New Englander
Well-Known Member
Err.....thanks for offering your opinion on what I asked. Did you miss it or just don't have an opinion?
It depends on your supplement. In the Atlantic Area, for instance, we are directed to take our lunch between the 4th and 6th hours with the following exceptions; vehicle breakdown, or if someplace to eat is not accessible, in which case the meal period can be mutually agreed upon, ie, the local gas station parking lot or the building.No one has answered my question or even given any thought to it.
I have been issued my warning letter to work as directed and take my lunch.
My point is this:
The contract states we are to take a lunch.
The contract states when we are to take the lunch.
How can the company issue warning letters for failing to take a lunch when they care less when it is taken? I feel like grieving my letter based upon that fact. They shouldn't be able to enforce just PART of the equation. The part that suits them and turn the blind eye to the routes improperly written that guys run it to the end on.
If drivers are allowed to take their lunches at the end of their shift either at the local gas station parking lot or building it is essentially not a lunch. It is only being done to oblige management.
I know a half dozen drivers that wish they just got a warning letter. Do you want a second warning letter saying you didn't take lunch at the right time too? Why can't you follow the contract?
No one has answered my question or even given any thought to it.
I have been issued my warning letter to work as directed and take my lunch.
My point is this:
The contract states we are to take a lunch.
The contract states when we are to take the lunch.
How can the company issue warning letters for failing to take a lunch when they care less when it is taken? I feel like grieving my letter based upon that fact. They shouldn't be able to enforce just PART of the equation. The part that suits them and turn the blind eye to the routes improperly written that guys run it to the end on.
If drivers are allowed to take their lunches at the end of their shift either at the local gas station parking lot or building it is essentially not a lunch. It is only being done to oblige management.
PICK UP THE PACE! I didn't say I've never recieved bonus, I just PREFER overtime, since here in South Fla our bonus is paid at straight time. I know lots of guys who run all day in a race to get home. I prefer to work my route by the proper methods, take my lunch, and win the make more $$ race. As for picking up the pace.... I'll try .....on my way to the bank on fridaysLonglunchguy, you said you don't make bonus, therefore you think it's straight time. Pick up the pace, make an hour bonus then look at your stub. It's not really a bonus anyway. You're not getting paid extra, just getting paid for the load but doing it in a shorter time span.
Explain this to anybody in the "real world" and you would get a perplexed look.
The company has the technology to know who is cheating them. Pay us for what we take and don't make me sit at 7-11 when its -10 degrees at the end of the night.
People lose sight of the INTENT of the contract language and the real reason behind the lawsuit.
The INTENT of the contract language is to ensure that UPS does not load up a route with businesses to a degree that forces the driver to take a lunch at the end of the day. The driver is ENTITLED to take his lunch in the middle of the day like any other human being.
The lawsuit was about the fact that UPS was basically forcing drivers to work off of the clock. UPS has never cared whether or not you actually take a lunch break; their only concern is being able to screw you out of an hours pay.
If I have a school function or other event to attend in the evening, I will take a 5 minute lunch and put that amount into the DIAD. No falsification of records; no working off of the clock; I am being honest and being paid for all hours worked, per the contract.
People lose sight of the INTENT of the contract language and the real reason behind the lawsuit.
The INTENT of the contract language is to ensure that UPS does not load up a route with businesses to a degree that forces the driver to take a lunch at the end of the day. The driver is ENTITLED to take his lunch in the middle of the day like any other human being.
The lawsuit was about the fact that UPS was basically forcing drivers to work off of the clock. UPS has never cared whether or not you actually take a lunch break; their only concern is being able to screw you out of an hours pay.
If I have a school function or other event to attend in the evening, I will take a 5 minute lunch and put that amount into the DIAD. No falsification of records; no working off of the clock; I am being honest and being paid for all hours worked, per the contract.
I have been told that I am to take my full lunch, no partial ones. As my warning letter was "a failure to work as directed" I have to be careful on that one.
To this day I still pester management about what they are going to do about the partial lunch guys only putting what they take and essentially going home earlier then I can.
Fair is fair. We are all equal in the Union on everything but seniority.
Demand to get the lunch software...Nomore warning letters...Only terminations.
Hey...I'm not for or against the lunch.
My beef is that I've been singled out on this at my center and well.....tried to be made an example of.
My point is.....and I'm hoping it's correct - the warning letter needs to go away as it is clearly at this point something that other drivers are still doing.
Ever since that lawsuit was settled in Ca. we started not taking lunch but we were getting paid for that hr. Of course all good things must come to an end when working for UPS. They now instructing everyone that you must take an hour lunch. So we like to push the envelope a little bit about 30 guys didn't take lunch. It was pretty funny seeing everyone line up in the office receiving verbal warnings for failing to follow instructions. Anybody else have this going on.
lets pretend for a minute that about 20 guys (mostly part-time air drivers & part-time cover drivers and a few full-time drivers) didnt take their lunches on the day after thanksgiving because it was such a clusterf...
would they be more likely to write up an employee who didn't take a lunch, or would they be able to fire the employee for not working as directed?
Working for hours the day after Thanksgiving does not require that a lunch be taken; however, if you requested the 8 hour guarantee than a lunch must be taken.
lets pretend for a minute that about 20 guys (mostly part-time air drivers & part-time cover drivers and a few full-time drivers) didnt take their lunches on the day after thanksgiving because it was such a clusterf...
would they be more likely to write up an employee who didn't take a lunch, or would they be able to fire the employee for not working as directed?