Sunday, October 01, 2006

NLRB Rules Massachusetts FedEx Home Delivery Drivers Are Direct Employees

The National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) has ruled that full-time, regular part-time and swing drivers at two
Wilmington, Massachusetts FedEx Home Delivery locations are direct
employees under the company's business model and have the right to seek
union representation.
The ruling is the seventh time since 1988 that the NLRB has found
drivers at FedEx Home Delivery are direct employees despite the company's
assertion that they are "independent operators." First Region NLRB Director
Rosemary Pye ruled that due to the control and restrictions enforced by
FedEx on drivers in the Home Delivery division, they are employees within
the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
"This is a great victory for these workers in Wilmington," said Jim
Hoffa, Teamsters Union General President. "These rulings are exposing
FedEx's underhanded business model, designed to deny thousands of
hardworking employees benefits they deserve as direct employees."
In accordance with the decision, Teamsters Local 25 in Boston will
begin the process for scheduling an election under the NLRA guidelines.
This is the second ruling by the NLRB this year that found FedEx Home
Delivery drivers in Massachusetts are direct employees.
"The FedEx Ground model has been proven to be wrong again and again,"
said Sean O'Brien, Local 25 President. These drivers don't want any more
false FedEx promises. The company must admit the drivers are employees and
respect their rights."

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