stevetheupsguy
sʇǝʌǝʇɥǝndsƃnʎ
This is the same story that most, if not all, UPS'ers trying to make seniority could tell.When I first started as a driver, it was almost 2 years before I actually took a lunch.
The route I was on typically went out with an 11 hr day, with at least 9 hrs worth of business and pickup stops. It was designed by my management team to be "lunch proof."
At that time, the policy in our district was that one hour would automatically be deducted from the drivers pay for lunch...whether any lunch was taken or not. You could not take a 1/2 hr lunch without management approval---which was never given.
When I asked my sup why I couldnt just enter "no lunch" on my timecard he explained to me that I had to "earn" a lunch, and that "if you are working at a brisk enough pace it wont matter anyway because you will make that money up in bonus. The union requires you to put an hour lunch on your timecard, so blame them. If you dont have time to take lunch, you need to improve your methods."
I was young and naive and I wanted to be a "good" employee, so I made the mistake of trusting and believing my supervisor. So for 2 years I skipped my lunch and breaks, wrote in a 1 hr lunch on my timecard, and made about 15 or 20 minutes of "bonus" per day.
Then when the route got "timestudied", it lost almost an hour. So not only was the "bonus" gone, but even if I continued skipping my lunch and breaks I would still be at least 45 minutes "overallowed".
It was at that point when it finally dawned on me that I was getting screwed and manipulated by a management team and an IE dept who had been lying to me all along.
So as far as personal responsibility goes, I had no one to blame but myself. I was ignorant of the contract, and stupid enough to think that management was actually being honest with me and had my best interests at heart. Its not a mistake I will make again.
I think 9/5 needs to add this phrase to his list of cool phrases......."lunch proof."
From where I'm sitting I could tell you to put your foot down and just take your lunch, but I was once in your same shoes. If I would have done that when I was doing my 30 days, my boss would have found some reason to disqualify me, or was I just so brainwashed that I thought he would? I feel your pain, brotha!This is exactly what is happening to me and I havent hit 30 days yet.
The only thing that can be done is TAKE YOUR HOUR between 4th and 5th hour, and let ctr know that you will not get those businesses delivered before your pickups. And for most drivers this is suicide, be prepared for harrassment, correct?
Average 70-80 stops, all or 95% business until 3:30pm. It is literally impossible to run off the airs and get done before that. Pickups start at 3:30pm. So where is the time to take a lunch? I was told that I had to "break it up" in pickups for take it in the building whenever after 6pm.
It shouldn't have to be this way.Are you trying to qualify? If so you will probably just have to suck it up until you make seniority as a driver. It kinda sucks but that's the way it is. Once you're in and you no longer have that possible DQ hanging over your head, settle down and do it right.