Not looking to derail an excellent (and it appears a much needed) B plan discussion...however, back on the main thread topic...

FedEx truck drivers based in Gardena threaten to strike through the holidays

About 80 Gardena-based FedEx Freight drivers refused to work Monday in the first strike against the company, protesting alleged illegal union-busting activities that prompted an unfair labor practices action.

More worker resistance is planned at facilities nationwide as the holiday shopping season approaches, strikers said, and Teamsters Joint Council 42 is supporting the actions.

Off-duty workers and Teamsters are expected to hand out informational union fliers at many facilities Tuesday.

The Gardena freight facility is the company's primary hub for the South Bay and a major regional shipping center.

Workers, complaining about their pension and benefits packages, say they want a voice at the bargaining table, but their managers won't let them organize.

"The workers have been trying to unionize across the country for quite some time," Randy Korgan, a Teamsters organizer, said in a written statement. "FedEx has done everything under the books to oppose workers' right to organize.

In some areas, workers have won union elections but the company has refused to bargain."

Company managers hold meetings about the disadvantages of labor unions, and increase scrutiny on workers who want to unionize, workers said.

Drivers filed an unfair labor practices charge against the corporation with the National Labor Relations Board.

They accuse FedEx of violating the National Labor Relations Act, which "forbids employers from interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of rights relating to organizing, forming, joining or assisting a labor organization for collective bargaining purposes," according to the National Labor Relations Board's website.

But company officials issued a statement Monday saying that only a "small handful of our employees in Gardena are involved," and laying blame for the action on the Teamsters.

"These outsiders (Teamsters union organizers) have resorted to intimidating and coercive conduct against FedEx Freight employees attempting to exercise their legal right to attend work and to decide for themselves whether they wish to be represented by a union," the statement said.

FedEx Freight is considering taking legal action in response to the strike, which it called a "coercive and potentially illegal activity."

Facebook pages have been created both for those in support and those against unionization, and, on Monday, both sides sounded off to their online followers.

"I see the teamsters are up to their same old tactics," read a Monday post on "Keep FedEx Freight Union Free" page.

"It's interesting to see these individuals interfere with our job like they're currently doing in Gardena. Take note, everyone, this is what a union brings."

Meanwhile, the pro-union page, "Bring the Teamsters to FedEx Freight," posted that employees made a "collective decision to withhold their labor on the ground of unfair labor practices" and accused the company of breaking federal law.

Workers say they have wanted to unionize for about a decade but are constantly undermined by managers who spy on them during meetings and try to intimidate them to stop.

"We've been trying to unionize and they do everything in their power to intimidate us," said Greg Barfuss, a FedEx driver.

"Just recently they called me into the office over a meeting about benefits and said I turned it into a union meeting, trying to scare me into submission so I'll be quiet."