Those in our class and craft who have been around awhile have had the opportunity to see the many changes over the years as Federal Express grew, expanded and eventually became the FedEx that we are today.  We all knew that change was coming and was also necessary as FedEx went from a struggling start-up company to the massive global corporation that it is today.  Change is just a part of life, knowing that some of it was good and some not so good.

In years past the entire work force was immersed in the People Service Profit philosophy, which turned out to be an amazing motivator for the employees.  FedEx was committed to meeting the needs of the employee, first, knowing that a satisfied and motivated worker would in turn provide service far above the average to the customer.  Meet the needs of the FedEx employees(People), and those employees would in turn meet the needs of the customer(Service), which would ultimately result in a strong, growing company(Profit).  And that's how this company was built.

But over the last several years we've witnessed some disturbing changes in the corporate philosophy.  Things we thought were core beliefs and principles that guided this company through thick and thin have now been completely abandoned.  PSP is one of those principles that has just kind of disappeared.  Management will not admit that it's gone, but you won't read of it in any up to date corporate materials.  It's just gone.  And now they want us to forget about what built this company and to embrace the new Purple Promise.  "Don't worry, it's just as good as PSP", they tell us.

But unfortunately for the employees, some changes just aren't good at all.  In fact, some of it is really bad.  We know and have now seen just how bad it's been since FedEx shifted it's priority off of a motivated work group and now caters more and more to the big shareholders. 

We knew change would come, but also thought some things never would.  The core principles that were preached to us on a regular basis were part of what  made FedEx different and a good place to work.  Many of us bought into PSP and would never have imaged that would change.  But it did. 

And what about Fred?  Surely he wouldn't change.  He's the one that was hard-core, dyed-in-the-wool, PSP to the bone.  He lived it and believed it, and got us to believe it too.  He wouldn't change, would he?  Maybe he's just a little out of touch with what's been going on since we're now a huge multi-company conglomerate.  Or perhaps he's getting close to retirement and has just shifted his focus from the employees to his final exit. 

Many ideas and excuses have been given for Mr. Smith's seeming lack of concern, but there was one idea no one wanted to believe.  The idea that not only had FedEx changed, but that Fred too had changed, was something no one wanted to consider.  Surely not.  It just couldn't be.  Well, the bubble was forever burst in the recent shareholder meeting.  Now it's all clear.  Now we know why.  The unfortunate truth about why PSP has disappeared, is that Fred has changed.  After all these years, he's changed his mind about PSP.  He now believes the primary goal of FedEx is to make the customers and shareholders happy.

The days of the company doing what's best for the employee are gone.  That philosophy has changed.  FedEx has changed.  And even Fred has changed.  But what are we to do?  What about our craft and class?  We dare not continue to sit by and watch all the change around us and just hope that in the end we'll be okay.  Hope that FedEx and Fred will take care of us.  FedEx and Fred have changed, and we had better change too.  

In the past, the company gave it's word and practiced what it preached.  But those days are long gone.  We once thought profit sharing, a defined pension benefit retirement, reasonable health care benefits, shift differential pay and a secure job would always be here as long the company was doing well.  All that and more has now changed.  We continue to see vendors and outsourcing of jobs rapidly increase.  The Employee Handbook has been eviscerated as many special project jobs have been awarded, completely in disregard fort he appropriate procedures.  The handbook has become a Wishbook.  Yes, the company sure has changed.  And don't forget, so has Fred.

But will we change?  Will we say enough is enough and sign a card?  The company and Fred have both changed and if we don't want to continue losing benefits, we had better change too.  Perhaps in the past, a contract wasn't necessary.  But as they say, "The times, they are a changin'".  Things continue to change around us.  If FedEx would take away so much in good times, what will happen to us if things get really bad?  Hey ya'll, we're about to get steamrolled!

FedEx has changed.  Fred has changed.  But will we change?  Will we put a stop to what's been taken away and work for a negotiated contract?  When the pilots saw what was coming down the pike, they took action and secured their pay and benefits with a legal, binding contract.  And we can do the same thing.  We must make the change that helps to secure our future.  Some of us previously never would have wanted or pushed for a negotiated contract.  But it's way past time for us to make a change in our opposition to a union contract.  The future we thought was ahead of us is in jeopardy.  FedEx has changed and so has Fred.  Fred changed his mind about PSP.  What will we do?  I say it's time for a positive change.  The change to a legal, negotiated, binding contract.  What about you?  

We are no longer needed or recognized as assets to the FedEx name.Their business is established,and reputation is recognized.People built the company by going above and beyond to make service happen.How many nights can you say that if you werent there service would have failed?How many nights I have held my head in my hands?How many surveys has this company bragged about top 100 this,top 500 that,best of this,best of that?We still put our hearts into our work,we love to do what we do,and to a certain extent owe alot to Fedex,but I think Fedex believes its now their  machine.That they can plug anyone in any position and it wouldnt make any difference.If an a/c breaks we have a spare.That the system makes the service not the people.Do we need to go above and beyond,anymore?I do not think they give a xxxx.The question is do you give a xxxx anymore?    

It doesn't seem real until you hear it from the horse's mouth.  It is now all too real.  We are not a company with Fred at the helm anymore!!  We are a corporation, just like those wall st. guys ripping everyone off.  Big pay for them, we get the scraps, we face the take-aways.

How much is our insurance going up?  I need a bail-out!  What did that one Nuts and Bolts say?  The top-5 execs at FedEx make $44 million dollars in a year!! Thanks for rubbing salt in the wound Fred.   I know our customers are most important, but without us there is no FedEX!!!!!!

I am not asking for people to disclose what their "Purple Promise" pay has been in the past.  I have been given a total of $24 in my 2 short years with FX.  I feel like, if that is all a multi million $ company can give, maybe they ought to just keep it and raise all our pay.