If either of you think the union cares about anything other than money, you need to go back to school. If they gave a rats-arse about "the employee" - "the teamster", then they would have forced UPS to pay the p/t employees a higher wage rate. No, they only care about the cold hard $$$, to stuff the pockets of the leaders and propaganda the heck out of worker bees (aka blind mice that pay dues). They push for better pay for the drivers (package and feeders) because their dues bring in more money and the drivers are usually the long term employees who need the teamsters backing so they can call in sick-no call every other Fri/Mon and still keep their job. I paid dues for 5 years, never filed a grievance, I came to work every day, did my job...the guy that worked accross from me showed up 4 times a week, sometimes 3, when he did show up he showed up late. He had worked here for 10+ years. Kept getting fired and getting his job back because of the union. So the days he was gone (and trust me he is one example out of about 100) the "brothers" that needed a job and gave a damn, and came to work everyday, had to do his share of the work. That's brotherhood all right. Oh and before you go bashing the management team that didn't keep accurate records, etc, remember, they were teamsters at one time as well, since they promote from within. So theoritically, the stupid management people are really stupid teamsters in a tie. And spare me "the Union gets us benifits" pablum too. In '97 UPS offered a $1,500 signing bonus and offered to take over the pension...Teamsters response...strike. Lost a bunch customers, lost $1,500, but the drivers got a nice pay increase (see above) and the p/t'ers got nothing. Then a few years later, when the Teamster retirement fund is running short (hmmm wonder why) they ask UPS to take over the pension. Why, because they knew the turd would hit the fan when they had to explain where all the money went. The union is good for 1 thing and 1 thing only, keeping slackers on the job and keeping the mafioso-wannabe leaders fat. Just look at those boneheads in Chicago, threatening to strike during a recession, had a list as long as your arm of issues and what were they really after? More days off. What a bunch of rubes....I'd type more, but I'm laughing too hard...more days off....hahahaha