FedEx Ground Drivers' Class-action Suit Certified

[Omaha Steve]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/DCTU02916102007-1.htm

Latest Court Action in Fight for Rights by Misclassified Employees
October 16, 2007: 04:57 PM EST

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on Tuesday praised a federal judge's decision to grant class-action status to FedEx Ground drivers who say the company denied them benefits and proper wages.

Judge Robert Miller of the U.S. District Court for Northern Indiana on Monday certified a class-action lawsuit brought by present and former FedEx Ground drivers.

FedEx Corporation employs about 15,000 so-called "independent contractors" at its Ground and Home Delivery subsidiaries. The potential size of the class could be as many as 20,000 drivers depending on the time period still to be determined.

"FedEx is running out of places to hide," Hoffa said. "The FedEx Ground and Home Delivery drivers have carried on their fight for many years as the company has pulled out all the stops to defend their illegal model. Another judge has once again ruled against the FedEx arguments. The Teamsters applaud the drivers who are fighting for their rights and proper compensation."

This federal judge's ruling is the latest in a series of recent decisions that found FedEx Ground drivers to be employees and not independent contractors.

FULL story at link.