DATE TITLE
April 18 NLRB Region 34 Rules Hartford Drivers are EmployeesNational Labor Relations Board Region 34 Director Peter Hoffman ruled on April 11 that a group of FedEx Home Delivery drivers in Windsor, CT were employees and eligible to vote in a upcoming union election.  Region 34 Director Hoffman noted that this decision is the fifth decision since November 2004 to find the drivers to be employees under the National Labor Relations Act.  The NLRB has upheld each of the previous four regional directors’ decisions.
April 12 FedEx Express Settles Discrimination LawsuitPlaintiffs’ lawyers reached a settlement with FedEx Express in the large discrimination class action lawsuit at the Express Western Region.  The lawsuit (Satchell et al vs FedEx Express) was filed in 2002 and alleged widespread discrimination in hiring, access to training and promotion.  This settlement includes the standard “no admission of liability” but also saw FedEx Express agree to pay $55 million and pledge to make wide-ranging changes to how it reviews potential hires, evaluates its employees and promotes among its workforce.
April 04 NLRB Region 1 Issues Complaint Against FedExThe National Labor Relations Board Region 1 on March 30 issued Complaints on multiple unfair labor practice charges against FedEx Home Delivery.  The Regional Director’s consolidated complaint documents a systematic campaign by the Company and its managers to threaten, intimidate, punish and economically injure drivers who were seeking to join Teamsters Local Union 170.  The company is charged with retaliating against drivers for testifying before the NLRB and other protected union activities.  The complaint charges that the company fabricated evidence of wrongdoing and terminated four drivers for their protected free speech and union support.  The full complaint is uploaded to our Local Union 170 Resource page.