Teamsters Win N.J. Terminal Vote
Drivers at FedEx Freight’s terminal in South Brunswick, New Jersey, voted to become Teamsters in the latest round of a contentious union organizing battle.
The vote, according to the union, was 66-42 in favor of joining Local 701.
“The workers came to us looking for fairness after years of being mistreated and disrespected,” said a statement from Ernie Soehl, president of Teamsters Local 701 in North Brunswick, New Jersey, and the Teamsters’ Eastern region freight coordinator.
FedEx said it is “considering its options, including an appeal” at the South Brunswick terminal. A union representation election at the Middletown, Pennsylvania, terminal on the same date as the New Jersey vote was called off when the union withdrew its petition just before the scheduled balloting.
Organizing battles have gained intensity over the past two months at FedEx Freight, the largest less-than-truckload carrier, and at rival Con-Way Freight, the third-largest LTL carrier.
At both companies, the union has won two elections and the company has defeated organizing efforts at two facilities, which were first union votes ever at FedEx Freight and Con-way Freight.
At least 10 elections at other terminals have been sought by the Teamsters.
FedEx Freight is part of FedEx Corp., which ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of for-fire Carriers in the United States and Canada. Con-way Inc. is No. 4.
