Teamsters General President Hoffa Criticizes Bush Policies and FedEx Practices - October 06, 2006

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued a press release today following President George W. Bush's speech at a FedEx facility outside Washington, DC

Today, President Bush used mediocre monthly payroll figures to give himself a self-congratulatory pat on the back about an economy that is failing American workers. It is fitting that the White House chose to spin their skewed economic message at a FedEx facility in Washington, D.C., one of the most anti-worker companies in the United States.

FedEx has created a business model with a cutthroat mentality even Machiavelli would admire. CEO Fred Smith will collect over $10 million in compensation and dividend income this year alone, money that he earns by exploiting thousands of FedEx Ground drivers through an "independent contractor" model.

FedEx has abused this independent contractor status to shift risks and costs onto the drivers and taxpayers. The drivers take on costs that should be paid by the company, including trucks, uniforms and digital scanners.

That's just the start of the statement.  General President Hoffa really gets on a roll.