Teamsters Strike FedEx Freight Terminal
The Teamsters called a strike at a FedEx Freight terminal in the Los Angeles area, but the company said disruption to customers was “effectively minimized.”
The union’s action at Gardena, California, was meant to compel FedEx "to change its behavior and stop interfering” with labor organizing activities, a Teamster statement said. A company spokesman termed the labor action a “coercive and potentially illegal activity."
The move was the latest variant on the union’s effort to organize drivers at the largest less-than-truckload carrier, a unit of FedEx Corp. The union has lost or canceled most elections over the past year.
“Only a small handful of our employees have been involved, and most of the protesters were outsiders with their own agenda,” FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey told TT. “These outsiders have resorted to intimidating and coercive conduct against FedEx Freight employees who were attempting to exercise their legal right to attend work and to decide for themselves whether they wish to be represented by a union.”
The union’s statement said 85 Freight workers participated with backing from 300 Teamster member volunteers.
Without giving details, McCluskey also told TT: “We are exploring our options and will take appropriate legal action.”
“We believe this action will inspire other FedEx employees to take similar actions. We’re in this for the long haul, and this is just the beginning," said Randy Korgan, organizing director for Teamsters Joint Council 42 in Pomona, California.
