I Hate Ups

[Griff]

Originally Posted by tieguy

god help us if we are actually catering to the shareholder because the shareholder is not too impressed. I do agree though that our culture has changed since we went public.

I don't know how to translate corporate greed. The yearly elements that dictate how well UPS compensates its management is heavily weighted towards growing the business. Growing the business also creates more well paying union jobs. A viable healthy company pays all our bills. Greed is what generates the revenue that your union taps into when they negotiate each contract. So looking at it logically we all benifit from this greed driven pursuit. Deciding that making a small profit is good enough does not work and leads to complacency which kills businesses.

So say along with me "greed is good"

Greed isn't good, it's dangerous. UPS is playing a very dangerous game with its customers. They are gambling with customer service and the company's long standing public appearance in a desperation act to appease shareholders. I don't have any clue what it takes to run a corporate behemoth like this company, but I really doubt this is a sound strategy for any company. There's only so much drivers can do to maintain the image this company used to care about.

[Mike Hawk]

I have taken a few quarters of aluminum welding and I never saw any black aluminum. Aluminum oxide is commonly found on every piece of AL exposed to oxygen, in a very thin surface layer but it’s not black. Either way whatever it is I doubt it is healthy for my lungs.

[filthpig]

I don't hate UPS but I have a strong dislike for many of the people who I have worked for and maybe a couple I have worked with. When I began working here 20 years ago, there was a strong almost military sense of pride associated with being a UPSer. If you were in management you wore a tie and had that shirt tucked in and shoes shined. No ball caps. No exceptions.
Part time supes knew all of their "underlings" jobs and could out-perform them on most. Full time management was almost unseen and there wasn't as much "micromanagement" as there is today. As a preloader, speed and accuracy coupled with tight, precise loads were things that were the norm not the exception. I had confidence in my management. I felt as though the company was in good hands with them. When I began driving 12 years ago, I was trained by other drivers who knew exactly how to most efficiently run a route and trained you on proper methods as well. Anyone here remember "methods rides"? I liked my full time managers and felt as though they knew what they were doing and cared about me as well. Input you gave on your route was listened to and if practical your ideas were tried: adjustments to things like pickups and splits and whatnot.
Now? Ha! Different story.
Let's start with the preload. The preloaders we have now SUCK BALLS. They don't care how well they do their job and will tell you that. When my loader gets to the end of the day, he just starts putting crap wherever he wants to. No pride whatsoever. This is a direct result of the lax attitude management has taken with the training (due to PAS) and the people they hire to be PT supes. Anyone looked at these idiots lately? Pants hanging off their asses, ball caps turned around backwards, ratty-ass shoes and shaggy hair. What the f&ck happened?!
I don't really have a problem with my center management, but the moron that runs our building is the biggest idiot I've ever come in contact with. This guy is the most negative goof I've ever known. Just the other day, he gets up at the PCM and starts screaming about how he's going to "take people out" if he sees them on the phone, leaving the bulkhead door open going over-allowed, etc. Just out of the blue. Never has anything positive to say. Of course he's got his "pets" that he shucks and jives with, but treats most drivers like . And by the way, my center is consistently near or at the top of the district in everything.
Do any of ya'll have those guys who show up 1 hr before start to "massage" their load and henpeck the dispatch into taking work off, or cherry pick their splits? These people really burn my ass.
Sorry, had to vent.

[trplnkl]

Dang good post Pig. I too have seen the down turn you noted. I hate it, but not much I can do about it but grip.
What amazes me is that the company management as a whole can't see this as well.

[dilligaf]

Pig---- I haven't been here long enough to have seen how it was in the past, but as far as the way things are now- you hit the nail square on the head. My steward had 4 misloads yesterday. She had to deliver her misloads, where one of the favored drivers would have gotten away with dumping them off. Nothing will be done about it as far as preload goes. There is no accountability with preload, but they ride our a$$es as though the world was going to end. Her preloader constantly misloads, every day. We have drivers that 'massage' their loads every day, drivers that suck up to sup's to get what they want, drivers that make extra-contractual agreements.
And they wonder why I file 9.5's.

[tieguy]

Originally Posted by Griff

Greed isn't good, it's dangerous. UPS is playing a very dangerous game with its customers. They are gambling with customer service and the company's long standing public appearance in a desperation act to appease shareholders. I don't have any clue what it takes to run a corporate behemoth like this company, but I really doubt this is a sound strategy for any company. There's only so much drivers can do to maintain the image this company used to care about.

you don't get it. greed drives all of us. We obviously work at ups for the economic benifits not the great workout. You can't be greedy and then turn your nose up at greed.

[filthpig]

Originally Posted by tieguy

you don't get it. greed drives all of us. We obviously work at ups for the economic benifits not the great workout. You can't be greedy and then turn your nose up at greed.

You've seen "Wall Street" too many times.
Greed doesn't drive me. Responsibility and a good life for my family drives me. I'm sorry, but you just made one of the most moronic statements I've ever heard a "grown-up" make.

[filthpig]

Originally Posted by dilligaf

Pig---- I haven't been here long enough to have seen how it was in the past, but as far as the way things are now- you hit the nail square on the head. My steward had 4 misloads yesterday. She had to deliver her misloads, where one of the favored drivers would have gotten away with dumping them off. Nothing will be done about it as far as preload goes. There is no accountability with preload, but they ride our a$ as though the world was going to end. Her preloader constantly misloads, every day. We have drivers that 'massage' their loads every day, drivers that suck up to sup's to get what they want, drivers that make extra-contractual agreements.
And they wonder why I file 9.5's.

I see your center has a "country club" too. I'm probably going to bid back to my old center. At least they treat everyone like $h*t there.

[IDoLessWorkThanMost]

Originally Posted by filthpig

I see your center has a "country club" too. I'm probably going to bid back to my old center. At least they treat everyone like *t there.

You shuold see the hub I work at. Feeder drivers just sitting around waiting for the loads, watching supervisors carry bulk into the trailers. Feeders are in bed with management as they have a deal ; feeders don't grieve, managers and sups do the work. Infact I believe there's more supervisors working than teamsters!

I asked my sup a question I already knew the answer to - "why aren't the feeders helping with the loads?" His response - "I have the authority to do that but we are never supposed to ask them to work"

LOL

Wow, what an environment! At least it takes the performance pressure off the new guy; I can just stroll around and watch supervisors work and not worry about being screamed at to go faster lol

[Hedley_Lamarr]

Originally Posted by toonertoo

I get those complaints constantly about dirty pkgs. I just show them my hands and how they are equally as dirty. No in my case it isnt the boxes or the rural roads, its coz there is STILL soot in our trucks from a fire 28 months ago. Thats right 28 months, its still on the doors the bulkheads, and the shelves. Some of them have never been cleaned. Mine being one of them...and I think it is a health hazard, but you gotta keep those car wash hours down. But we care sooooooooo much about safety. Wont matter 30 yrs from now when we all are dead from those carcinogens I could put seeds in the corners of my truck back corners and stuff will grow, guaranteed. Good Idea, I think Ill do that tomorrow. Ill let you know in 3 wks.

Talk about carcinogens, I love when we're in the middle of our PCM and Linden center's cars all start up spewing diesel exhaust in our faces giving us all about a pack of regular Marlboro's worth of smoke. Breathe on your own time fellers.....

[Mike Hawk]

I agree about most preloaders sucking, I see it every day. With PAS you can give 5 minutes of training to anyone and they get the general idea and start loading boxes in the truck. Management sees this and thinks they are now trained and moves on. Easy to learn hard to master. Most people have no motivation to try hard, you get the same pay for 1 misload a month and stop for stop loading as the guy who throws boxes anywhere and misloads every day. With the union at their backs they know they can’t get into much trouble or loose their job.

[feeder53]

I am a feeder driver, and I have never had any reason to grieve a situation. I get the same treatment as anyone in the terminal too. I am not special or part of MGMT. When I get to my destination, I put my trailers where they need to be and find the yardman and ask if I can help out in the yard, and I have. I do not know the inside operation but lend a hand where ever I thought I could help. I do not want to just sit in my tractor bored stiff. I have done my run and they asked me to do yard moves with my tractor and have put in 14 hour days doing so.....I am far from perfect, but I will do the best job I can at all times. Have you ever hooked a set of doubles in the winter with snow to your waist? Trying to spot a dolly... We all have a job to do and we all can make it easier for all if we all help each other instead of bashing part of the team.

[soberups]

Originally Posted by tieguy

you don't get it. greed drives all of us. We obviously work at ups for the economic benifits not the great workout. You can't be greedy and then turn your nose up at greed.

"Greed" is a desire for things that one is not entitled to or has not earned. "Greed" denotes a lack of balance. One must balance this desire for material wealth with the realities of what is available, what is reasonable, and what is fair and ethical for all concerned.

[dilligaf]

Originally Posted by filthpig

I see your center has a "country club" too. I'm probably going to bid back to my old center. At least they treat everyone like *t there.

Oh ya...............Gotta love that good ole boys country club. The dues are to pricey for me though. LOL

[trickpony1]

Originally Posted by IDoLessWorkThanMost

You shuold see the hub I work at. Feeder drivers just sitting around waiting for the loads, watching supervisors carry bulk into the trailers. Feeders are in bed with management as they have a deal ; feeders don't grieve, managers and sups do the work. Infact I believe there's more supervisors working than teamsters!

I asked my sup a question I already knew the answer to - "why aren't the feeders helping with the loads?" His response - "I have the authority to do that but we are never supposed to ask them to work"

LOL

Wow, what an environment! At least it takes the performance pressure off the new guy; I can just stroll around and watch supervisors work and not worry about being screamed at to go faster lol

Good point. (sarcasm)
Maybe we need to get those feeder drivers in the 110 degree trailers humping cardboard, sweating like pigs, dehydrating so they can fall asleep at the wheel of their 35-110 foot long vehicle on their 4-5 hour drive back to their destination.
It would make your job easier and the numbers look better which, of course, is the most important thing.
And the best part about it all is when the feeder driver falls asleep, lays his rig on it's side in a ditch, the company can fire him and hire a much cheaper employee to replace the PC driver that is replacing him.
You need to suggest this at your next safety meeting as you grab your next piece of pizza and can of soda pop.

[Average at Best]

Originally Posted by tieguy

you don't get it. greed drives all of us. We obviously work at ups for the economic benifits not the great workout. You can't be greedy and then turn your nose up at greed.

Greed is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed." Working hard everyday so that I can afford a mortgage, utilities and a modest vehicle is not greedy.

[feeder53]

I too feel for those that work in those hot trailers and dock areas....That is where they chose to work. I started out in the trucking industry delivering referidgerators for Sears, Wards and Large furniture for Macy`s. I had the worst truck in the fleet and a helper just out of high school that weighed about 80 pounds, talk about a tough time as the customer watches so you do not scratch the walls or the appliance as you are going to the third floor. I have spend a lot of time driving a set of doubles (Big ones) through snow and ice and see other trucks off the road.....feeders is not as easy as one may think. This past winter for the last big storm of the year I was called by UPS to do a feeders run at the height of the storm. I had never been to any of the terminals and had worked all day at my full time job. There were trucks off the road and accidents all over the place......I did my job and got the runs done. I was on another run earlier in the winter and crested a hill in Willsboro N.Y. on my way to Plattsburgh and the road going down the backside was solid ice.........We are all a team, we all have tough jobs and that is the bottom line is we all have a piece to this puzzle......

[tieguy]

Originally Posted by Average at Best

Greed is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed." Working hard everyday so that I can afford a mortgage, utilities and a modest vehicle is not greedy.

And yet you make so much more then many others in society. Therefore they could see your pursuit of more and more each contract as greed.

But in any case I'll stick to my original point. Corporate greed is what provides the jobs that you use to afford your mortgage , utilities etc.

[Mike Hawk]

Originally Posted by trickpony1

Good point. (sarcasm)
Maybe we need to get those feeder drivers in the 110 degree trailers humping cardboard, sweating like pigs, dehydrating so they can fall asleep at the wheel of their 35-110 foot long vehicle on their 4-5 hour drive back to their destination.
It would make your job easier and the numbers look better which, of course, is the most important thing.
And the best part about it all is when the feeder driver falls asleep, lays his rig on it's side in a ditch, the company can fire him and hire a much cheaper employee to replace the PC driver that is replacing him.
You need to suggest this at your next safety meeting as you grab your next piece of pizza and can of soda pop.

Being dehydrated is your own fault and not an excuse for anything, water is free when you hit the button under the drinking fountain. If they are so frail that a little bit of physical labor causes them to fall asleep at the wheel then they really shouldn’t be working.