Potential McCain VP Pick Fred Smith: Bad For America, Bad For Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Change to Win Chair Anna Burger regarding recent speculation that union-busting FedEx CEO Fred Smith is on presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s short list for vice-presidential picks.
“Recent reports that FedEx CEO Fred Smith is being considered by John McCain as a potential vice-presidential pick are beyond disturbing. As a well-known lifelong union buster, Smith has a disgraceful record of stripping workers of their most basic rights to organize and fight for a living wage. It is disheartening, although not surprising, that John McCain would consider picking such a notorious enemy of hard working men and women to be his running mate.
“In the 35 years that Fred Smith has been the CEO of FedEx he has repeatedly fought against workers joining together to have a voice on the job, openly stating that he ‘doesn’t intend to recognize any unions at Federal Express.’ Less than 2% of the 200,000 American workers at FedEx are in a union. In contrast, UPS unionized workers make nearly 30 percent more than they non-union counterparts at FedEx. Despite organizing efforts, FedEx has filed appeal after appeal to deny their workers the right to bargain collectively, and has sought national legislation to thwart union organizing.
“Americans have already suffered through seven years of a White House that places corporate interests before the interests of America’s working families and we’ve seen the results – millions of homeowners facing foreclosure, gas prices at record levels, and skyrocketing health care costs. Workers cannot afford another lobbyist-dominated administration. A vice-president Fred Smith would be bad for America, and bad for workers. Working families need leadership in the White House that will help them reclaim the American Dream, not a third Bush term.”
About Change to Win
Change to Win is a six million member partnership of seven unions founded in 2005 to represent workers in the industries and occupations of the 21st century economy. Change to Win committed to restoring the American Dream for a new generation of workers – wages that can support a family, affordable health care, a secure retirement, and the opportunity for the future. The seven affiliated unions are: Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Laborers’ International Union of North America, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and United Farm Workers of America.
July 31st, 2008 11:18
There is a huge difference between supporting unions and supporting the working class - The unions have created their own “little enterprise”. They creat jobs that they like, paid by the laborers. Someone has to pay for their monarchies, and why? There are enough laws on the books now to protect workers, they do not need unions to argue ridiculous demands. look what the unions did to the auto industry and what was done to the steel industry. Who is next on their list for closing.
July 31st, 2008 16:29
Disagree…..are you a Union member? Did you work for the Auto Industry or Steel Industry? Laws on the books? Laws in today’s society are like “rules” right? Made to be broken or as is more often the case…ignored!. Glad though that you are so well off that you can so casually dismiss people wanting a better, living wage. Unions DO have faults, but the thing is….they BARGAIN with the employer. They win some, lose some but 1 on 1 with the majority of employers you do not stand a snowball chance in hell……
August 1st, 2008 06:26
It is very sad how many bitter workers are not in unions. Union leadership is usually chosen by a vote. Granted is is difficult to unseat an incumbent but, you have very little chance of overthrowing an MONARCH like Smith! Nothing is perfect, but I for one would much rather working in a UNION SHOP!!!!
August 1st, 2008 08:07
The unions would have us believe tha their battle is against the greedy business owners, but in reality their battle is against other workers who are willing to work for less than the union brothers and sisters.
Business has to pay the going rate or they won’t have any workers. The going rate is defined as the lowest rate the workers are willing to do the job for. Unions inflate the cost of labor by locking out or excluding those workers who are willing to do the job for a lesser rate.
They then hid behind the aurgument of “a living wage”. What is a “living wage”? One car, two cars, three cars?… high school education, college education, masters, doctor…what? Apartment, 2 bedroom one bath house, 4 bedrooms two baths… what? Or is it just get as much as you can, then ask for more fo rthe sake of having “a living wage”!
August 4th, 2008 14:56
This is what this country needs is someone who is unafraid of getting rid of useless workers. Maybe he should become a VP at the Postal Service and get rid of the dead weight that they have in the executive offices especally all of the VP’s who are useless and take up valuable space and budget. Better yet, have Mr Smith PRIVATIZE the Postal Service and put it out of its misery.