UPS honest or not? The Brown bailout

I saw this and being so anti-brown (UPS) I figured I would share this with everyone else. Honestly, if they are using these tactics as the website would indicate then it's just plain bad business model to rely on the government to bail their sorry asses out.

Brown Bailout

Yes, I see what they're trying to say, but FedEx's truck drivers aren't pilots either.

Here's the same propaganda from the OTHER side of things: FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots

The issue is actually a pretty interesting one, and goes fairly deep as far as the structures of the 2 companies. 2 companies that, to most of the public, perform exactly the same business functions, but are in actuality structured in completely different ways.

I recommend deeper, unbiased reading into the topic, because it really is interesting and important to see the differences between 2 massive package delivery companies that are regulated in very different ways, an "airline that has trucks" or a "trucking company that has planes". Fact is, UPS is regulated as a trucking company even though they operate one of the world's largest airlines, while their biggest competitor is regulated as an airline even though they operate an even larger fleet of trucks. It's all about how they both set-up their businesses, and there is some merit on both sides.

I just like USPS the best... never had a late or missing package with USPS (most come early). I can't say the same for fedex or UPS.

I just got a package via UPS today and it was quite obviously crushed lol.
Rule of thumb: don't put a larger package on top of a smaller package

I've had issues with UPS, FedEx and USPS. USPS is the only one that has lost packages though. They lost two packages that were sent to me.

The more I read about it, it's really just a crazy issue. And I don't know who's right, but I'm leaning towards siding with FedEx on this one, since their trucking and airline are set up as 2 separate companies. And, I don't trust Big Labor, which is decidedly on the side of UPS.

I do hate that it's being called a bail out, because it's not. They're just trying to change what laws govern FedEx's labor relations, not "bail out" UPS.

A good article: UPS, FedEx worlds apart on labor law - Chris Frates - POLITICO.com

Another one, from last year so it just shows this fight has been brewing: http://www.supplyexcellence.com/blog/2009/08/19/ups-fedex-union-faa-reauthorization-act/

First off I am a union member
Second is the PR says around about "making it easier to let people decide whether or not they want to unionize"
Third they go out into lala land and say" Say yes to compitition and AIR SAFETY"

I'm all for doing what ever you want to do. Some small businesses may not want unions because of the profit, while other large businesses may want unions because of the training and skilled labor(peace of mind).

But Air Safety is not regulated by unions or non unions

So fedex workers can't unionize? I think it's in every company's right to prevent their workers from unionizing (I might try to avoid working for them though). I don't think it's fair that UPS should force fedex to adopt the same policies.... but if the laws are different for each company that doesn't seem right either.

Really it probably just Imposing a time frame for voting if the majority of the company wants to unionize. If the employer doesn't want it they can just fire everybody or enough to get 51% that don't want unions.

Currently, UPS workers can unionize in local divisions, say individual sorting locations or maybe the employees in one state. However, FedEx employees can only unionize nationally, all 125,000 US employees, or none of them.

It's really murky, FedEx was founded as an airline and operates the largest commercial air fleet in the world, so they've been regulated like an airline. But they also operate an even larger trucking fleet than UPS, which is regulated like a trucking company. And UPS operates a huge air fleet too. I think the key to me is that FedEx operates their trucking and airline as separate business entities, but that may just muddy the waters even more.

All that, and what is mentioned in my second link above, that having all employees of both companies in one union could be dangerous. Of course that's technically possible now, but unionizing 125k people at once is a challenge, to say the least. Unions have their places, but my experiences have not been good. I think it's more a function of the fact that Big Labor has turned into a Big Business, just like the companies the unions are supposed to be keeping in check. There have been some very shady union-related happenings recently, even in giant national issues like the GM and Chrysler bail outs. Plus the card check bill that still won't go away, which would add a whole other wrinkle to all these issues.

FedeX drivers need to learn how to drive, i see their crashed vans at an autobody shop next to my office ALL THE TIME!