FEDEX Versus the Volcano (Government/Unions)

[amicus]

In a blatantly transparent, 'payback to the Unions', the new administration is turning the power of federal agencies to the task of Unionizing FEDEX drivers, who are currently, 'independent contractors', and not employees.

Independent contractors cannot be forced to join Unions.

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=8120

It is not by accident that this effort coincides with the announcement that the US Post Office, lost 3,000,000,000, ( I think that is 3 Billion) dollars in 2007, tax payers money down the proverbial drain, poor Postal service and Draconian service to the public.

So, strangle Fedex, in hopes that people will return to the obsolete methods of government postal delivery.

Such a deal!

Amicus...

 

[DesertPirate]

Makes you wonder if anyone in Washington has a clue about the longterm damage they are doing?

 

[amicus]

They don't have a clue, DP, in my opinion. And how nice to have a reply for a change, instead of another Troll...tnx...


amicus...

 

[DesertPirate]

They don't have a clue, DP, in my opinion. And how nice to have a reply for a change, instead of another Troll...tnx...


amicus...

I may not agree with everything you say but this one is right on.

 

[amicus]

Heh..not once in my rather long life has anyone ever agreed with 'everything' I say. If they did, it would be evidence I did something wrong.



ami

 

[amicus]

"Playing Hardball with Congress"

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FedEx-may-delay-plane-buys-if-apf-14734990.html

The package delivery company revealed it might delay purchasing 30 new Boeing 777 cargo planes if Congress reclassifies the company under a different labor act, which would make it easier for its employees to unionize.

~~~

30 777's might equate to a bundle of cash and employment for many and not just at Boeing...tit for tat, but a private corporation has no chance against the Feds...they don't play by the rules and change them whenever it suits them.

Sure, why not break contracts, US House of Rpresentatives, why not?

amicus...

 

[DesertPirate]

"Playing Hardball with Congress"

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FedEx-may-delay-plane-buys-if-apf-14734990.html



~~~

30 777's might equate to a bundle of cash and employment for many and not just at Boeing...tit for tat, but a private corporation has no chance against the Feds...they don't play by the rules and change them whenever it suits them.

Sure, why not break contracts, US House of Rpresentatives, why not?

amicus...

That is an interesting threat, jobs in at least 12 states to produce one of their planes and 30 is a few billion for the economy.

I doubt if any in The Thundering Herd of Dumbass are capable of thoughts that far reaching. They couldn't understand it on a bet!

 

[SweetPrettyAss]

In a blatantly transparent, 'payback to the Unions', the new administration is turning the power of federal agencies to the task of Unionizing FEDEX drivers, who are currently, 'independent contractors', and not employees.

Independent contractors cannot be forced to join Unions.

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=8120

It is not by accident that this effort coincides with the announcement that the US Post Office, lost 3,000,000,000, ( I think that is 3 Billion) dollars in 2007, tax payers money down the proverbial drain, poor Postal service and Draconian service to the public.

So, strangle Fedex, in hopes that people will return to the obsolete methods of government postal delivery.

Such a deal!

Amicus...

You know, this link is over two years old. I'm not saying I disagree with your posts; I'm just wondering if you have something more recent.

 

[Dragonlipz]

The bikini barista at the expresso stand

states that: "We should pay attention to the age of threads and not try to understand those threads in the contextual frame of current events" - out of the mouths of babes.....of course, I was thinking of what could be in her mouth and mine......love them polka-dots......

 

[amicus]

Ah, the Trolls woke up again...thanks for 'bumping' the thread.

amicus...

 

[jomar]

Nah, Brown is behind it...

I am unclear how these companies can say their workers are independent contractors. Though some of FedEx's setups seem more like franchises, so I guess there's some really tight wiggle room there.

I have a small business with some workers. When I apply the IRS test for contractor vs employee only a few qualify as 1099 contractors. If it looks like a duck and all... It would be a real stretch to make a claim for most of them being contractors. Deep pockets for lobbying and attorneys is something I don't have...

But it's probably the standard in my industy to classify workers as contractors. I could save a considerable amount of money if they were. On the other hand, by having them as employees I have very little turnover where other owners have revolving doors. The fact that I pay the employer side of taxes, which they would have to pay as 1099 contractors, becomes a benefit. Paying worker's comp and unemployment pisses me off though.

 

[amicus]

You know, this link is over two years old. I'm not saying I disagree with your posts; I'm just wondering if you have something more recent.[/QUOTE]


~~~

FedEx may delay plane buys if union bill passes
FedEx says it may delay cargo plane purchases if bill passes making unionizing easier
Samantha Bomkamp, AP Transportation Writer
Tuesday March 24, 2009, 7:41 pm EDT

~~~

Dunno where you got over two years old, there is the date right on the article I quoted...?

amicus...

 

[SweetPrettyAss]

I am unclear how these companies can say their workers are independent contractors. Though some of FedEx's setups seem more like franchises, so I guess there's some really tight wiggle room there.

I have a small business with some workers. When I apply the IRS test for contractor vs employee only a few qualify as 1099 contractors. If it looks like a duck and all... It would be a real stretch to make a claim for most of them being contractors. Deep pockets for lobbying and attorneys is something I don't have...

But it's probably the standard in my industy to classify workers as contractors. I could save a considerable amount of money if they were. On the other hand, by having them as employees I have very little turnover where other owners have revolving doors. The fact that I pay the employer side of taxes, which they would have to pay as 1099 contractors, becomes a benefit. Paying worker's comp and unemployment pisses me off though.

At least if you have low turnover you should have low unemployment taxes.

 

[jomar]

At least if you have low turnover you should have low unemployment taxes.

Well, that's true, worker's comp is the bigger bugaboo...it's one of those grit your teeth and cut the check things. But...big picture, like you note...it's good.

 

[amicus]

Jomar, SPA, you may not think this applicable, but the thought came to mind that perhaps you have a different definition of the function of business and industry than the dictionary.

The main purpose of an enterprise in the private sector is not to provide a tax base for local/state/federal government, nor is it to supply jobs at higher than market wages to those who wish employment.

The purpose of anyone investing capital to create a business, build structures, acquire inventory, advertise, hire employees and managers, is to gain interest on the investment.

As it is a free and competitive market, I mean Fedex is in direct competition with the government owned, managed and financed US Post Office, but a real business must produce a product or service that is competitive in price and quality just to stay in business.

The auto workers union destroyed American car manufacturers in two ways: demanding higher wages than the market would support to remain competitive and resisting modernization that could have kept the price of American automobiles in competition with the ones produced in Japan and elsewhere.

People choose Fedex over the USPO because they do a better job at a lower price...that is called competition. The Feds are pissed the Fedex has the business and the USPO is in decline, so they wish to hamstring Fedex.

Simple as that.

Amicus...

 

[Dragonlipz]

The bikini barista at the expresso stand

resents being classified as a troll if that were indeed the case: she likes her work and it's perks even if she has to deal with twits like you, AMI, to make enough money to afford her itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny,
yellow,
polka-dot bikini.......

No troll, just very droll........deal with it.................

 

[jomar]

Jomar, SPA, you may not think this applicable, but the thought came to mind that perhaps you have a different definition of the function of business and industry than the dictionary.

The main purpose of an enterprise in the private sector is not to provide a tax base for local/state/federal government, nor is it to supply jobs at higher than market wages to those who wish employment.

The purpose of anyone investing capital to create a business, build structures, acquire inventory, advertise, hire employees and managers, is to gain interest on the investment.

As it is a free and competitive market, I mean Fedex is in direct competition with the government owned, managed and financed US Post Office, but a real business must produce a product or service that is competitive in price and quality just to stay in business.

The auto workers union destroyed American car manufacturers in two ways: demanding higher wages than the market would support to remain competitive and resisting modernization that could have kept the price of American automobiles in competition with the ones produced in Japan and elsewhere.

People choose Fedex over the USPO because they do a better job at a lower price...that is called competition. The Feds are pissed the Fedex has the business and the USPO is in decline, so they wish to hamstring Fedex.

Simple as that.

Amicus...

No, I do get that. Which is why I'm miffed that my accountant is apparently more conservative than my competitors. But there is a balance. If you show me a business owner who does not get it, I'll show you a former business owner.

I am not arguing for unions and certainly you'll get arguments pro and con. But I do think if an owner or board of directors takes a long term view they will realize that keeping workers satisfied, attending to the hygeinec factors if you will, will pay real dividends. You only have to look to SAS, a private software company in Cary, NC to be convinced.

I do disagree with your assessment of the mail, having mailed several packages recently...you can't beat the USPO for cost of sending mail and packages. However, they are govt subsidized so...and since we see rising costs we may see real privatization of the mail soon.

And hampering FedEx would be a wet dream for big brown, DHL and other vendors.

 

[SweetPrettyAss]

Jomar, SPA, you may not think this applicable, but the thought came to mind that perhaps you have a different definition of the function of business and industry than the dictionary.

The main purpose of an enterprise in the private sector is not to provide a tax base for local/state/federal government, nor is it to supply jobs at higher than market wages to those who wish employment.

The purpose of anyone investing capital to create a business, build structures, acquire inventory, advertise, hire employees and managers, is to gain interest on the investment.

As it is a free and competitive market, I mean Fedex is in direct competition with the government owned, managed and financed US Post Office, but a real business must produce a product or service that is competitive in price and quality just to stay in business.

The auto workers union destroyed American car manufacturers in two ways: demanding higher wages than the market would support to remain competitive and resisting modernization that could have kept the price of American automobiles in competition with the ones produced in Japan and elsewhere.

People choose Fedex over the USPO because they do a better job at a lower price...that is called competition. The Feds are pissed the Fedex has the business and the USPO is in decline, so they wish to hamstring Fedex.

Simple as that.

Amicus...

Well, I think the urpose of a business or company is to make a profit. You can call that gaining interest on the investment if you want. Toward that end they do the things you list. The only exception I can think of is a company that is actually a front for some kind of illegal operation or espionage or something else.

A company that conpetes against the government has some disadvantages because the government doesn't need to show a profit to continue to operate and they can make up laws to cripple their competition. Maybe that's one of the reasons the US is moving against FEDEX like that.