UPS And FedEx Spar Over Labor Bill In Congress

HEATHER CLARK

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — FedEx Corp. and UPS Inc. officials argued Tuesday for the first time face to face about whether a labor bill pending in Congress would create a UPS monopoly or an even playing field for all package delivery companies.

The shipping giants squared off over the federal legislation at a Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce meeting. FedEx had asked to speak at the meeting as part of its national campaign to advance its position on the bill. Chamber officials agreed to hear from FedEx as long as UPS could also have an opportunity to speak.

A provision in the House version of the bill would switch FedEx Express employees to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act from the National Railway Labor Act.

The Railway Labor Act is designed to minimize strike interruptions to railroad and airline transportation. It allows workers to organize, only if all workers vote on a union at the same time, a requirement that has been a roadblock to unions that could not afford national organizing campaigns.

Malcolm Berkley, a public relations manager for UPS based in Washington D.C., said about 50,000 FedEx Express drivers are not covered under the Labor Relations Act. They represent an anomaly in the package delivery industry even though they do the same job as other drivers.