I don't know if we find out anything new after today's conference call, I will not participate because of my work schedule. Most are expecting the same old same old, simple questions and incomplete or pie in the sky answers, sticking to the party line.
These 22.4 positions are United Parcels dream, it is a concession plain and simple. Sure it will create more full time positions and feed their CONTROLLED Pension and Health and Welfare plans but at what cost. This new position will give them the ability to run a 7 day, 24 hour schedule, why does every in the package car division thinks that they will not be staggering start times much like the feeder operations. If you had a 22.4 starting at 1 pm and getting off the clock at 9 pm with the option of holding them over for over 1 1/2 hr gap to start a shift inside work, whats there not to like. Everybody is under the assumption that there start times will remain the same, no..this new position will give the company the ability to pick and choose schedules 7 days a week according to the flow of volume.
It clearly states in the newsletter that the RPCD's will only be guaranteed (5) consecutive days of (8) with (40) STRAIGHT time hours and of course (as long as work is available. This is an OVERTIME killer for everybody in the package and hub areas, it is going to eliminate the long term part time employees, the new hires will be confined to the manual labor of working the trucks load and unload, the preload skill positions will be eventually be done by the 22.4's. The new upgraded sorting systems will get rid of the more highly payed sort positions.
The current Regular Package Car Drivers (low seniority) might be working up to two years before they go on the Monday thru Friday schedule. Maybe this stuff can be worked out in the supplements and local agreements, but generally Master overrules with interpretations. I would not be surprised to see annual bids in the package centers, again much like the feeder operation. Most of us are creatures of habit and any changes in our daily lives will cause problems especially at UPS, if this contract language is not thought out expect a lot of them for the next 5 years.
Big Question: Is this concession, which has some pluses for the long term employee worth what you are giving up. The rumors are that the Part time Pension formula will not change, capped at 35 with a whopping 5 dollar improvement for your service years (eye candy, you still get nothing). The IBT/UPS plan according to again rumors from what could be a reliable source has it going up 400 dollars extra with 30 years of full time service, your vested part time years will more than likely remain, not reduction of that 6 percent penalty. Last contract we got a 400 dollar increase, but it eliminated by the added cost of paying for your retirement health and welfare benefits (300 per couple, 150 per individual), no real improvement. Is 400 dollars extra without knowing the future of increasing costs for health coverage worth it. Also research it out, what are the other plans paying for the same service years then make your decision.
comes their way. You guys are so out of touch it's unreal. Try juggling 3 jobs and the scheduling impossibilities that comes with that just to make ends meet because UPS expects you to get out of bed at 3 AM to load trucks for 3 hours at poverty wages. Bump me up a few god damned dollars and then we can talk.
