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[upsdawg]

The thread changed from Yellow Buy Out to PCA's being consolidated??

I have some knowledge of the PCA Consolidation.Most of our PCA's across the country are non-union and have high length of service and many make $20 an hour.(not counting benefits!) The support for Preferred Customers will move to 4 parts of the country---Salt Lake City will get some, NC will get some, and all of the National Account support will go to Tampa.(don't remember the 4th location)

UPS has invested in new Technology which allows the locations receiving the calls to id the phone number of the person/company calling in and populate all of the necessary screens that give a past history of the account calling in and the call is forwarded to the last PCA Team member that handled the customer.Technology will replace jobs and many large companies are sending support of their call centers to other countries--like India.

These decisions are all based on a cost to serve and all of this factors into our rate structure and how much we can discount our rates and remain competitive with our non-union competitors who have a much lower cost and can offer lower rates than UPS!! If UPS offers rates that are lower than our cost to serve we face possible lawsuits for "Predatory Pricing"

Do we do nothing and keep raising our rates and continue losing volume and revenue to our competition or do we try to always find ways to reduce our cost and stay competitive ? What do we owe to our Shareholders wh}o would like to see the value of the UPS Stock remain stable?

Or do we continue to try to convert all of the UPS jobs into union positions and even raise the labor cost and let our competitors take our volume away and force UPS to lay off people because of volume decline?

I for one am grateful that UPS continues to look at ways to reduce cost and improve service and protects our future!!

 

[brown39]

Many of them may have turned down a job out of the area. I know for a fact that every effort is made to find work and offer that to affected individuals. The success of that effort may not be measured by the number of people who chose NOT to take a job elsewhere.

 

[minkie188]

Reuters
UPS quarterly earnings climb
Thursday January 29, 8:05 am ET


MIAMI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - United Parcel Service Inc (NYSE:UPS - News), the world's biggest package carrier, on Thursday reported a rise in quarterly earnings, excluding one-time items, on higher volumes driven by the expanding U.S. economy.
The Atlanta transport giant said fourth-quarter profit was 70 cents a share. Before extraordinary items, UPS earned 59 cents a share in late 2002, when the company's mainstay U.S. parcel-transport business was stung by worries among shippers of a strike against the company.

 

[brown39]

'Volume at the UPS Stores more than doubled over the previous year". Enough said...mbe...soooolllonnnggg...

 

[my2cents]

According to a "New York Times" article, which appeared today, the partitioning debate is temporarily over because it is an election year. An excerpt from the article:

"One company, United Parcel Service, has already backed away from a measure addressing its pension concerns, saying it does not think the political climate is right. Last year, U.P.S. had garnered considerable support on the Hill for a measure that would have limited its exposure to a type of pension obligations stemming from its participation in plans run by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. But that measure was not included in the bill passed yesterday, and a U.P.S. spokesman said the company had decided the chances for such a measure in an election year were poor."

 

[muncher]

Well more record profits, now going on SEVEN!!! years and still waiting for a full time job, Thanks UPS!!

 

[claud]

Hi my name is Claud and I applyed for a job as UPS Package Delivery Driver in the Watertown Ma facility. I applyed for the job before xmas and haven't recieved a phone call. I also called the telephone #1(800)382-1193 for a job interview and am told to call next week for new interviewing openings. This has been going on for about a month now and am hoping one of you guys may a solution to my problem, thanks in advance.
Claud

 

[steamheat]

when you have waited 13 years, then I'll have some empathy for you. keep waiting or leave; your choice.

 

[robonono]

The New York Times
Senate Passes A Bill to Cover Pension Plans

By Mary Williams Walsh
Jan. 29, 2004

The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation yesterday that would save companies an estimated $80 billion on their pension contributions over the next two years, but it was unclear whether the Bush administration would support the measure.

Companies that sponsor traditional pension plans have been coping with several years of bad market conditions, and the Senate bill is intended to tide them through until the climate improves. The centerpiece of the bill is a temporary change in the way companies calculate -- in today's dollars
- the amount they owe their employees in the future. The change would make these obligations look smaller, which in turn would allow the companies to set aside less money today.

The Senate bill also contains several provisions intended to help airlines, steel companies, unions that operate pension plans and certain other employers deal with individual pension problems. The government has estimated these provisions would save those companies $16 billion, bringing the total savings to about $96 billion.

The bill will have to be reconciled with one of two pension bills passed by the House last year. All three pending bills agree on the change in pension calculations, but the House bills offer little or none of the additional relief that the Senate contemplates.

The Bush administration has repeatedly expressed skepticism about such pension breaks for individual companies or sectors. Last week, three cabinet members issued a warning against pension legislation that ''encourages firms to underfund their pensions.''

One company, United Parcel Service, has already backed away from a measure addressing its pension concerns, saying it does not think the political climate is right. Last year, U.P.S. had garnered considerable support on the Hill for a measure that would have limited its exposure to a type of pension obligations stemming from its participation in plans run by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. But that measure was not included in the bill passed yesterday, and a U.P.S. spokesman said the company had decided the chances for such a measure in an election year were poor.

If the Senate bill becomes law, the new way of calculating pensions would stay in force for two years. Pension specialists are hoping Congress will use those two years to make fundamental changes in the pension law itself, so that when the breather expires, the system does not simply lapse back to today's troublesome state. The existing pension law has been widely criticized as overly complex and ineffective at keeping pension funds healthy.

For airlines, the Senate bill could be a particular boon. It contains a special reprieve to companies whose pension plans have developed severe, lasting deficits. Almost all of the big airlines, as well as certain steel companies, fit that description, and the bill specifically offers the special break to those two sectors. But it also contains language allowing other companies to apply for the relief, as long as the Treasury does not specifically refuse them.

Normally, companies with severely underfunded pension plans must make a series of accelerated catch-up payments to revive their plans before they become irretrievable. The Senate provision would waive 80 percent of these required catch-up payments for the first year, and 60 percent for the second. The big airlines -- particularly United and Northwest -- have lobbied hard for such relief. So has the union that represents pilots at all of the major airlines except American.

United in particular would benefit. The airline, a unit of UAL, has been operating in bankruptcy protection for more than a year, and has said that it must restructure the payments coming due to its employee pension funds if it is to emerge successfully. Most members of Congress have been receptive to the airline's concerns, given its grave condition in an election year.

But the possibility of special pension-financing waivers for certain companies and sectors has drawn complaints from other businesses that do not offer pensions to their workers. Dan DiMicco, the chief executive of the Nucor steel company, recently wrote to several senators saying he considered the special waivers to be an unfair subsidy that would help rival steel makers at his company's expense. He wrote that such a subsidy might lead to trade retaliation from other countries.

''Such subsidies are wrong whether they are provided in Poland or Pittsburgh,'' said Mr. DiMicco, who addressed his comments to senators from more than 20 states where Nucor has operations. Nucor, which has its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., offers a 401(k) retirement program to its workers, and those benefits do not have to be funded in the way traditional pensions do.

The offer of waivers for companies with severe pension problems has also drawn fire from the Bush administration. Last week, the secretaries of Treasury, Labor and Commerce wrote a letter to the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, warning him that they would recommend that President Bush veto any legislation that contained ''provisions that would significantly further exacerbate systemic pension plan underfunding.''

The three cabinet secretaries make up the board of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the federal agency that insures pensions. The agency's financial health has deteriorated significantly over the last two years, raising concerns of a possible taxpayer bailout. Their letter to Senator Frist did not explain precisely what would constitute unacceptable provisions.

A second contentious measure in the bill would allow pension plans run by unions to delay the recognition of their recent investment losses. That, in turn, would make such plans look healthier than they do under the current rules, easing the pressure on the companies that must pay for the benefits.

The pension agency runs a separate insurance program for union-led pension plans, which are known as multiemployer plans. These plans have posed little problem for the government in the past, but the pension agency recently reported that its multiemployer program was now in a precarious state. Much of the risk is concentrated in a few industries like trucking, the agency said. The most troubled plan appears to be the Teamsters' Central States pension fund, the same one that has caused consternation at U.P.S.

Even though U.P.S. has withdrawn from that particular issue, Senator Trent Lott has sponsored a provision of the bill that would help a different delivery company, CNF, deal with the Central States' plan. The Teamsters have been considering a lawsuit against CNF on behalf of the plan, and Senator Lott's amendment would switch the burden of proof from the company to the union.

The Senate bill also contains language that would let Greyhound treat its pension plan as if it were fully funded when in fact it is not. Greyhound, a unit of Laidlaw, has said relief is appropriate because its pension plan covers an unusually old group of workers and retirees.

 

[tsg_sam]

Technology cannot replace the "personal touch" that a local person can offer a customer. I say this as a person who is the technology support group at UPS. FedEx went to the same caller ID based system several years ago, and it has failed miserably. In fact, FedEx's lack of local support has driven many customers to UPS. What are these customers going to do now that UPS is exporting customer support as well?

 

[gman]

Muncher,
I'm not sure we need someone with your attitude actually inter-acting with the customers any way. It would knock the perception of UPS down to the level of the post office.

 

[toonertoo]

Or try waiting 8 yrs, having to move from your home and family, or drive 140 miles just to get to work, AND get cut back to 9.11 per hour from 18.75 because you are considered an outside hire with a two yr progression, wait leave or take what you can get, and live with it. We all wait. Those that have something better in line usually go, those that dont wait. Just the way it is.

 

[muncher]

Hey those are all horor stories, still dosn;t make right what UPS is doing, and why in the world would you wait 13 years steamboat! that 4 college degrees!

 

[ironylife]

steamheat....do you work in kentucky at the air hub?? Thats one thing that I could NEVER stand, why ups would hire someone off the street as hub folks are waiting many years for a full time job. At my center most of the old timers are off the street. At one time it was a one to one ratio, and part timers were only hired as college kids wanting to work while they get their degrees. Now is a different story, most drivers come from the hub, which is the way it should be....period. Hang in there, your time will come. UPS has many folks hired in the 70 and early 80's that will be retiring so your time will come. Im glad I worked in the hub, it gives me a different perspective about this company and on driving....Im just sorry it took 7 years!!

 

[frustrated]

Looking for a little advice out there. I currently work in a small hub as a tech support/sysadmin person. We are currently suffering with about the most incompetent supervisor I have ever seen at UPS. Seems incapable of doing his job, lies all the time, never accomplishes projects, discriminates again women, etc. We tried everything from talking to the manager to trashing him on the ERI. Its bad enough that several techs have left, several others are looking for jobs. All we hear is we need to give him a chance (after almost a year). The thought of rolling out PAS and all the other projects with this maroon is scary. Why do we keep these loosers around?

Any ideas? Anyone know if FedEx is hiring techs?

Frustrated

 

[longups]

Sometines a job at a company is not in the cards. I almost got a job at IBM in 1969, but was turned down and thankfully I continued to work at good old UPS. Am I bitter at IBM? NO.
UPS does not owe anyone a job. Be thankful that you have choices.

 

[mojobuc]

Well looks like I not only start the AM sort Monday, but have an interview w/ HR about a possible p/t supervisor position.

Already have heard numerous horror stories about the long hours, working 8 hrs being paid for 5, etc.
but the way I see it, it is a step upward, either hopefully w/ UPS or at the very least, it will look good on a resume, IF, someday I go elsewhere.
Anyone know the pay rate for p/t sups?

 

[wkmac]

What is even more encouraging is Ground volume finally outpaced air 5.2% to 3.5% so at least at this point in time the plan of the UPS Stores coupled with other elements seem to be working. Don't believe we can relax and pop a few cold ones yet but indicates our direction is pointed the right way. Next few Q's will tell the story IMO.

 

[rushfan]

I think we can pop a couple of cold ones, and still work hard.

 

[wkmac]

Played around with it for some years then set it aside but have been getting back into it of late. Got a contractor tablesaw that just don't get it but thinking of stepping up to a 3 HP Cabinet saw and was looking at the Powermatic 66 but anyone got any feelings on the 66 or Delta Unisaw, Jet, General, Grizzly or whoever? Your experiences would be most appreciated.