InsideUPS
Well-Known Member
The growth, strength, and future of our Union (IBT) depends on increased membership and interest in organized labor. I for one do not want to see a day when our labor organizations become so weakened that they fail to be effective at the bargaining table or even worse....fail to exist at all. The continued attack on organized labor is upon us as evidenced by the state of Michigan becoming a Right To Work state.
The first and most obvious method of increasing Union membership is to organize non-Union companies such as FedEx. Organizing FedEx would be a tremendous victory for both UPS and UPS Teamsters. Even though there are a number of hurdles in accomplishing this seemingly impossible task, I believe we as members of the IBT should do everything in our collective power to insure that this eventually happens. Fred S should not be allowed to be sleep soundly for one moment.......feeling that his precious company will never become part of the Union.
Each and every driver comes into contact with companies that are not part of a Union. Just like turning in "sales leads" for UPS, these same drivers could turn in "Union Leads" to their Local Business Agents.... and of course be compensated for their efforts.... (no union dues for x amount of months for example)
A second method which I believe could be used in Right To Work (for less) states would be to lower or eliminate initiation fees. In addition, Union dues could be lowered for a given amount of time....in order to introduce them to the Union. I believe we must give INCENTIVE for being in the Union in these RTW states. As I had mentioned in a different thread, I believe that initiation fees for part-time should be eliminated entirely. In my experience watching part-time opening their first set checks.....these initiation fees reduce there checks to near zero for weeks..... Joining the Union should be a POSITIVE experience....especially for brand new employees. Having the Union take their entire check is NOT a good way to introduce new employees to organized labor (not to mention what their parents think and say).....
Our negotiators are only as strong as we enable them to be. They cannot do it alone. Our Union must evolve and change to be a positive organization in today's increasingly anti-union society. We need GOOD PR....and we need it soon. Old methods and ideas will NOT survive in today's information age of technology. We should take advantage of young progressive ideas that are part of our Union today... The person that comes to my mind is PiedmontSteward..... I hope to see him someday as part of our Union leadership....
The first and most obvious method of increasing Union membership is to organize non-Union companies such as FedEx. Organizing FedEx would be a tremendous victory for both UPS and UPS Teamsters. Even though there are a number of hurdles in accomplishing this seemingly impossible task, I believe we as members of the IBT should do everything in our collective power to insure that this eventually happens. Fred S should not be allowed to be sleep soundly for one moment.......feeling that his precious company will never become part of the Union.
Each and every driver comes into contact with companies that are not part of a Union. Just like turning in "sales leads" for UPS, these same drivers could turn in "Union Leads" to their Local Business Agents.... and of course be compensated for their efforts.... (no union dues for x amount of months for example)
A second method which I believe could be used in Right To Work (for less) states would be to lower or eliminate initiation fees. In addition, Union dues could be lowered for a given amount of time....in order to introduce them to the Union. I believe we must give INCENTIVE for being in the Union in these RTW states. As I had mentioned in a different thread, I believe that initiation fees for part-time should be eliminated entirely. In my experience watching part-time opening their first set checks.....these initiation fees reduce there checks to near zero for weeks..... Joining the Union should be a POSITIVE experience....especially for brand new employees. Having the Union take their entire check is NOT a good way to introduce new employees to organized labor (not to mention what their parents think and say).....
Our negotiators are only as strong as we enable them to be. They cannot do it alone. Our Union must evolve and change to be a positive organization in today's increasingly anti-union society. We need GOOD PR....and we need it soon. Old methods and ideas will NOT survive in today's information age of technology. We should take advantage of young progressive ideas that are part of our Union today... The person that comes to my mind is PiedmontSteward..... I hope to see him someday as part of our Union leadership....