being disingenuous. It's not a "bailout," that UPS wants, and it's not really a "level playing field" that they want either. UPS wants FedEx to come under rules that would make it easier for unions to disrupt FedEx service.
UPS operates under rules that apply to trucking companies. (UPS started when trucks were pulled by teams of horses. It is still 85% trucking.) FedEx operates under rules that were originally written for railroads, and were extended to cover airlines. (FedEx is 85% airplanes.) The rationale for giving railroads and airlines more protection from unions is to keep local disputes from crippling an entire system.
It's hard to pick a side. The libertarian position would be to repeal all the rules and let the companies and unions either work things out among themselves or peaceably part company.
Maybe FedEx contractors want the union
The FedEx contractors have to pay for their vehicle, gas, etc. They have to get medical benefits and insurance on their own. It would be interesting to hear what FedEx contractors feel about becoming a unionized organization.
FED ex contractors do not
FED ex contractors do not get rich quick..They earn their hire.. I know a contractor that has been sold several times to get out of the contract..So you can bet UPS wants this practice stopped ,Competition. Also Fed ex supplies a better service. They will actually hunt you down to deliver locally.
yes ???
Sounds like UPS want to run competitors away
I don't blame FexEx for using contracted labor if they can do the same job for less money, it's called a free market.
Sounds like the Union wants more control. They are both under the same laws except FedEx uses contracted labor instead of using unionized employees.
UPS could not sign another contract with the Union. with the Economy, I'm sure they have no problem filling the positions.
Or not....
....Or they just want to run them all out of business
FedEx doesn't want to play ball
In my opinion, if FedEx is playing the same game as many other delivery companies, why aren't they included in the same rules and regulations. Let's be fair!
UPS may be writing letters, but FedEx is out there bashing their competitors. Why should FedEx be excluded. I'm sure they have their reasons. Let's play fair!!!
Equal opportunities without discrimination.
Who do you work for, Bike
Who do you work for, Bike Girl? I see that you signed up only minutes before writing this, your only message to Daily Paul.
I thought I’d chime in on
I thought I’d chime in on the conversation. My name is Debbie Curtis-Magley and I'm a spokesperson with UPS.
Just like FedEx, we're encouraging employees to write to D.C. about the RLA amendment. And it's strictly voluntary. This issue is simply about fairness in competition. Out of the hundreds of companies in the delivery industry, FedEx Express is the only one covered by a different labor law. FedEx and UPS have airlines, offer similar services and our employees perform the same job. Both companies are a critical link for businesses and commerce. It’s FedEx that is being treated differently under the current rules.
Interestingly, FedEx already has more than 100,000 employees currently covered under the same labor law as UPS ... and these employees are not unionized. If you’d like to learn more, go to http://bit.ly/6XkNu
Debbie Curtis-Magley
UPS Public Relations
Debbie Curtis-Magley
UPS Public Relations
I believe Fed ex exp is a
I believe Fed ex exp is a drop & carry operation so I would see it as something different.yes ???
just for clarification deb
can you give us the ups approved definition of :
encourage
harass
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Ron Paul
In what way is FedEx treated
In what way is FedEx treated differently? Please be specific.
45 USC 154 Sec. 806
SEC. 806. EXPRESS CARRIER EMPLOYEE PROTECTION.
(a) In General- Section 201 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 181) is amended--
(1) by striking ‘All’ and inserting ‘(a) In General- All’;
(2) by inserting ‘and every express carrier’ after ‘common carrier by air’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘(b) Special Rules for Express Carriers-
‘(1) IN GENERAL- An employee of an express carrier shall be covered by this Act only if that employee is in a position that is eligible for certification under part 61, 63, or 65 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and only if that employee performs duties for the express carrier that are eligible for such certification. All other employees of an express carrier shall be covered by the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
‘(2) AIR CARRIER STATUS- Any person that is an express carrier shall be governed by paragraph (1) notwithstanding any finding that the person is also a common carrier by air.
‘(3) EXPRESS CARRIER DEFINED- In this section, the term ‘express carrier’ means any person (or persons affiliated through common control or ownership) whose primary business is the express shipment of freight or packages through an integrated network of air and surface transportation.’.
(b) Conforming Amendment- Section 1 of such Act (45 U.S.C. 151) is amended in the first paragraph by striking ‘, any express company that would have been subject to subtitle IV of title 49, United States Code, as of December 31, 1995,’.
-----------------------------
The 1st thing I see is reference to amending 45 U.S.C. 181 to include express carriers
-----------------------------
45 USC 181
All of the provisions of subchapter I of this chapter except section 153 of this title are extended to and shall cover every common carrier by air engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, and every carrier by air transporting mail for or under contract with the United States Government, and every air pilot or other person who performs any work as an employee or subordinate official of such carrier or carriers, subject to its or their continuing authority to supervise and direct the manner of rendition of his service.
----------------------------
Note that all sections of Sub-chapter 1 apply except sec.153, so, ignore 153. What else is in Sub-chapter 1? It looks like a bunch of arbitration stuff. Where the inter-state commerce becomes negatively affected by the dispute, the President gets notified and then has greater powers to pressure both sides for arbitration, but it does not say anything hardcore like he can order the union back to work, it says he has to respect both sides still and appoint some new arbitration to deal with it. Surprising, I expected more teeth for the president or something, the way it's been going lately with other new laws.
So, If there is some hidden thing, I was not good enough to find it. Where I kind of thought this was going was to make it so you couldn't strike if the president declared it was a serious interruption to interstate commerce. I didn't find anything that said as much. Maybe there is an applicable provision like that in some other law, unsure.
I tried. Overall it looks like it gives you protections in addition to the national labor act, but at the expense of the government getting involved in the mediation and arbitration stuff.
I wish I knew more, sorry.
Thank you very much Kelldor!
You have been very informative, and very helpful! I still doubt I will write the letter, as I have been told a few things about FedEx.
I seems this bill is only going after FedEx Express, not FedEx ground. I read that FedEx ground is already NLRA and has always had the option to unionize, and have always had to follow the same rules as UPS. So it seems UPS is only going after the small next day air service of FedEx, which truly is RLA if you ask me. They do pick up and deliver to airplanes everyday. I work next to these guys at the airport when I drive for UPS as an air driver. However UPS air does run it's operations a bit differently than FedEx Express. I am to the point where things should be left well enough alone. Seeing as how UPS takes the air and then delivers it to ground drivers at a hub or center (a very small percentage is actually delivered by a UPS air driver however), I can see how FedEx by only using its Express drivers to deliver the air packages is different, and should remain under the RLA as they truly are a different company in it's workings, and in my opinion that is what defines them as different from UPS.
Again, thank you so much for your time! I am glad that the bill does not contain hidden junk as I thought it would. It seems that basically this is just for UPS benefit, and the Teamsters benefit. I do think FedEx is getting screwed in this bill...but again, I do not know 100% how FedEx operates, I only see them at the airport, and see how they do things different than we do.
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22)
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22)
It's weird being aPaulite in a union...
For you the individual, if you are in the teamsters working for UPS, then it may indirectly help you. For the consumer in general it sucks because costs will go up. Those costs will be passed on to the consumer. With the added revenues from union dues should Fedex unionize, I would not expect to see your dues raise any time soon. The teamsters are a strong union. They came out HARD against the NAFTA super highway and the SPP/NAU too.
I am in the IAM. Both yours and mine (unions )are in the AFL/CIO. It is weird being a Ron Pauler in a union. Boeing is threatening to start up the 2nd 787 line somewhere else, like Charlston, S. Carolina (right to work state, meaning no unions) unless we sign some "social contract" with the company effectively giving up our right to vote to strike. I fight every day to be an individual and not part of the collective. As an individual, I oppose any discussion on the matter, because my right to strike, does not come from the union or the contract. All of my rights come from my creator. Even if I worked for a non-union shop I could still strike, and I'd probably get fired for doing so, but it is still my right. No collective my vote away that right. If the union does sign this "social contract" then they are pussies for giving in to a global corporate bully. I will still retain my right, but should I use it, Boeing could fire me.
I am absolutely more hardcore on this issue than my international-socialist pro-labor coworkers, and the anti-union corporatists simply want to cave in to the bullying and see what they can get in trade for it. I made up a 1 liner slogan, borrowed from some founders quote:
"New lines come and go, but rights once lost are never regained."
I'm not all screaming on behalf of collectivism or anything, believe me, in fact, I wish I was allowed to negotiate myself a better contract (well, I could if I was CEO material or something), but I find my fellow co-workers more willing to give up rights. I guess what has me going is that they understand so little about what exactly rights are, and where they come from.
I'm reading Title 45 right now, and I'll have more on your deal shortly.
ups
ups is trying to correct the government interference with more government interference.
typical.
Not sure
H.R.915
Title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2010 through 2012, to improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] (introduced 2/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills: H.RES.464
Latest Major Action: 6/1/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
I'll look up some more on it, but I don't see anything in this bill, unless there is something in the other bill that has something.
I know what you mean about the Teamsters, heck we still have a Obama sign in the glass case where the job posts are and the union rep refuses to remove it. I told him are we suppose to bow to it or something and I walked out of the room. I also told him it offends me that the union is shoving it in my face everyday.
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2012 is the year for Ron Paul!
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Thank you! Please let me
Thank you! Please let me know if you find anything else out. Yeah, we probably have the same picture in our glass case with the union bulletins and such.
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22)
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22)