FedEx Ground Sues Washington State - June 11, 2008

If FedEx is so conscious of its brand, it seems odd to go around suing state governments and keeping your name in the news.

FedEx Ground is now suing the Washington Department of Labor and Industries to obtain a copy of a report analyzing its "independent contractor model."

FedEx Ground states in the lawsuit that it was contacted by an employee of the labor department in late 2006 or early 2007 who stated that the department had received a report addressing FedEx Ground's classification of "pick-up and delivery drivers" from an entity named Clark Consulting.

In February 2007 FedEx Ground said it issued a Public Disclosure Act request to the labor department seeking a copy of the report and information about who compiled it. The labor department originally refused to release the report, FedEx Ground said in its filing.

"While the department eventually produced a copy of the report, it unlawfully redacted and continues to withhold key information," FedEx Ground added in the suit.

We'll try to track down the complaint in this case.  And we'll watch the proceedings.

At a minimum, this lawsuit must mean that Washington has to be added to the list of "25 state tax and other administrative proceedings that claim that the company’s owner-operators should be treated as employees, rather than independent contractors."