L
Localagitator
Guest
Commentary on Brown
Since I’ve started this newsletter and accompanying website, I have received much feedback from the rank-and-file offering their views and ideas, sharing their stories and problems in dealing with Brown. It is amazing how similar our problems are throughout this very large local. What follows is a compilation of problems, grievances and remedies ailing 804 members everyday at UPS.
The Safety Dance
Let’s face it, when management talks “safety”, it is only a corporate talking point. What they are really trying to “save” is the bottom line-profit over people. If they truly cared about our “safety”, management would say what needs to be said: SLOW DOWN! But you won’t be hearing that from this group.
Instead, what we do get is words and slogans and cute acronyms for us to memorize like a bunch of 3rd graders learning the multiplication table, as though “learning” these slogans will make our day safer.
To management, safety means insurance claims -case numbers- which equates to loss of profits. To us, safety is our knees, ankles, shoulders, backs, etc. There is one remedy, which we repeat daily and they ignore: Lighten our loads, let us do our jobs, and get off our backs!
Then of course they give us “safety week”, “safety month” and the ever so popular “Don’t report your injury til next week Fridays”. And let’s not forget all those wonderful “incentives” to work safe (breakfasts, gifts and other taxable items). In translation: “incentives” to subliminally stop or delay you from reporting injuries.
It’s a good corporate slogan used to demonstrate to Wall Street investors: Look at us, we’re the “safe” package delivery company…your investment is “safe” with UPS.
Maybe we should give incentives to management: Lighten our loads and create more loads, and you will receive less injuries. Instead of them asking us to do something (like memorize slogans) to help their safety numbers, it’s time they start “shouldering” the responsibility: Who increased the weight of packages? Who sends us out with abusive loads? Who doesn’t send us help? This problem is self-induced.
Furthermore, God forbid we do get injured. We get back to the building and they interrogate us as though we committed a crime!
Again, it is up to management to fix this obvious problem. Otherwise, all this safety talk is just that: TALK! Take the work off our trucks and onto your shoulders; keep your $ and “incentives”; stop breeding new hires for speed (see Big Brown, Belmont Stakes). Have some compassion about the repercussions to our bodies after 25 years of abusive loads!
Since I’ve started this newsletter and accompanying website, I have received much feedback from the rank-and-file offering their views and ideas, sharing their stories and problems in dealing with Brown. It is amazing how similar our problems are throughout this very large local. What follows is a compilation of problems, grievances and remedies ailing 804 members everyday at UPS.
The Safety Dance
Let’s face it, when management talks “safety”, it is only a corporate talking point. What they are really trying to “save” is the bottom line-profit over people. If they truly cared about our “safety”, management would say what needs to be said: SLOW DOWN! But you won’t be hearing that from this group.
Instead, what we do get is words and slogans and cute acronyms for us to memorize like a bunch of 3rd graders learning the multiplication table, as though “learning” these slogans will make our day safer.
To management, safety means insurance claims -case numbers- which equates to loss of profits. To us, safety is our knees, ankles, shoulders, backs, etc. There is one remedy, which we repeat daily and they ignore: Lighten our loads, let us do our jobs, and get off our backs!
Then of course they give us “safety week”, “safety month” and the ever so popular “Don’t report your injury til next week Fridays”. And let’s not forget all those wonderful “incentives” to work safe (breakfasts, gifts and other taxable items). In translation: “incentives” to subliminally stop or delay you from reporting injuries.
It’s a good corporate slogan used to demonstrate to Wall Street investors: Look at us, we’re the “safe” package delivery company…your investment is “safe” with UPS.
Maybe we should give incentives to management: Lighten our loads and create more loads, and you will receive less injuries. Instead of them asking us to do something (like memorize slogans) to help their safety numbers, it’s time they start “shouldering” the responsibility: Who increased the weight of packages? Who sends us out with abusive loads? Who doesn’t send us help? This problem is self-induced.
Furthermore, God forbid we do get injured. We get back to the building and they interrogate us as though we committed a crime!
Again, it is up to management to fix this obvious problem. Otherwise, all this safety talk is just that: TALK! Take the work off our trucks and onto your shoulders; keep your $ and “incentives”; stop breeding new hires for speed (see Big Brown, Belmont Stakes). Have some compassion about the repercussions to our bodies after 25 years of abusive loads!
