NLRB Rules Massachusetts FedEx Home Delivery Drivers Are Direct Employees

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that full-time, regular part-time and swing drivers at two Wilmington, Massachusetts FedEx Home Delivery locations are direct employees under the company's business model and have the right to seek union representation.

The ruling is the seventh time since 1988 that the NLRB has found drivers at FedEx Home Delivery are direct employees despite the company's assertion that they are "independent operators." First Region NLRB Director Rosemary Pye ruled that due to the control and restrictions enforced by FedEx on drivers in the Home Delivery division, they are employees within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.

"This is a great victory for these workers in Wilmington," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters Union General President. "These rulings are exposing FedEx's underhanded business model, designed to deny thousands of hardworking employees benefits they deserve as direct employees."

In accordance with the decision, Teamsters Local 25 in Boston will begin the process for scheduling an election under the NLRA guidelines. This is the second ruling by the NLRB this year that found FedEx Home Delivery drivers in Massachusetts are direct employees.

"The FedEx Ground model has been proven to be wrong again and again," said Sean O'Brien, Local 25 President. These drivers don't want any more false FedEx promises. The company must admit the drivers are employees and respect their rights."

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.