kingOFchester
Well-Known Member
Not sure where this is going or what it all means. Just something I have been pondering this week.
Out of all the jobs I have had in life, including owning a business with the wife, I have to say that I feel as though working at UPS makes you really wonder what is the right thing to do. I know it may be black and white for a lot of drivers, more so with the seasoned drivers, but for me I find myself in a gray area. The only other thing in life that I can compare this to is being a parent. As a parent it is sometimes difficult to make the right choices. Our parents made mistakes when they thought they were doing right, just as we make poor choices when we think we are doing our children a service.
When I first came to UPS, and the cafe, I was a company guy. I did everything that my superiors wanted me to do. It felt like it was the right thing to do. Started driving and it made sense to sheet the residential air on a Saturday as delivered when I was only a few minutes away. It made sense to see a supervisor bring work out to me because they had a late shuttle. It made sense when i was a loader to send me home before my 3.5 guarantee because preload was wrapping up and the drivers were finishing the loading. Along with many many other things.
Now I am at the cross roads that many of the drivers here told me I would be down the road. I now see that a lot of things I did in the past was not always the right thing to do. But, and this is important and may not be well received here, I am not completely sold that everything we do as a union is the right thing to do. I often ponder how profitable, and more importantly sustainable, UPS would be if everyone across the board followed the contract to the T. Just as we complain about UPS adding more and more work and expecting us to "deliver" the impossible day in and day out, I am sure that UPS feels that they can't keep giving us pay raises and health care considering the sky rocketing cost. You have a non union, profitable company called fedex getting bigger and stronger everyday. As they get larger, their costs per piece will continue to go down.
How does one determine what is the right thing to do? I know many many will say follow the contract. And I understand and believe this MAY be the best option. But how do you do that when you understand what is at stake with Fedex on our heals. Or better yet, how about wanting to see your off spring playing the starring roll in a school play and the only way you can do that is to skip lunch, run and the want not.
I just don't know. Again, I feel as though I am at a cross roads and just don't know what the right thing to do.
Out of all the jobs I have had in life, including owning a business with the wife, I have to say that I feel as though working at UPS makes you really wonder what is the right thing to do. I know it may be black and white for a lot of drivers, more so with the seasoned drivers, but for me I find myself in a gray area. The only other thing in life that I can compare this to is being a parent. As a parent it is sometimes difficult to make the right choices. Our parents made mistakes when they thought they were doing right, just as we make poor choices when we think we are doing our children a service.
When I first came to UPS, and the cafe, I was a company guy. I did everything that my superiors wanted me to do. It felt like it was the right thing to do. Started driving and it made sense to sheet the residential air on a Saturday as delivered when I was only a few minutes away. It made sense to see a supervisor bring work out to me because they had a late shuttle. It made sense when i was a loader to send me home before my 3.5 guarantee because preload was wrapping up and the drivers were finishing the loading. Along with many many other things.
Now I am at the cross roads that many of the drivers here told me I would be down the road. I now see that a lot of things I did in the past was not always the right thing to do. But, and this is important and may not be well received here, I am not completely sold that everything we do as a union is the right thing to do. I often ponder how profitable, and more importantly sustainable, UPS would be if everyone across the board followed the contract to the T. Just as we complain about UPS adding more and more work and expecting us to "deliver" the impossible day in and day out, I am sure that UPS feels that they can't keep giving us pay raises and health care considering the sky rocketing cost. You have a non union, profitable company called fedex getting bigger and stronger everyday. As they get larger, their costs per piece will continue to go down.
How does one determine what is the right thing to do? I know many many will say follow the contract. And I understand and believe this MAY be the best option. But how do you do that when you understand what is at stake with Fedex on our heals. Or better yet, how about wanting to see your off spring playing the starring roll in a school play and the only way you can do that is to skip lunch, run and the want not.
I just don't know. Again, I feel as though I am at a cross roads and just don't know what the right thing to do.