FAA Reauthorization Act
Recently, FedEx created a website which is supposed to tell you that UPS is seeking a bailout from the government. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. What this boils down to is some legislation that recently passed the House and is now with the Senate. This piece of legislation is called the FAA Reauthorization Act. Some wording was included in this act to exclude FedEx Express drivers and package handlers from being covered under the RLA, as they are now, and instead be covered under the NLRA, like UPS drivers and package handlers.

The RLA, Railway Labor Act, is an act that covers railways and airlines. This says that these companies must organize on a whole company level if they are going to unionize. This was originally intended so that a strike in one town would not disrupt operations countrywide. FedEx Express in its entirety is currently covered under this act. UPS pilots and airplane mechanics only are currently covered under this act.

The NLRA, National Labor Relations Act, is an act that covers all other trucking companies. This act allows unionization by location. All UPS drivers, truck/auto mechanics, and package handlers are covered under this act.

When this new act passes the Senate, then the drivers and package handlers at FedEx Express will be able to unionize by location. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, but they will be able to if they so desire. Actually, Fed Ex has other divisions currently covered under the NLRA that have not yet chosen to organize, but FedEx would have you believe that if this passes then they will automatically have to raise rates 30% and cancel a large order with Boeing in order to compensate for increased costs due to unionization. Past history does not bear this out.

Really, what UPS is saying here is that people who do the same jobs should be governed under the same laws. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

To read UPS’ stance on the issue, go here Recently, FedEx created a website which is supposed to tell you that UPS is seeking a bailout from the government. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. What this boils down to is some legislation that recently passed the House and is now with the Senate. This piece of legislation is called the FAA Reauthorization Act. Some wording was included in this act to exclude FedEx Express drivers and package handlers from being covered under the RLA, as they are now, and instead be covered under the NLRA, like UPS drivers and package handlers.

The RLA, Railway Labor Act, is an act that covers railways and airlines. This says that these companies must organize on a whole company level if they are going to unionize. This was originally intended so that a strike in one town would not disrupt operations countrywide. FedEx Express in its entirety is currently covered under this act. UPS pilots and airplane mechanics only are currently covered under this act.

The NLRA, National Labor Relations Act, is an act that covers all other trucking companies. This act allows unionization by location. All UPS drivers, truck/auto mechanics, and package handlers are covered under this act.

When this new act passes the Senate, then the drivers and package handlers at FedEx Express will be able to unionize by location. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, but they will be able to if they so desire. Actually, Fed Ex has other divisions currently covered under the NLRA that have not yet chosen to organize, but FedEx would have you believe that if this passes then they will automatically have to raise rates 30% and cancel a large order with Boeing in order to compensate for increased costs due to unionization. Past history does not bear this out.

Really, what UPS is saying here is that people who do the same jobs should be governed under the same laws. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

To read UPS’ stance on the issue, go here

To see FedEx’s propaganda, go here

Please email your Senators to voice your opinion on this important issue. You can find a list of Senators by state here