Campaign Launches New Video Mocking Claim That FedEx is an Airline

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Jun 07, 2010, 02:57 ET

'FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots' Campaign Urges Congress to End FedEx Loophole

WASHINGTON, June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FedEx Express claims it is an airline. So why aren't flight attendants on the delivery trucks? Because FedEx's claim is ludicrous – truck drivers aren't pilots.

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The Teamsters unveiled a new video today as part of the campaign, FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots, to draw attention to the company's absurd declaration. The video is highlighted in new ads and on the website, www.FedExDriversArentPilots.com.

In the new video, a flight attendant is seen aboard a delivery truck, going through her "seat belt" safety speech, telling the sole passenger, aka the truck driver, where the nearest exit is: "the door right next to you."

FedEx Express is the only freight and package delivery company in the United States with a corporate loophole that it lobbied for and won from Congress in 1996, allowing it to classify its truck drivers, sorters, loaders and unloaders as airline workers under the Railway Labor Act. Those workers never even touch an airplane.

It's time to level the playing field, and Congress is poised to impose one set of rules for all package delivery companies.

"FedEx bought its special status through political arm-twisting, plain and simple," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "But now Congress must do the right thing and close the loophole. Americans are tired of giveaways to corporations, especially to a company that can't even be upfront about what it really does."

The House has passed the Express Carrier Employee Protection Act as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill, which also includes important safety measures for the traveling public and vital pilot training requirements. It also will create more than 125,000 new jobs each year. The Senate has passed FAA Reauthorization as well.

But the two bills must be reconciled. FedEx CEO Fred Smith has his two Tennessee senators doing his bidding by blocking further progress to protect the corporate loophole. FedEx is based in Memphis.

"At a time when Americans are deeply concerned about job creation and security, it is reprehensible that Fred Smith would hold up such an important bill, just to protect his special deal," said Ken Hall, Teamsters Vice President and Package Division Director. "Congress won't stand for it and the American people won't either."

For more information, visit www.FedExDriversArentPilots.com.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including 250,000 workers at UPS.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters