An unbiased opinion on the PT Supe 'decision'

[BasedSupe]

First time poster, long time lurker. I've noticed that many members have strong and polarizing opinions on PT Supes. Also noticed that there always seems to be atleast 1 thread along the lines of 'Recently promoted to PT, any advice?'. Most replies are some version of 'haha bend over idiot'.

I am a PT Sup who foolishly thought it was a promotion. Hopefully this post will provide some prospective to anyone thinking of making the same mistake I did.

First and foremost, it's not a promotion. Upper management targeted [you] because you're most likely a newer employee. Newer employees don't know any better. I heard the word 'promotion' and I was sold.

Seems to me that a decent amount of PT Sups fit a mold. Maybe some college, but not a bookworm. Maybe some made dumb choices, and needed to take a manual labor job [they] never visioned years earlier. Maybe some wanted to tell their family 'I'm not a piece of after all! I busted my ass loading and now I got promoted!'. Don't think too highly of yourself.
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This is not a promotion. The real promotion is to a FT Supe. Ask yourself, how many FT supes are there compared to PT supes at my facility? The ratio at my facility was nearly 30 PT to only 4 FT. Can you realistically see yourself as one of those 4? What is your relationship with the FT supes and manager? Do they know your name...? Or are you another soulless worker ant disguised as a supe.

You're going to school, good job by you. Will you complete your bachelors degree while also running yourself ragged barking directions to loaders? It can be done, but few and far between from what I've seen.

I apologize if this is in-cohesive or rambling but I want to convey my frustration. I'll start summing it up with a few points.

• It's sad when you start seeing guys you came in with getting FT Union driver positions and you're stuck as a PT supe.
• The turnover rate is fairly high, a lot of good PTers who deserved more got fed up and left.
• Deception keeps some hopeful PTers on. 'Hey I finally took the FT test! I must be almost there!' You're not. FTers will throw some hope your way every once and awhile.
• Long term, you'll make more money in the union. Unless you become a manager.
• If you don't have a FTer advocating for you, in your corner. Don't do it. And I'm not talking about the guy that offered you the PT promotion. I'm talking you're great friends with him; in contact thru text, calls almost daily.
• You'll run without enough union employees one day, you'll be expected to do it again the next. You're doing the work on top of your own. Add on to that the grievances filed against you now.
• If you honestly believe you'll get FT supe quicker than a FT union driver. God speed. Go for it.
• It's sad seeing aging PT supes who will never get FT still hoping, still busting their ass trying for it. When the right move would be to quit and start somewhere new.
• Oh and FT specialist is not the same as FT management.

Do not do it. Stand pat.
(Former) union brethren, all PT supes aren't bad. Some of us just made a series of bad decisions. Decisions we pay for everyday. It's the **g Promotion Fallacy that got us.

 

[bumped]

If being a FT Sup is an aspiration it is best to first become a FT driver. Then, one can put in their paperwork for FT Sup.

 

[Box Ox]

Think for a lotta folks the PT sup move just feels like the best immediate solution to whatever personal life situation they're currently in. They hear that benefits are immediate, they'll be paid several dollars more an hour than a new preloader, etc.

In a lotta cases, you can tell these guys it's a trap, a bad deal, etc until the cows come home. But they'll still ultimately end up reporting to preload in a UPS polo. Best of luck to them.

 

[Mr. Sir]

Good thing there arnt a lot of simular threads with this topic

 

[StoptheAct1212]

Any bozo can be a Pt Sup..... 8 out of 10 are good.

 

[Tom MacDonald]

This is really sad. Glad I said no thank you

 

[Hellobrown2000]

Only perk is once retired you don't have to pay for health insurance

 

[Big Package]

I got offered sup before I was offered the positions I applied for. Granted, I've got 10 years experience in shipping, receiving, hiring/firing, etc. so I thought oh this would be great. Then I said no, I like manual labor, I want the job and hours I applied for. (The same woman lied out her teeth last peak).

Then I got a call offered 250 sign up for PT sup. I said no, I want what I applied for. Few days later calls me back says 500 sign-on bonus.. then she says ignore the people applied browncafe, nothing they say is true.

Lurked here a bit used the search engine and checked Google and thank god I never took it I'd be miserable. I'd rather slave away at 4 cars running split every day than walk around all day looking like I wanna kill myself, like 5 of my 6 nearest sups do. Best decision with this company.

 

[upschuck]

Only perk is once retired you don't have to pay for health insurance

And Tuition Assistance on any sort, instead of just midnight, here.

 

[Brownslave688]

Think for a lotta folks the PT sup move just feels like the best immediate solution to whatever personal life situation they're currently in. They hear that benefits are immediate, they'll be paid several dollars more an hour than a new preloader, etc.

In a lotta cases, you can tell these guys it's a trap, a bad deal, etc until the cows come home. But they'll still ultimately end up reporting to preload in a UPS polo. Best of luck to them.

And it's not just a product of ups. It's people in general. They want that instant deal.

I can't tell you how many friends jumped on that 30k a year dead end job at 22-23 because they thought they were living the good life back then.

While virtually everyone I know has been thru 4-5 vehicles the last decade the wife and I drove the same cars for over 10 years. I drove my high school graduation gift until I was 33 years old.


We put off kids so that my wife could get thru her 8 years of school. We just bought a house (a real piece of junk fixer upper) that cost less than the vehicle we finally treated ourselves to. We are paying off almost 200k in school loans in 5 years while the rest of her coworkers put them off for 20 years.

The point is since we made the unpopular choices when we were younger we've set ourselves up very well for the future. I told her last night if we stay in this house for a decade instead of the 5 years we originally planned we may possibly be able to pay cash for the 750k+ house she wants to build.

That means at 45 I could have a 3/4 million dollar home paid off be driving pretty much whatever I want and be virtually debt free. All while most everyone else I know will be paying on their 3 bed 2 bath home well into their 50's possibly into their 60's and getting new cars every 5-6 years with a $500+ monthly payment.

Sometimes following the road less traveled is very rewarding.

 

[UnconTROLLed]

And it's not just a product of ups. It's people in general. They want that instant deal.

I can't tell you how many friends jumped on that 30k a year dead end job at 22-23 because they thought they were living the good life back then.

While virtually everyone I know has been thru 4-5 vehicles the last decade the wife and I drove the same cars for over 10 years. I drove my high school graduation gift until I was 33 years old.


We put off kids so that my wife could get thru her 8 years of school. We just bought a house (a real piece of junk fixer upper) that cost less than the vehicle we finally treated ourselves to. We are paying off almost 200k in school loans in 5 years while the rest of her coworkers put them off for 20 years.

The point is since we made the unpopular choices when we were younger we've set ourselves up very well for the future. I told her last night if we stay in this house for a decade instead of the 5 years we originally planned we may possibly be able to pay cash for the 750k+ house she wants to build.

That means at 45 I could have a 3/4 million dollar home paid off be driving pretty much whatever I want and be virtually debt free. All while most everyone else I know will be paying on their 3 bed 2 bath home well into their 50's possibly into their 60's and getting new cars every 5-6 years with a $500+ monthly payment.

Sometimes following the road less traveled is very rewarding.

This is exactly what the Teamsters DO NOT want to read of their membership. They want loyal, unthinking people living beyond their means, driving fancy new cars, with big families and oversized homes, desperate for OT, a future pension and etc.

Well played.

 

[Wally]

Only perk is once retired you don't have to pay for health insurance

That's because most die before that from the stress.

 

[Wally]

This is exactly what the Teamsters DO NOT want to read of their membership. They want loyal, unthinking people living beyond their means, driving fancy new cars, with big families and oversized homes, desperate for OT, a future pension and etc.

Well played.

You left out needy, but hot, new girlfriend.

 

[Box Ox]

This is exactly what the Teamsters DO NOT want to read of their membership. They want loyal, unthinking people living beyond their means, driving fancy new cars, with big families and oversized homes, desperate for OT, a future pension and etc.

Well played.

 

[PT Car Washer]

This is exactly what the Teamsters DO NOT want to read of their membership. They want loyal, unthinking people living beyond their means, driving fancy new cars, with big families and oversized homes, desperate for OT, a future pension and etc.

Well played.

Do you mean Teamsters or UPS management.

 

[Big Package]

We are getting both sides of the stick who are you kidding.

 

[UnconTROLLed]

Do you mean Teamsters or UPS management.

maybe both, but definitely Teamster "leaders".

 

[UnconTROLLed]

You left out needy, but hot, new girlfriend.

Don't let the wife know!

 

[Big Package]

I'm sure they're all friends and buddy buddy in some capacity considering they need to negotiate huge contracts with a massive corporation. They're all working together regardless of yes/no or this/that.

 

[Catatonic]

No one should be a P/T Supe unless they have no desire to go driving.