1
 Ralph Brown was 31,000 feet over Minnesota 
5001
span

2
when both jets on his Falcon 20 flamed out.
1
temporal-same-time

3
 At 18,000 feet,
5002
span

4
 he says,
3
attribution-e

5
 he and his co-pilot were looking for an interstate or a cornfield 
5003
span

6
to land.
5
purpose

7
 At 13,000 feet, the engines restarted.
5005
Sequence

8
 But 
5008
Same-Unit

9
knowing 
10
attribution

10
that mechanics would probably ground him for repairs, 
5006
span

11
Mr. Brown skipped his stop in nearby Chicago 
5007
span

12
and set course to get his load 
5009
span

13
-- a few hundred parcels -- 
12
elaboration-general-specific-e

14
to the Memphis package-sorting hub on time. 
5010
Same-Unit

15
Had he been a little less gung-ho, 
5014
condition

16
I'd have gotten the thing on the ground 
5013
Sequence

17
and headed for the nearest bar, 
5013
Sequence

18
Mr. Brown says.
5013
attribution

19
 But he flies for Federal Express Corp., perhaps the closest thing in corporate America to the Green Berets.
5017
explanation-argumentative

20
 Federal's employees work long hours 
5020
List

21
and seem to thrive on the stress 
5019
span

22
of racing the clock.
21
elaboration-object-attribute-e

23
 Like Mr. Brown, they sometimes go to surprising lengths 
5022
span

24
to meet that overarching corporate goal: 
5023
span

25
delivering the goods on time.
24
elaboration-general-specific-e

26
 They are a tribute to Federal's management 
5024
span

27
which, since the company's founding 16 years ago, has had its way with its work force 
26
elaboration-additional-e

28
-- an unusual feat in the contentious transportation industry.
5024
comment

29
 That may soon change.
5041
span

30
 This month, Federal's 2,048 pilots, 
5043
span

31
including some 961 
5030
span

32
acquired along with Tiger International Inc. in February,
31
elaboration-object-attribute-e

33
 will decide whether to elect the powerful Air Line Pilots Association as their bargaining agent.
5031
Same-Unit

34
 The election, 
5251
span

35
which would bring the first major union to Federal's U.S. operations, 
34
elaboration-additional-e

36
has pitted new hires against devoted veterans such as Mr. Brown.
5033
Same-Unit

37
 It has also rattled Federal's strongly anti-union management, 
5034
span

38
which is already contending with melding far-flung operations and with falling profits.
37
elaboration-additional-e

39
 A union, sooner or later, has to have an adversary,
5037
List

40
 and it has to have a victory, 
5037
List

41
Frederick W. Smith, Federal's chairman and chief executive, says with disdain. 
5037
attribution

42
In our formula, we don't have any losers except the competition.
5038
elaboration-additional

43
 What managers really fear is that the pro-union movement could spread beyond the pilots.
5045
span

44
 Under federal transportation law, a government mediator is attempting to reconcile the melding of Tiger's job classifications into Federal's.
5102
hypothetical

45
 Depending on the outcome, 
46
contingency

46
the merged company may face union elections this fall among airplane mechanics, ramp workers, stock clerks and flight dispatchers.
5042
span

47
 These groups constitute up to 10% of its work force.
5102
span

48
 Unions would have a profound effect on the whole culture of the company, 
5046
span

49
says Bernard La Londe, a professor at Ohio State University at Columbus and a Federal consultant.
48
attribution

50
 That culture, 
5048
span

51
carefully crafted by Mr. Smith,
50
elaboration-additional-e

52
 leaves little, if any, room for unions.
5049
Same-Unit

53
 Since founding the company, 
5053
circumstance

54
the charismatic Vietnam vet, 
5052
span

55
who is still only 46 years old, 
54
elaboration-additional-e

56
has fostered an ethos of combat.
5053
Same-Unit

57
 Flights are missions.
5054
List

58
 Mr. Smith's managers have, at times, been called Ho Chi Minh's Guerrillas.
5054
List

59
 The Bravo Zulu award, the Navy accolade for a job well done, is bestowed on Federal's workers 
5056
span

60
who surpass the call of duty.
59
elaboration-object-attribute-e

61
 Competitors are known as the enemy.
5054
List

62
 To reinforce employees' dedication, 
5058
purpose

63
Mr. Smith pays well.
5058
List

64
 He also lets workers vent steam through an elaborate grievance procedure 
5058
List

65
and, as a perk, fly free in empty cockpit seats.
5058
List

66
 He gives pep talks in periodic family briefings 
5059
span

67
beamed internationally on FXTV, the company's own television network.
66
elaboration-object-attribute-e

68
 And, with many of his 70,000 workers, Mr. Smith's damn-the-torpedoes attitude has caught on.
5078
span

69
 James Cleveland, a courier 
5063
span

70
who earned a Bravo Zulu 
5255
span

71
for figuring out how to get a major customer's 1,100-parcel-a-week load to its doorstep by 8 a.m., 
70
consequence-n

72
considers himself far more than a courier.
5065
Same-Unit

73
 We don't just hand the customer the package.
5066
List

74
 That's just the beginning, 
5066
List

75
he says.
5066
attribution

76
 In essence, we run the show.
5067
elaboration-additional

77
 David Sanders, a longtime pilot, bristles at the mere suggestion 
5071
span

78
that a union might tamper with his flight schedule. 
77
elaboration-object-attribute-e

79
This is America, 
5072
span

80
he says.
79
attribution

81
 Nobody has the right 
5073
span

82
to tell me 
83
attribution

83
how much I can work.
5074
span

84
 Such attitudes have given Federal flexibility, 
5080
span

85
not only to rapidly implement new technology 
5079
List

86
but to keep its work force extraordinarily lean. 
5256
span

87
The company deliberately understaffs, 
5084
span

88
stretching employees' schedules to the limit.
87
purpose

89
 But 
5086
Same-Unit

90
though couriers work as many as 60 hours a week during the autumn rush, 
5085
Contrast

91
they leave early during slack times 
92
concession

92
while still being assured of a minimum paycheck.
5087
span

93
 Pilots, as well, routinely fly overtime 
5089
span

94
to ensure 
95
attribution

95
that none are furloughed during seasonal lows. 
5090
span

96
 The operational freedom has also given Federal a leg up on archrival United Parcel Service Inc., the nation's largest employer of United Brotherhood of Teamsters members.
5257
span

97
 UPS won't discuss its labor practices, 
5095
Contrast

98
but, 
5093
span

99
according to Mr. Cleveland, a former UPS employee, and others,
98
attribution-e

100
 union work rules prohibit UPS drivers from doing more than carrying packages between customers and their vans.
5094
Same-Unit

101
 Because UPS drivers aren't permitted to load their own vehicles at the depot,
5097
span

102
 say these couriers, 
101
attribution

103
packages often get buried in the load
5098
Consequence

104
 and are delivered late. 
5098
Consequence

105
 Labor problems are the last thing 
5107
span

106
Mr. Smith needs right now.
105
elaboration-object-attribute-e

107
 Although the Tiger acquisition has brought Federal a long way toward becoming the global player 
5108
span

108
it wants to be, 
107
elaboration-object-attribute-e

109
it also has brought problems.
5109
span

110
 It more than doubled Federal's long-term debt to $1.9 billion, 
5111
List

111
thrust the company into unknown territory 
5110
span

112
-- heavy cargo -- 
111
elaboration-general-specific-e

113
and suddenly expanded its landing rights to 21 countries from four.
5111
List

114
 Federal, on its own, hadn't been doing very well overseas. 
5119
span

115
It had hemorrhaged in its attempt to get into Asia, 
5113
span

116
where treaty restrictions forced it to fly some planes half-empty on certain routes.
115
elaboration-additional-e

117
 On routes to South America, the company had no backup jets 
5114
span

118
to ensure delivery 
5115
span

119
when planes were grounded. 
118
temporal-same-time

120
In Europe, business suffered 
5117
span

121
as Federal bought several local companies, 
120
circumstance

122
only to have the managers quit.
5117
antithesis

123
 These and other problems squeezed Federal's profit margins last year to 8%, down from more than 13% annually in the first half of the decade.
5120
Sequence

124
 Earnings have plummeted, too, in each of the past three quarters.
5120
Sequence

125
 In the fiscal first period 
5121
span

126
ended Aug. 31, 
125
elaboration-object-attribute-e

127
profit fell 54% to $30.4 million, or 58 cents a share, 
5122
span

128
mostly because of the Tiger merger, 
127
consequence-n

129
Federal says. 
5122
attribution

130
 Federal's stock price, however, has held up well, 
5127
span

131
driven in part by the general run-up of airline stocks, 
130
explanation-argumentative

132
analysts say.
5127
attribution

133
 Since trading as low as $42.25 a share in May, 
134
circumstance

134
Federal's shares have rallied as high as $57.87 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.
5129
span

135
 They closed Friday at $53.25, down 50 cents on the day.
5129
elaboration-additional

136
 There's a certain irony in the fact 
5145
span

137
that Federal Express faces its first union problems 
5146
span

138
as a result of its Tiger purchase. 
137
result

139
Tiger itself was founded by a band of gungho airmen
5147
span

140
 who had airlifted supplies over the Hump from India to China during World War II.
139
elaboration-object-attribute-e

141
 In the early 1970s, Mr. Smith modeled his fledgling company on Tiger's innovation of hub-and-spoke and containerized-cargo operations.
5147
analogy

142
 But from early on, Tiger's workers unionized,
5149
Contrast

143
 while Federal's never have.
5149
Contrast

144
 Federal Express officials acknowledge mistakes in their drive overseas 
5154
antithesis

145
but say 
146
attribution

146
it will pay off eventually.
5154
span

147
 Analysts expect Federal's earnings to improve again in its fiscal third quarter 
5155
span

148
ending Feb. 28, 
147
elaboration-object-attribute-e

149
when the company should begin benefiting from Tiger's extra flights, back-up planes and landing rights.
5155
temporal-same-time

150
 Until then, they expect the cost 
5157
span

151
of integrating the two carriers 
150
elaboration-object-attribute-e

152
to continue crimping profits.
5158
Same-Unit

153
 For now, the union issue is the most nettlesome of Federal's Tiger problems, 
5162
span

154
management believes.
153
attribution

155
 Although encouraging dialogue between managers and workers, 
156
concession

156
Mr. Smith doesn't countenance what he considers insubordination.
5164
span

157
 When a large group of pilots once signed petitions 
5165
span

158
opposing work-rule and compensation changes, 
157
elaboration-object-attribute-e

159
he called a meeting in a company hangar 
5167
List

160
and dressed them down 
5168
span

161
for challenging his authority. 
160
consequence-n

162
He then made most of the changes, 
5169
span

163
pilots say. 
162
attribution

164
 That sort of approach, however, hasn't worked since the addition of Tiger.
5258
span

165
 Its 6,500 workers, 
5176
span

166
who had battled Tiger's management for years over givebacks, 
165
elaboration-additional-e

167
were union members until the day of the merger, 
5177
Same-Unit

168
when most of their unions were automatically decertified. 
5177
temporal-same-time

169
Soon after the merger, moreover, Federal's management asked Tiger's pilots to sign an agreement 
5179
span

170
stating 
5181
attribution

171
that they could be fired any time, 
5181
span

172
without cause or notice.
171
manner

173
 When the pilots refused, 
174
circumstance

174
the company retracted it.
5182
span

175
 Mr. Smith angered Federal's pilots, too.
5197
span

176
 In his haste 
5187
span

177
to seal the deal with Tiger Chairman Saul Steinberg last August, 
176
elaboration-object-attribute-e

178
Mr. Smith ignored a promise 
5189
span

179
that he had made to his own pilots three years ago: 
178
elaboration-object-attribute-e

180
that any fliers 
5190
span

181
acquired in future mergers 
180
elaboration-object-attribute-e

182
would be end-tailed 
5191
Same-Unit

183
-- put at the bottom of the pilot seniority list 
5192
span

184
that determines work schedules, pay and career options.
183
elaboration-object-attribute-e

185
 The Tiger merger agreement stipulated 
186
attribution

186
that the lists be combined on the basis of tenure.
5195
span

187
 Mr. Smith is trying hard to allay the anger.
5202
span

188
 And even some pro-union pilots say 
189
attribution

189
his charisma and popularity among the many former military fliers could be tough to beat.
5200
span

190
 A lot of people are identifying a vote for representation as a vote against Fred Smith, 
5199
span

191
says J.X. Gollich, a Tiger-turned-Federal pilot and union activist.
190
attribution

192
 Mr. Smith and other top Federal executives have met with Tiger workers in Los Angeles, Ohio, New York, Alaska, Asia and Europe.
5218
List

193
 Recently, they have appeared every few weeks in talk-show type videos, 
5205
span

194
countering pro-union arguments.
193
purpose

195
 In one video, Mr. Smith defended his agreement to merge the pilot-seniority lists.
5208
span

196
 He said 
5206
attribution

197
Mr. Steinberg had insisted 
198
attribution

198
that the merger talks move quickly.
5206
span

199
 Regulators, as well, might have quashed the deal 
5210
span

200
if Tiger's pilots hadn't been protected, 
199
condition

201
he said.
5210
attribution

202
 Furthermore, 
5213
span

203
Mr. Smith added, 
202
attribution-e

204
our contract with our pilots says 
205
attribution

205
that we will manage our fleet operations with their advice.
5215
span

206
 It doesn't give any particular group the ability 
5216
span

207
to veto change. 
206
elaboration-object-attribute-e

208
 Already, the fight has been costly.
5220
span

209
 The seniority-list controversy, along with the job-classification dispute, has been turned over to the mediator.
5223
Temporal-Same-Time

210
 Meanwhile, the company is operating with two separate pilot groups and seniority lists, 
5222
Consequence

211
and that is costing Federal a big number, 
5221
span

212
says James Barksdale, executive vice president and chief operating officer. 
211
attribution

213
 The issue has also cost Federal management a lot of good will among its old pilots.
5228
span

214
 They were willing to mistreat us 
5224
span

215
because we hadn't shown any moxie, any resistance, 
214
circumstance

216
says William Queenan, a DC-10 pilot and 14-year Federal veteran.
5224
attribution

217
 Adds John Poag, a 727 captain and past chairman of the company-sponsored Flight Advisory Board: 
218
attribution

218
They've made all these magnanimous gestures to the Flying Tiger pilots, and for us, nothing. 
5226
span

219
 Such animosity could prove pivotal in the union vote.
5234
span

220
 A large majority of the 961 former Tiger fliers support the union, 
5230
span

221
according to a union study.
220
attribution

222
 But 
5232
Same-Unit

223
though most of the 1,087 Federal pilots are believed opposed, 
224
concession

224
it is unclear just how much their loyalty to Mr. Smith has been eroded.
5231
span

225
 The fight has turned ugly 
5238
consequence-n

226
and, among pilots at least, has shattered the esprit de corps 
5238
span

227
that Mr. Smith worked so hard 
5237
span

228
to build.
227
purpose

229
 Anti-union pilots have held ballot-burning parties.
5242
List

230
 Some younger pilots say 
5240
attribution

231
they have had to endure anti-union harangues by senior pilots 
5240
span

232
while flying across the country.
231
temporal-same-time

233
 And for now, at least, the competition isn't the only enemy.
5249
span

234
 Barney Barnhardt, a 727 captain and leader of the pro-union forces, said 
5245
attribution

235
he has received two anonymous death threats 
5245
Temporal-Same-Time

236
and been challenged to a fight with tire irons by a colleague.
5245
Temporal-Same-Time

237
 The pilots are either for us or extremely against us, 
5247
span

238
he says with a sigh. 
237
attribution

5001
span
5005
Sequence

5002
span
5004
Same-Unit

5003
span
5004
Same-Unit

5004
multinuc
5005
Sequence

5005
multinuc
5017
Contrast

5006
span
11
reason-e

5007
span
5008
Same-Unit

5008
multinuc
5011
Sequence

5009
span
5010
Same-Unit

5010
multinuc
5011
Sequence

5011
multinuc
5016
span

5012
span



5013
multinuc
5014
span

5014
span
5015
span

5015
span
5011
antithesis

5016
span
5017
Contrast

5017
multinuc
5018
span

5018
span
5020
example

5019
span
5020
List

5020
multinuc
5021
span

5021
span
5026
span

5022
span
5027
span

5023
span
23
purpose

5024
span
5025
span

5025
span
5022
interpretation-s

5026
span
5028
Contrast

5027
span
5021
analogy

5028
multinuc
5106
span

5029
span
5031
Same-Unit

5030
span
30
elaboration-set-member-e

5031
multinuc
5035
consequence-n

5032
span
5033
Same-Unit

5033
multinuc
5035
List

5034
span
5035
List

5035
multinuc
5036
span

5036
span
5040
span

5037
multinuc
5038
span

5038
span
5039
span

5039
span
5036
interpretation-s

5040
span
29
explanation-argumentative

5041
span
5050
span

5042
span
47
elaboration-set-member

5043
span
5029
span

5044
span



5045
span
5041
interpretation-s

5046
span
5104
span

5047
span
43
explanation-argumentative

5048
span
5049
Same-Unit

5049
multinuc
5046
interpretation-s

5050
span
5028
Contrast

5051
span
5254
span

5052
span
5053
Same-Unit

5053
multinuc
5051
span

5054
multinuc
5051
elaboration-general-specific

5055
span



5056
span
5054
List

5057
span
5060
List

5058
multinuc
5057
span

5059
span
5058
List

5060
multinuc
5078
result

5061
span



5062
span



5063
span
5065
Same-Unit

5064
span



5065
multinuc
5069
span

5066
multinuc
5067
span

5067
span
5070
span

5068
span



5069
span
5077
List

5070
span
5065
elaboration-additional

5071
span
5076
span

5072
span
5075
span

5073
span
5072
elaboration-additional

5074
span
81
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5075
span
5071
elaboration-additional

5076
span
5077
List

5077
multinuc
68
example

5078
span
5083
span

5079
multinuc
84
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5080
span
5101
List

5081
span



5082
span



5083
span
5105
span

5084
span
5091
consequence-n

5085
multinuc
5086
Same-Unit

5086
multinuc
5089
comparison

5087
span
5085
Contrast

5088
span



5089
span
5091
span

5090
span
93
purpose

5091
span
5092
span

5092
span
86
elaboration-general-specific

5093
span
5094
Same-Unit

5094
multinuc
5099
circumstance

5095
multinuc
96
elaboration-general-specific

5096
span



5097
span
5099
Cause-Result

5098
multinuc
5099
Cause-Result

5099
multinuc
5100
span

5100
span
5095
Contrast

5101
multinuc
5083
elaboration-additional

5102
span
5253
span

5103
span



5104
span
5253
interpretation-s

5105
span
5028
elaboration-additional

5106
span
5163
Topic-Drift

5107
span
5138
span

5108
span
109
antithesis

5109
span
5112
span

5110
span
5111
List

5111
multinuc
5109
elaboration-general-specific

5112
span
5107
elaboration-additional

5113
span
5116
List

5114
span
5116
List

5115
span
117
purpose

5116
multinuc
114
elaboration-general-specific

5117
span
5118
span

5118
span
5116
List

5119
span
5138
explanation-argumentative

5120
multinuc
5132
List

5121
span
5124
Same-Unit

5122
span
5123
span

5123
span
5124
Same-Unit

5124
multinuc
5132
List

5125
span



5126
span



5127
span
5128
span

5128
span
5143
span

5129
span
5130
span

5130
span
5128
evidence

5131
span



5132
multinuc
5139
consequence-s

5133
span



5134
span



5135
span



5136
span



5137
span



5138
span
5139
span

5139
span
5142
span

5140
span



5141
span



5142
span
5144
span

5143
span
5142
antithesis

5144
span
5152
span

5145
span
5151
span

5146
span
136
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5147
span
5148
span

5148
span
5149
antithesis

5149
multinuc
5150
span

5150
span
5145
explanation-argumentative

5151
span
5144
interpretation-s

5152
span
5161
span

5153
span
5160
List

5154
span
5153
span

5155
span
5156
span

5156
span
5159
span

5157
span
5158
Same-Unit

5158
multinuc
5156
circumstance

5159
span
5160
List

5160
multinuc
5152
interpretation-s

5161
span
5163
Topic-Drift

5162
span
5186
span

5163
multinuc



5164
span
5174
span

5165
span
5167
circumstance

5166
span



5167
multinuc
5172
span

5168
span
5167
List

5169
span
5173
span

5170
span



5171
span



5172
span
5169
concession

5173
span
5164
evidence

5174
span
5175
Contrast

5175
multinuc
5162
elaboration-additional

5176
span
5177
Same-Unit

5177
multinuc
5178
span

5178
span
5184
Sequence

5179
span
5183
Question-Answer

5180
span
169
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5181
span
5180
span

5182
span
5183
Question-Answer

5183
multinuc
5184
Sequence

5184
multinuc
164
elaboration-general-specific

5185
span



5186
span
5204
span

5187
span
5188
Same-Unit

5188
multinuc
175
manner

5189
span
5194
span

5190
span
5191
Same-Unit

5191
multinuc
5193
span

5192
span
5191
definition

5193
span
5189
elaboration-general-specific-e

5194
span
5188
Same-Unit

5195
span
5197
explanation-argumentative

5196
span



5197
span
5198
span

5198
span
5203
span

5199
span
5200
interpretation-s

5200
span
5201
span

5201
span
187
elaboration-additional

5202
span
5198
problem-solution-s

5203
span
5186
elaboration-additional

5204
span
5219
Problem-Solution

5205
span
5209
span

5206
span
5207
span

5207
span
5212
List

5208
span
5205
example

5209
span
5218
List

5210
span
5211
span

5211
span
5212
List

5212
multinuc
195
elaboration-additional

5213
span
5214
Same-Unit

5214
multinuc
5217
span

5215
span
5214
Same-Unit

5216
span
5214
comment

5217
span
5212
List

5218
multinuc
5219
Problem-Solution

5219
multinuc
5236
span

5220
span
5235
List

5221
span
5222
Consequence

5222
multinuc
5223
Temporal-Same-Time

5223
multinuc
208
explanation-argumentative

5224
span
5225
span

5225
span
5227
List

5226
span
5227
List

5227
multinuc
213
evidence

5228
span
5229
span

5229
span
5235
List

5230
span
5233
Comparison

5231
span
5232
Same-Unit

5232
multinuc
5233
Comparison

5233
multinuc
219
elaboration-additional

5234
span
5228
interpretation-s

5235
multinuc
5219
evaluation-s

5236
span
5244
span

5237
span
226
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5238
span
5239
span

5239
span
5243
span

5240
span
5241
span

5241
span
5242
List

5242
multinuc
5239
evidence

5243
span
5236
evaluation-s

5244
span
5250
span

5245
multinuc
5246
span

5246
span
5248
span

5247
span
5246
elaboration-additional

5248
span
233
evidence

5249
span
5244
comment

5250
span
5163
Topic-Drift

5251
span
5032
span

5252
span



5253
span
5047
span

5254
span
5060
List

5255
span
69
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5256
span
5079
List

5257
span
5101
List

5258
span
5175
Contrast

