Trouble brewing in chicago!

[BigBrownSanta]

If the retiree's insurance premiums are going from $100 a month to $600 a month now, how much will it be in 10 or 20 years when we are all (hopefully) retired?

And, I sure hope I don't have to rely on New Englander's kids to stop the company from raising my premiums to $1200 - $1500 a month after I've retired.

[altstewie]

I agree with red that this does need immediate action. But I do think dropping the strike bomb is a little too quick. Strikeing is like a nuclear bomb. You dont always want to say strike because UPS sooner or later will learn the "fake strike button tactic".

The people who think this isn't a big deal should at least think about your signifcant other and what if you couldn't afford to get them the pills they needed to stay alive just because you didn't have a backbone to a company that manipulates their numbers and workers everyday.

[1989]

Originally Posted by brownman15

were do u think the pension money goes. same with social security people that work now fund people that are retired.

My pension statements always add up to the total UPS puts in ($7.20 x 2080 hours for 2008) Our retiree's benefits are done through the local. They talked about switching plans but the plan they wanted to switch to didn't want the retirees. And the plan they wanted switch out of wouldn't keep them.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by BigBrownSanta

If the retiree's insurance premiums are going from $100 a month to $600 a month now, how much will it be in 10 or 20 years when we are all (hopefully) retired?

And, I sure hope I don't have to rely on New Englander's kids to stop the company from raising my premiums to $1200 - $1500 a month after I've retired.

Perhaps you'll be smart enough to plan ahead and this won't be a worry. Then again....perhaps not.

[BigBrownSanta]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Perhaps you'll be smart enough to plan ahead and this won't be a worry. Then again....perhaps not.

I'm not the one shaking with fear every time 705red uses the word strike.

I've been budgeting for such an occasion for years. If it never happens, I should be very well off in retirement.

[OldUPSDriver]

This could be more exciting than the "Vending Machine Grievance" LOL!!

[tieguy]

Originally Posted by trickpony1

That's right, it is.
I was told by a division manager, right before he retired, that "......someday this whole operation will be part-time.".
Think about it.........
-sub contract the feeder work.
-Send PT'er #1 out at regular time in pkg car. Send Pt'er #2 out 4.5 hours later to finish the route.

I hope your kids value those karate lessons cause when dad's wages get cut to part-time wages there may be no more karate lessons.

There are places where part time routes would fit nicely but p/t feeders overall would not be cost effective. You're better off running that tractor for long periods of time with the least amount of turnarounds.

[upsgrunt]

If there were part time routes where 1 person went out for 4 or 5 hours and then another came and finished up, what would keep the first person from "laying down" and leaving most of the work for the second person?

[trickpony1]

Originally Posted by tieguy

There are places where part time routes would fit nicely but p/t feeders overall would not be cost effective. You're better off running that tractor for long periods of time with the least amount of turnarounds.

Maybe you didn't read the part of my post that said, "sub contract feeder work.".

That would mean a third party doing the feeder work thereby eliminating the current feeder dept.

[Channahon]

The teamsters have conferences all over the country, therefore, the retiree benefits differ across the county. Ideally, the retiree benefits would be the same across the board, but they are not.

Anyone who thinks UPS paid 6 billion to pull out of Central States, to provide benefits for UPS retirees only, which was in serious trouble financially, and is not trying to recoup some of the monies, doesn't understand the business world.

The comment was made by 705 Red, that this was not negotiated during the contract process. Unless he was part of the negotiating committee, how does he know that? Did 705 say that now that the increase has been sent out to the retirees?

Local 705 and 710 have always prided themselves on not being part of the National negotiations. Well maybe the negotiations were done on a National level with Hoffa and his staff, unbeknowst to the 705. It is a politcal world out there.

And if Local 705 feels a strike is in order, then UPS might as well pull out of the Chicagoland area, as this would be damaging not only to our customers, but our union employees, as well.

UPS and the Union have always negotiated in the best interest of both organizations, as both have responsiblities to the union workers.

There have been posts noting that active Union employees have better benefits than non union employees at UPS. As non union employees have to pay for their benefits. However, we have accrued DDB's ( defined dollar benefits) over the years for our retirement benefits. Depending on your length of service and what you accrued over the years, depends on what your retired benefits will cost you. So far, I have not met any retiree who has any out of pocket expense, except for co-pays.

So maybe it's time for the union retirees to pay for their benefits that they have received at minimal cost over the years?

Everyone should plan on paying for benefits, unless our new leader Barack Obama comes though with his campaign promise for affordable health care for every American, well then plan on your taxes going up. Tough world out there, times are a changing, and we're not living in our grandparents or parents world anymore. JMO

[trickpony1]

Originally Posted by upsgrunt

If there were part time routes where 1 person went out for 4 or 5 hours and then another came and finished up, what would keep the first person from "laying down" and leaving most of the work for the second person?

The same thing that keeps drivers from "laying down" now:

GPS, DIAD, OAO, OJS, Lock in rides..........Big Brother

[redshift1]

Originally Posted by Channahon

The teamsters have conferences all over the country, therefore, the retiree benefits differ across the county. Ideally, the retiree benefits would be the same across the board, but they are not.

Anyone who thinks UPS paid 6 billion to pull out of Central States, to provide benefits for UPS retirees only, which was in serious trouble financially, and is not trying to recoup some of the monies, doesn't understand the business world.

The comment was made by 705 Red, that this was not negotiated during the contract process. Unless he was part of the negotiating committee, how does he know that? Did 705 say that now that the increase has been sent out to the retirees?

Local 705 and 710 have always prided themselves on not being part of the National negotiations. Well maybe the negotiations were done on a National level with Hoffa and his staff, unbeknowst to the 705. It is a politcal world out there.

And if Local 705 feels a strike is in order, then UPS might as well pull out of the Chicagoland area, as this would be damaging not only to our customers, but our union employees, as well.

UPS and the Union have always negotiated in the best interest of both organizations, as both have responsiblities to the union workers.

There have been posts noting that active Union employees have better benefits than non union employees at UPS. As non union employees have to pay for their benefits. However, we have accrued DDB's ( defined dollar benefits) over the years for our retirement benefits. Depending on your length of service and what you accrued over the years, depends on what your retired benefits will cost you. So far, I have not met any retiree who has any out of pocket expense, except for co-pays.

So maybe it's time for the union retirees to pay for their benefits that they have received at minimal cost over the years?

Everyone should plan on paying for benefits, unless our new leader Barack Obama comes though with his campaign promise for affordable health care for every American, well then plan on your taxes going up. Tough world out there, times are a changing, and we're not living in our grandparents or parents world anymore. JMO

Very nice.

[rod]

Originally Posted by Channahon

So maybe it's time for the union retirees to pay for their benefits that they have received at minimal cost over the years?

Easy for you to say. I'll bet you have even had some raises over the last few years - personally I still live off the same amount I did 7 years ago when I retired so I don't need anymore expenses.

[tieguy]

Originally Posted by trickpony1

Maybe you didn't read the part of my post that said, "sub contract feeder work.".

That would mean a third party doing the feeder work thereby eliminating the current feeder dept.

yea it was a dumb comment that I chose to overlook this time.

[tieguy]

Red,
this issue seems to be another siign that your current leadership does not know what they are doing.

It looks like this is something your leadership should have discussed during the contract talks and locked down.

Now that they goofed they want to accuse UPS of dirty pool and threaten a strike again.

A strike threat loses its power if you make one every month.

jmho

[brownman15]

Originally Posted by tieguy

Red,
this issue seems to be another siign that your current leadership does not know what they are doing.

It looks like this is something your leadership should have discussed during the contract talks and locked down.

Now that they goofed they want to accuse UPS of dirty pool and threaten a strike again.

A strike threat loses its power if you make one every month.

jmho

this was discussed during negotiations and ups said no changes.

[Channahon]

Rod,

No retirement pay increases for me, until I turn 62 and apply for Social Security benefits, which hopefully will be there.

[BLACKBOX]

Originally Posted by retired2000

we were told we had to pay 890 a quarter for our helath ins. (for 2 people) this month we were told it is up to 1,079. they are just trying to get all the retirees to leave the ups ins and get thier own.

$1079 a quarter? I'm wondering if getting your own insurance isn't such a bad thing at this point. It wouldn't hurt to compare prices even when it was at $890.

Even though I'm a long way from retiring, I cannot fathom what UPS is trying to do by "extorting" these exorbitant payments by the very people who built the foundation of what Brown is today.

If UPS gets away with this tactic who knows whats in store for your future and your fellow co-workers? Remember this is not a rumor, as stated UPS has already sent out letters. so they've already had this in the hopper for quite awhile.

As far as the strike is concerned keep that card in the back pocket until you see the reaction of your response. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[moreluck]

Blackbox, your own health ins. can cost you $1000 a month (for the couple) and will go up every 6 months......that's been our experience for the past 8 years.

[705red]

Originally Posted by sano

It is because they depend on us that it would be unwise to talk strike now.
Crying wolf doesn't benefit anybody over the long term

There is no crying wolf here! The retirees have to make their payments by Feb 1st or let their insurance run out. Many retiree's especially the older one's receive far less monthly than what some of us would retire with today.

Going through the court system will take months if not years to correct this wrong. How many retiree's are you willing to watch die because they can not afford health care?

[705red]

Originally Posted by sano

Why is striking always in the first comments? There are more ways to work through issues than strike.
Think about it. What if every time my wife and I had a little disagreement I would threaten to separate? How smooth would the relationship be?
In another thread the question was asked "Why does UPS hate their employees?" Well as long as the Teamsters first response is to pull out the strike card we will not have good working relationship with the company.

It almost seems like insecurity or an inferiority complex on the part of the union. Do we have no confidence in our ability to sit down and negotiate and work through other avenues.
I get tired of the overacting every time something happens.

Exactly how long have you been a ups employeee? Read my above post!

[705red]

Originally Posted by tieguy

ups controls your medical benifits?


My medical is through ups. Is it different by you?

why would a retiree have a dependent child?

25 and out pension? People are reitring a lot youger now with kids because they started their families a little later in life. Just beacuse management has to work until their in their late 50's doesnt mean a union employee that started at the age of 18 does.

Finishing two threads here with little valid dialogue.

what reasons were given. what is the condition of the plan itself. why wouldn't your union review the finances behind the decision first before pushing the panic button again?

Tie maybe in your neck of the woods ups uses reason here they do not! Ups dpes what it wants when it wants! Ups failed to negotiate these changes during contract talks, and out of the blue they raised the rates to were most retiree's can not afford to pay for it.


are there any federal laws in play that are forcing this action?

who administers the plan?

Tie by the time we got done with ups here on this one, going through the court system and in the media even norman black wont be able to put a positive spin on it!

[brownmonster]

This could really hurt the Indian Casinos.

[705red]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I prefer to pay my bills, kids karate tuition, take them to the movies. The youngest's preschool and put food on the table while keeping the house warm.

All while sticking ***********the brothers and sisters that came before you. You know the ones that didn't make a great wage like we do today, but we make it because they didn't sell the future out. But you want to sell out our past! **************

Take your threat of strike and stick it somewhere.

Look the stem cell must be working! I sense you are growing a little back bone!

I just hope one day that ups doesn't decide to take away your medical out of the blue and one of your kids needs a life saving surgery! Sucks when the shoe is on the other foot! Doesnt it?

[atatbl]

Judging SOLELY from what I have seen on browncafe, 705's union leadership must be the most incompetent staff the world has ever seen.

I really hope there is more going on there than grievances about vending machines and other things people should not be concerned with.

This health insurance issue sounds serious, but unfortunately, it's the same union leading the charge that cries wolf AT LEAST once every six months.

My best wishes to the people that this actually affects.... not to the current 'failures of amicability' that are fighting for them.