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Ex-package driver here; I feel your pain
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<blockquote data-quote="Ex-" data-source="post: 865262" data-attributes="member: 36579"><p>I will try to keep this brief but it's kind of an involved story.</p><p></p><p> I was hired in 1983 right out of high school and went on the docks near my home. I was 18 and they were paying me about 12.50 an hour, which was extraordinary; most jobs paid about 4 or 5 back then.</p><p></p><p> I did various odd jobs during the day and really didn't have any plans to go driving; UPS was my benefit package and only required my presence between 5 and 9pm, and in my early 20's all I wanted was to drink and meet girls so the gig was perfect.</p><p></p><p> That changed in 1989 when my girlfriend got pregnant; I applied for a driving slot, and back then there was no wait period; they NEEDED drivers so I was put on right away, as a cover driver but full-time. I think the pay was about 20 or 21 bucks an hour back then, and no 'scale' or 3-year wait period to get to full -rate, you got it right away after you made your 30 days. We did everything on paper then also, the Diad didn't come out till around '92.</p><p></p><p> Of course I couldn't stand the work; the bosses were always on our ass and enough was never enough, as I am sure you all know better than me if you still work there. But by then, 1991-1995 or so, I really needed the 50K I was making, and the full benefits which now covered myself, a wife, and 2 small kids.</p><p></p><p> 50+ hour weeks, crappy weather, crappy management, seemingly unrealistic demands made daily, late nights, missed ballgames, etc......you all know the drill. The job was basically hell on earth and just waking up to put on that brown suit every day was a chore; and I understand now it's much worse.</p><p></p><p> Failed marriage by 1997, so now only 1/2 of my weekly paycheck was mine; at that time, about 500 came to me, 250 to the Ex, and 250 to the feds. By law she got 1/3rd of my take-home pay.</p><p></p><p> I volunteered for as much OT as they would give me, because I was swimming in debt by now; sound typical? Car and rent payments, food, clothes and other bills easily ate up the 2K I pocketed each month so I requested, and got, as much work as they could throw at me.</p><p></p><p> But in 1999 I had managed to slowly save up for the trip of a lifetime which would change my life forever, to Thailand; I took 2 weeks off in the dead of winter and went to the beaches and islands down south of Bangkok and loved it. I met a girl I really liked and took a bunch of photos of her, mostly in the water and on the beach, etc....but a few which were a bit more risque.</p><p></p><p> Upon return to New England, depression struck even more than usual once I went back to work; I couldn't believe that I was back behind the wheel of a P-1000 in February, 'humping bundles' with the wind and snow all around me, not after what I had just left behind in paradise. I started scheming on how I could get back there again, asap......problem is I had no vacation time until after the new list came out in May, and I wanted at least 2 weeks with my kids in the summer and 2 weeks [or more] back in Thailand in the winter again.</p><p></p><p> If this story is interesting to you guys I can tell the rest, but me thinks it's getting a little long by this point......let me know.</p><p></p><p> Ex- UPS guy</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ex-, post: 865262, member: 36579"] I will try to keep this brief but it's kind of an involved story. I was hired in 1983 right out of high school and went on the docks near my home. I was 18 and they were paying me about 12.50 an hour, which was extraordinary; most jobs paid about 4 or 5 back then. I did various odd jobs during the day and really didn't have any plans to go driving; UPS was my benefit package and only required my presence between 5 and 9pm, and in my early 20's all I wanted was to drink and meet girls so the gig was perfect. That changed in 1989 when my girlfriend got pregnant; I applied for a driving slot, and back then there was no wait period; they NEEDED drivers so I was put on right away, as a cover driver but full-time. I think the pay was about 20 or 21 bucks an hour back then, and no 'scale' or 3-year wait period to get to full -rate, you got it right away after you made your 30 days. We did everything on paper then also, the Diad didn't come out till around '92. Of course I couldn't stand the work; the bosses were always on our ass and enough was never enough, as I am sure you all know better than me if you still work there. But by then, 1991-1995 or so, I really needed the 50K I was making, and the full benefits which now covered myself, a wife, and 2 small kids. 50+ hour weeks, crappy weather, crappy management, seemingly unrealistic demands made daily, late nights, missed ballgames, etc......you all know the drill. The job was basically hell on earth and just waking up to put on that brown suit every day was a chore; and I understand now it's much worse. Failed marriage by 1997, so now only 1/2 of my weekly paycheck was mine; at that time, about 500 came to me, 250 to the Ex, and 250 to the feds. By law she got 1/3rd of my take-home pay. I volunteered for as much OT as they would give me, because I was swimming in debt by now; sound typical? Car and rent payments, food, clothes and other bills easily ate up the 2K I pocketed each month so I requested, and got, as much work as they could throw at me. But in 1999 I had managed to slowly save up for the trip of a lifetime which would change my life forever, to Thailand; I took 2 weeks off in the dead of winter and went to the beaches and islands down south of Bangkok and loved it. I met a girl I really liked and took a bunch of photos of her, mostly in the water and on the beach, etc....but a few which were a bit more risque. Upon return to New England, depression struck even more than usual once I went back to work; I couldn't believe that I was back behind the wheel of a P-1000 in February, 'humping bundles' with the wind and snow all around me, not after what I had just left behind in paradise. I started scheming on how I could get back there again, asap......problem is I had no vacation time until after the new list came out in May, and I wanted at least 2 weeks with my kids in the summer and 2 weeks [or more] back in Thailand in the winter again. If this story is interesting to you guys I can tell the rest, but me thinks it's getting a little long by this point......let me know. Ex- UPS guy [/QUOTE]
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