FedEx Drivers in Mass. Gain Union Certification

FedEx Corp. drivers in Massachusetts received certification as members of the Teamsters union, the first unit in the company’s home-delivery network to get that recognition, Bloomberg reported.

The National Labor Relations Board certified a 24-8 vote at two Wilmington, Mass., FedEx facilities from Oct. 20after reviewing company objections of improper conduct, the Teamsters said in a statement.

FedEx disagrees with the decision and will seek court review of the decision, a company spokesman told Bloomberg in an e-mailed statement.

The case is separate from one in Connecticut, where drivers in a unit there voted 12-9 to join the Teamsters, and which the company is also contesting.

The company classifies its home-delivery drivers, who own their own FedEx-branded trucks, as independent contractors not be eligible for union representation.

The business is part of FedEx Ground, a unit that accounted for 17% of the FedEx’s fiscal 2007 sales.