These are some of the results of Ups wanting to stretch out longer and longer to top rate. When I started it took me 9 months to get to top rate, now 4 yrs WTF? Concessions/givebacks only hurt the future ones looking for a job at Ups. when you get hired you know up front the deal...Can it take 5-6 yrs down the road? By then everyone will be working for P/T wages for many yrs before top rate (UPS PLAN more $$$ for the stockholders), No reason for concessions when Billions are made yr after yr...I go back to 81....And I can't recall them losing any $$$ in any yr. Please correct me if I am wrong..
You're absolutely right, but cazlinsky is referring to the PT progression which is an even worse deal than the new 4 year FT progression. When I was first hired under the 2002 contract, I had no progression and was making over $13.00/hr after 4 years with skill pay. The progression agreed to under the 2008 deal (which was the first time PT'ers did not receive the GWIs and received a progression instead) set wages it to $12.87 (with skill pay) after four years, after which the GWI would kick in (most of the progression raises were smaller than the GWI for PT'ers). The new progression under the TA addresses this somewhat, with a PT'er finishing progression after 4 years making $13.50 with skill pay.
Quite frankly, the huge wage disparities among PT'ers plays a large role in why the PT ranks are so divided. Drivers finished with progression are all making the same hourly rate of pay, while less senior PT'ers are literally working alongside people making more than double their hourly rate.
The additional year to top out as a FT'er is just adding insult to injury after already having to wait 15 years for a FT job. I guarantee you UPS will try to bump it up to at least 5 years during the next contract, if they don't demand a two-tier wage/benefit system outright.
