Reuters columnist David Cay Johnston breaks down how federal business regulations on labor unions can result in a lack of jobs and damage the economy. FedEx is the perfect example.

Some of the biggest companies in the United States have been firing workers and in some cases lobbying for rules that depress wages at the very time that jobs are needed, pay is low and the federal budget suffers from a lack of revenue. FedEx is one of the worst offenders.

(WASHINGTON) — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today urged the House of Representatives to keep the current simple majority voting process for all workers in the rail and airline industries who want to exercise their right to form unions.

President Barack Obama would veto sweeping aviation legislation if Republicans in Congress succeed in gutting a rule favorable to airline and railroad union organizing, the White House said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON—Last night, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) spoke on the floor of the Senate to oppose an amendment that would undermine flight crews’ job safety, along with an amendment that would prohibit collective bargaining by Transportation Security Administration employees.

 Unions that represent transportation workers long complained that federal organizing rules made it harder for them to win representation elections in the workplace.

United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) said Wednesday it continues to lobby lawmakers to support a labor provision opposed by rival FedEx Corp. (FDX), in an about-face from previous comments by a UPS spokesman.

Senate Democrats are slated to bring the FAA Reauthorization bill to the floor this week. Read the latest here.

The U.S. Senate has extended the FAA Reauthorization Bill again. Read the latest here.

FedEx has become a master of calling its Ground employees ‘independent contractors’ when these workers are really full-time employees. Not only does the use of independent contractors allow FedEx to skirt tax laws, it also deprives workers the right to form a union. The Teamsters and other unions are calling on firms, including FedEx to limit their use of ‘independent contractors.’ Read the latest on this issue here.