UNITED WE BARGAIN DIVIDED WE BEG
Word is that we are getting a 3% raise in October. Now that is better than a stick in the eye even though we are still healing from that stick in the eye when our medical cost us a lot more than 3%. I would say that we are still way behind what our fellow Mechanics at UPS make in pay and way behind in benefits. I was told this would equal to $1.47 and hour raise. Hey I'll take it but I still think we would have more of a voice on these matters if we had our own FedEx AMT Association to represent us.
If you think that the cost of Medical can't get any worse then your dreaming. As the cost of living goes up and FedEx has to make cuts to make their shareholders happy their is only one high paid hourly group they can take from and that is us. The pilots should be getting ready to negotiate a new contract and what it cost to make them happy has to come from somewhere and it won't be those who have the golden Parachutes.
I am hearing from all kinds of guys around the country that they are getting serious collecting cards this time. I think they realized that everyone was expecting the other guy to sign a card and hoped without having to do anything that we could get this done. It does not work that way. We need to call every large and small station around our area's and let them know that this is for us and no third party is involved this time. Until class and craft has been stated and clearly designated we will always be the targets of benefit losses.
I agreed to keep this going until October 1st and take a card count.I f we are not close it will be over and let the company do what they want since the masses have clearly spoken they agree with the company's strategy!
If we are close enough to file we can always extend it but I am tired of having this drive protect those who do not want to help themselves. I will shut this site down and with their labor dept watching they will know it's over. I hope for those who have always been there and did their part this does not happen but it will be up to the AMT's to see where this goes. Thanks to all of you who really do support this effort and I pray the rest wake up. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.. Tom
2 comments:
Great news about the card signing efforts! This is the way to do it. Communicate and pass cards to everyone you know!
The company had no choice but to cough up what amounts to a small cost of living increase after it froze merits and further diluted our wages with a healthcare plan that is going to cost us all dearly. Don't let them fool you - they really aren't doing us any favors.
Also, the drivers at a FedEx Freight terminal in New Jersey have caught on to the healthcare fleecing and filed a petition for representation with the labor board in response. More terminals are expected to follow. Nice work. Good to see folks starting to wake up to the reality that a contract is needed to hold on to the little we have left.
Ben - MEM
The ultimate question we must wait until January to find out, is just how much of that raise will be taken away when it becomes absorbed by the medical increase?
That's where the true test of exactly what benefit is the reality we have been dealt!
It would be highly advisable to sign a card to confirm class and craft designation before we have nothing to negotiate.
Post a Comment