Teamsters Election at FedEx Freight Pa. Terminal Called Off

FedEx Freight said that a Teamsters representation election scheduled for Oct. 31 in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, hub terminal has been canceled because the union withdrew its request for a vote.

An election is being conducted Oct. 31 at the smaller Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, terminal. The Teamsters have stepped up organizing efforts at FedEx Freight, the largest less-than-truckload carrier, and at rival Con-way Freight, the third-largest LTL operator. At both carriers, some terminals have favored union representation, and others have rejected the Teamsters.

 “After months of trying to convince FedEx Freight drivers in Middletown, Pa., [the North Harrisburg facility] to join the Teamsters, the union has withdrawn its election petition on the eve of the vote,” FedEx’s statement said.  “The union would only take this action if it recognized that it would not win the election.”

 “We are extremely grateful to our team members at North Harrisburg for their support of the company. We continue to believe that the attempted Teamster interference in our working relationship is unnecessary and unwelcome,” FedEx Freight CEO William Logue said.

FedEx Freight is part of FedEx Corp., which ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers. Con-way Inc. ranks No. 4 on that list. No. 5 YRC Worldwide Inc., whose members are Teamsters, is the second-largest LTL service.