Letter writing campaign...

airbusfxr

Well-Known Member
The mechanics earn 43 dollars per hour. We have lost over 10% of our brothers and sisters and still have the same work load that is governed by the FAA. We have to be proficient on 5 types of aircraft, more engine types than other airlines, avionics, basic sheet metal, hydraulic systems, etc etc, where other airlines have specialist on each system. UPS pays drivers, GSE mechancis, loaders, pilots, everyone the top of industy wages and benefits. UPS drivers are the best compensated in the industry, the top pilots make 300k, etc etc so wages are top for all jobs at UPS. Yes UPS mechanics make 43 bucks but we are responsible for many lives, commercial jetliners, and the safety of the general public and follow rules by UPS and the FAA that make us liable for any mistake. UPS has used the RLA to keep us without a contract for 4 years just think if they used this against you and make you sit without a raise for 4 years and rake in record profits and fat cats rake in MIP while you are providing a service commitment that ensures customers are happy.
 

bitter to the bone

Well-Known Member
I'm glad that some of you got paid to write your letters. My supe told me that it was mandatory that the letter be written and that we had to write it on our own time.

Just because of the way that they are approaching this whole matter made me want to not write the letter, but I did anyway lest as some have already said, I be written up for "not working as directed".

I know technically UPS can't make you write the letter but in the long run just do it and get it over with. That way there won't be "bad blood" between those who have refused and some supervisors (and yes every building has a few of these petty supes) who take the matter to heart and consider those who dissent "troublemakers"
 

Bubblehead

My Senior Picture
While I gladly wrote the letters, on the clock, I pity you cowards that succumbed to the bully tactics of the ego maniacal managers who misrepresented this campaign. That includes you Pretzel Man who expects 100% participation. It's comments/directives like these that set these mindless yes men on their paths of tyranny. Political ideology is not to be dictated. Who do you people think you are.
Had this went down in my building I would have refused and wrote the letters on my own dime.
 

pemanager

Well-Known Member
Today in SDF a crew was pulled from an aircraft and asked to write the letter. Now We have been without a contract for 4 years and if this passes UPS will try to put the drivers in with pilots and mechanics, LIKE FDX, and you will sit for 4 or 5 years with no way to strike. UPS wants to keep you like the pilots and mechanics and sit for 4 or 5 years and work without a raise or benefit enhancement. The only letter I will write is to Hoffa about NO CONTRACT for 4 years, NO RAISE, NO NOTHING.

airbusfxr,

Your information is wrong. This bill will not put UPS drivers under RLA like the mechanics and pilots, it will put FedExes drivers, sorters, etc under NLRA like our folks.
 

10damon

Active Member
our center was forced to come in 15 mins early. they let us punch in and coded it as approved meeting. we copied a pair of letters, filled out 4 envelopes and missed the pcm
 

brownIEman

Well-Known Member
The mechanics earn 43 dollars per hour. We have lost over 10% of our brothers and sisters and still have the same work load that is governed by the FAA. We have to be proficient on 5 types of aircraft, more engine types than other airlines, avionics, basic sheet metal, hydraulic systems, etc etc, where other airlines have specialist on each system. UPS pays drivers, GSE mechancis, loaders, pilots, everyone the top of industy wages and benefits. UPS drivers are the best compensated in the industry, the top pilots make 300k, etc etc so wages are top for all jobs at UPS. Yes UPS mechanics make 43 bucks but we are responsible for many lives, commercial jetliners, and the safety of the general public and follow rules by UPS and the FAA that make us liable for any mistake. UPS has used the RLA to keep us without a contract for 4 years just think if they used this against you and make you sit without a raise for 4 years and rake in record profits and fat cats rake in MIP while you are providing a service commitment that ensures customers are happy.

let me make sure I understand you. You acknowledge that UPS pays the highest wages in the industry. Now, who's fault is it again that you don't have a contract?

Are you claiming the company that pays the best in the industry is being unreasonable, not negotiating in good faith? You have not been able to convince a mediation panel of that so they will release you to strike I take it.

Please understand, non of my comments means I do not respect the job you do or the responsibility placed in your hands. I simply find it hard to believe that it is entirely UPS' fault that you do not have a contract. If your expectation of the contract process is that you place a bunch of demands in front of the company and they just automatically agree to all of them, then your expectation is unrealistic.
 

hondo

promoted to mediocrity
what is 44 cents per stamp times all our employees?

4 envolopes per employee.

My System Manager told us "this is not an optional activity." I wrote the letters and still feel dirty.

.44 per stamp. 4 letters per employee. Probably 250,000 employees writing letters. 1 million letters = $440,000 in postage.

I hope we bought some forever stamps.

This is a USPS Bailout. Stop the madness!!!!!


  • UPS Mail Innovations
  • Bulk mail postage rates
  • USPS is union, too
 

charlie brown

New Member
I feel sorry for people who are "forced" to write a letter. Was asked to do this yesterday and declined. That is what lobbyists are for.


I don't know what works better on a Teamster - reverse psychology or child psychology. They are both apt and very effective. It's like telling a child to eat his peas because they are good for him. He hates it. Tell him they are bad. Tell a teamster to write the letter and a mgt person might lose their job. Sometimes you have to lie to children for their own good because they just think they are smart.
 

upssup

Well-Known Member
I cannot believe this. You are paid a darn good wage to do a job. You are offered the opportunity to make it better for you and your teamster brothers and sisters and you act like this? You want the free pay but not do anything for it. I fought for freedom in the US Military for this? NICE.
 

upssup

Well-Known Member
Derf, I can tell by your avitar just how deep your loyalty to your employer is, so I think trying to address this with you would be futile.
 

Brown_Eyed_Girl

Well-Known Member
In my military (U.S. Navy) we didn't have a union. We fought for freedom of the American people, not trying to force another company to become something it wants no part of.

This is what I understand of this whole letter writing request and if I am misguided, let me know.
 

UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)

Well-Known Member
In my military (U.S. Navy) we didn't have a union. We fought for freedom of the American people, not trying to force another company to become something it wants no part of.

This is what I understand of this whole letter writing request and if I am misguided, let me know.

I will politely let you know that you are misguided. The basics of this piece of legislation is FedEx Express employees are currently governed by the RLA (Railway Labor Act) and UPS is claiming that this is a misclassification as they do basically the same job as a UPS driver, who is covered by the NLRB. The RLA was originally intended to prevent railway workers from striking as the rail was the primary mode for transportation when the RLA was enacted (1930's?) and a strike would cripple the country. Removal of the RLA would allow FedEx employees to organize if they so choose to--it does not automatically organize them. UPS contends that removal of the RLA will force FedEx to pay competitive wages, thereby increasing their labor costs and, in turn, their shipping costs, and would level the playing field.

In other words, FedEx has an advantage that UPS feels they are not entitled to.

The letter writing campaign will show the level of support among UPS employees for passage of this legislation with the RLA exemption removed. Of course, the senators will realize that UPS paid its employees to write these letter and that it was "voluntary".
 

pretzel_man

Well-Known Member
My System Manager told us "this is not an optional activity." I wrote the letters and still feel dirty.

.44 per stamp. 4 letters per employee. Probably 250,000 employees writing letters. 1 million letters = $440,000 in postage.

I hope we bought some forever stamps.

This is a USPS Bailout. Stop the madness!!!!!

If I wasn't treated like a 2nd grader; being put in a conference room and watched while I write the letters, I would have participated with glee.

I agree with everything you said except for the part about the first amendment.

The constitution protects citizens from the government, not from private companies.

IS... I really don't understand your position. Not at all.

Didn't HR or public affairs explain the importance to the organization? Did they not explain that they found the best way to do this was to have small groups write the letters and then have HR collect them?

You are not forced to write. That was clear in the meetings I attended. As a management person, you should have been willing happily to do whatever the organization needs in an important area like this. Instead, you say you "feel dirty". I just don't understand.

"Stop the madness"?? I don't understand. Maybe your management team is so poor they never took the time to explain to you how UPS works and the competitive landscape.

I realize that you are in IS and not in an operation every day, but rather than support the organization, sounds like you are complaining. Again, maybe your manager is the real problem. I don't know. I'd ask you to rethink your position.

P-Man
 

sano

Well-Known Member
The mechanics earn 43 dollars per hour. We have lost over 10% of our brothers and sisters and still have the same work load that is governed by the FAA. We have to be proficient on 5 types of aircraft, more engine types than other airlines, avionics, basic sheet metal, hydraulic systems, etc etc, where other airlines have specialist on each system. UPS pays drivers, GSE mechancis, loaders, pilots, everyone the top of industy wages and benefits. UPS drivers are the best compensated in the industry, the top pilots make 300k, etc etc so wages are top for all jobs at UPS. Yes UPS mechanics make 43 bucks but we are responsible for many lives, commercial jetliners, and the safety of the general public and follow rules by UPS and the FAA that make us liable for any mistake. UPS has used the RLA to keep us without a contract for 4 years just think if they used this against you and make you sit without a raise for 4 years and rake in record profits and fat cats rake in MIP while you are providing a service commitment that ensures customers are happy.
Poor guy.
How do you get by on 43 per hour?
I, on the other hand am a member of a strong union. We have a brand new contract (less than a year old)
I get 9.50 per hour. I have 0 benefits until I have worked a year. My wife and 2 daughters will not be covered for a year and a half. I get no paid holidays.
But at least we have a contract.:biting:

Tell me airbusfxr, do you deliver Pizza in the evening to make ends meet?

Teamsters to partimers: "The bus leaves at 4:00am, be under it":dead:


Okay, I will stop now. It's been a long week. <end rant>
 

Bubblehead

My Senior Picture
IS... I really don't understand your position. Not at all.

Didn't HR or public affairs explain the importance to the organization? Did they not explain that they found the best way to do this was to have small groups write the letters and then have HR collect them?

You are not forced to write. That was clear in the meetings I attended. As a management person, you should have been willing happily to do whatever the organization needs in an important area like this. Instead, you say you "feel dirty". I just don't understand.

"Stop the madness"?? I don't understand. Maybe your management team is so poor they never took the time to explain to you how UPS works and the competitive landscape.

I realize that you are in IS and not in an operation every day, but rather than support the organization, sounds like you are complaining. Again, maybe your manager is the real problem. I don't know. I'd ask you to rethink your position.

P-Man

Petzel Man I usually find you to be reasonable and more often than not agree with the bulk of your posts. I think the point your missing is that when it comes to politics (and religion) it's not the company or any of it's managers place to require or badger an employee to write a letter to a politician. Much the same as it would be inappropriate to require a prayer at the morning PCM.While I support this issue and wrote the letters gladly, I understand that to participate is the prerogative of the individual and I need not agree with someone who chooses to abstain. It's a fundamental principal that this country was founded on. I implore you and all management people to educate your subordinates and respect their wishes even if you deem their choice to be misguided. It's your duty as an American.
 
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