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UPS has a game plan. We need one as well. Here are some ideas that can be adopted by activists, locals and the International Union.
Steps Needed from the International Union
The dues increase gives the IBT more resources than ever. Resources should be put to use now by:
Setting-up contract enforcement teams in regions, states and areas to coordinate and focus our resources and power. Rank and file UPS Teamsters can be used as special organizers to help coordinate enforcement campaigns.
Starting aggressive organizing drives at FedEx, Airbornes nonunion operations and UPS Logistics.
Tracking and making available grievance decisions. Computerized tracking of panel decisions is imperative.
Working with local unions to establish model enforcement strategies.
Developing a plan for dealing with smart label technology and UPS logistics.
Strategy for Rank and File Members and Stewards
Get up to speed as quickly as possible. Member discouragement can build if problems are allowed to drag on.
Get, use and distribute the Contract Guide. Even when new contract books get into the hands of members and stewards (and that could take months) it can take time to sort out and find ways to use the new language. The Guide to Enforcing the National Contract helps with suggestions on how to attack some problems using old and new language.
Sponsor a contract enforcement workshop. Where a local or the IBT is unwilling to set up a workshop, contact the UPS Committee of TDU and we will arrange one for your area. Get the most out of your workshop by building into it a strategy and goal-setting session.
Organize new member orientation activity. In the so-called right to work states stewards have the right to attend new employee orientation meetings to give a rap on the union. Locals and stewards should use this right. And no matter what region you are from, members and stewards can come up with their own orientation plans like leafleting and talking to newer members in the parking lot.
Get the word out. Expose problems and report on victories. Here are some things you can do to overcome the information brownout:
Hold quick meetings before or after work.
Post or hand out copies of grievances.
Gather e-mail addresses and phone numbers and use them to update co-workers.
Ask that your local union hold craft meetings on a regular basis.
Put New Language to Use
Clerks in the bargaining unit. Nolater thanFeb. 1, 2003 certain clerks are to be brought into the bargaining unit.
Double-breasting. UPS uses UPS Logistics to handle drop shipments and zone skips. Article 2, Section 4, in addition to other articles, says they cant do it.
Dues check-off. UPS must correct improper deductions within two days of being notified of the problem.
Supervisors working (and coverage system). Penalties have been increased. A coverage system has also been added whereby employees are to sign up for coverage work on the first day of each month. Enforce it.
New technology. New language states that any work that replaces, enhances or modifies bargaining unit work will be performed by bargaining unit work. Clerks, smart label repair, maintenance personnel and others can come under this definition.
Monetary awards made within 10 days. Article 7 says management must pay members their awards within 10 days of getting notice of the grievance panel decision.
Fifteen day limit for notice of loss/damage. Article 10 states that UPS forfeits its right to discipline or demand reimbursement from members if they wait more than 15 days (from getting shipper notice of claim) to notify the employee. The same time limit applies to bad checks.
Payroll errors. UPS will pay employees a penalty of one-half their daily guarantee for every payroll period in which shortages are not paid. Enforce it.
Full-time job creation. The number of full-time jobs created under the old contract cannot be reduced (Article 22). Part-time employees will be give the chance to fill full-time jobs on a six-to-one basis (formerly five-to-one).
Overtime. Management will let a minimum of 10 percent of the drivers in a center off after eight hours on a given day.
Over-70-pound packages. No over-70 will move through the system without tape visible from all sides identifying it as an over-70 package
Steps Needed from the International Union
The dues increase gives the IBT more resources than ever. Resources should be put to use now by:
Setting-up contract enforcement teams in regions, states and areas to coordinate and focus our resources and power. Rank and file UPS Teamsters can be used as special organizers to help coordinate enforcement campaigns.
Starting aggressive organizing drives at FedEx, Airbornes nonunion operations and UPS Logistics.
Tracking and making available grievance decisions. Computerized tracking of panel decisions is imperative.
Working with local unions to establish model enforcement strategies.
Developing a plan for dealing with smart label technology and UPS logistics.
Strategy for Rank and File Members and Stewards
Get up to speed as quickly as possible. Member discouragement can build if problems are allowed to drag on.
Get, use and distribute the Contract Guide. Even when new contract books get into the hands of members and stewards (and that could take months) it can take time to sort out and find ways to use the new language. The Guide to Enforcing the National Contract helps with suggestions on how to attack some problems using old and new language.
Sponsor a contract enforcement workshop. Where a local or the IBT is unwilling to set up a workshop, contact the UPS Committee of TDU and we will arrange one for your area. Get the most out of your workshop by building into it a strategy and goal-setting session.
Organize new member orientation activity. In the so-called right to work states stewards have the right to attend new employee orientation meetings to give a rap on the union. Locals and stewards should use this right. And no matter what region you are from, members and stewards can come up with their own orientation plans like leafleting and talking to newer members in the parking lot.
Get the word out. Expose problems and report on victories. Here are some things you can do to overcome the information brownout:
Hold quick meetings before or after work.
Post or hand out copies of grievances.
Gather e-mail addresses and phone numbers and use them to update co-workers.
Ask that your local union hold craft meetings on a regular basis.
Put New Language to Use
Clerks in the bargaining unit. Nolater thanFeb. 1, 2003 certain clerks are to be brought into the bargaining unit.
Double-breasting. UPS uses UPS Logistics to handle drop shipments and zone skips. Article 2, Section 4, in addition to other articles, says they cant do it.
Dues check-off. UPS must correct improper deductions within two days of being notified of the problem.
Supervisors working (and coverage system). Penalties have been increased. A coverage system has also been added whereby employees are to sign up for coverage work on the first day of each month. Enforce it.
New technology. New language states that any work that replaces, enhances or modifies bargaining unit work will be performed by bargaining unit work. Clerks, smart label repair, maintenance personnel and others can come under this definition.
Monetary awards made within 10 days. Article 7 says management must pay members their awards within 10 days of getting notice of the grievance panel decision.
Fifteen day limit for notice of loss/damage. Article 10 states that UPS forfeits its right to discipline or demand reimbursement from members if they wait more than 15 days (from getting shipper notice of claim) to notify the employee. The same time limit applies to bad checks.
Payroll errors. UPS will pay employees a penalty of one-half their daily guarantee for every payroll period in which shortages are not paid. Enforce it.
Full-time job creation. The number of full-time jobs created under the old contract cannot be reduced (Article 22). Part-time employees will be give the chance to fill full-time jobs on a six-to-one basis (formerly five-to-one).
Overtime. Management will let a minimum of 10 percent of the drivers in a center off after eight hours on a given day.
Over-70-pound packages. No over-70 will move through the system without tape visible from all sides identifying it as an over-70 package
