<sigh> Probably true... (and I count myself in that).
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
We do suggest solutions but they fall on deaf ears. In our local we have a problem with our pension due, in part, to too many of our members taking "dead days" for which we receive no contributions. Currently you have to have only 1000 hours to qualify for a year of pension credit. I have suggested either raising the limit to 1500 (or higher--I prefer 1800) or implementing a sliding scale starting with 6 months pension credit for 1000 hours of service and an additional month for every 100 hours after that, rounded up to the next highest increment (1550 would be rounded to 1600), which would require 1600 hours of service for a full year of pension credit.
DorkHead
Well-Known Member
A few questions.
How close are you to retiring?
What part of the country is your pension in?
Will you need to supplement your pension?
How will you be "walked out the gate"???
How are you "paying to cut your own throat? You will be receiving a pension, right?
How can your union sell you down the river??
You don't like kittens?!?
Bubblehead
My Senior Picture
OK, super.
How many we's are there in your little coup?
Analyze the meaning of the word union and apply it to this issue you believe in.
It's nice to see you thinking of others...???
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
I like the more mature version.
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
This was initially brought up during our contract proposal meeting. The BA liked the idea and said he would bring it up at the next pension meeting. When I saw him about a month or so ago I asked him about our proposal and he gave me the "what are you talking about" stare.
Dead days drive me crazy. We are given 4 personal and 5 sick days and between 2 and 6 weeks of vacations depending on our years of service and yet guys still feel the need to take unpaid days. What compounds my frustration is when guys will take dead days before having used up their personal and sick days (we can use sick days as personal and vice versa) and when our junior guys need a day off they are bumped by a senior guy who has already taken 15-20 dead days but still has days left.
Dead days drive me crazy. We are given 4 personal and 5 sick days and between 2 and 6 weeks of vacations depending on our years of service and yet guys still feel the need to take unpaid days. What compounds my frustration is when guys will take dead days before having used up their personal and sick days (we can use sick days as personal and vice versa) and when our junior guys need a day off they are bumped by a senior guy who has already taken 15-20 dead days but still has days left.
packageguy
Well-Known Member
I understand what your saying, I SEE YOUR POINT NOW. maybe union sees or knows something we don't. they seem to have things under control.
I GOT ONE MORE
Well-Known Member
Collective bargaining has its place. It creates a position of strength in negotiations.
That being said.......
there is the company agenda (truth)
and the union agenda (truth)
the real truth "lies" somewhere in between.
That being said.......
there is the company agenda (truth)
and the union agenda (truth)
the real truth "lies" somewhere in between.
laffter
Well-Known Member
Cougars.
as a 23 year employee and 24 year Teamster I know the union is not the end and be all.. but I know that with out the Teamsters I would not be making $32 an hour plus EXCELLENT benefits...go out to the private sector and see for yourself. UPS continues to survive economic slow downs and the ever changing global market. Is it the perfect company? NO. Do I wish I had taken the police officer job I had been offered? Sometimes. But looking at the big picture I have weekends and holidays off and my wife knows I will be returning home at the end of the morning...I'm in feeders, I will be returning home. Sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.
Bubblehead
My Senior Picture
OK, that's a start.
Stay after the BA.
Go over his head if your supporters and yourself aren't satisfied with his answers.
Have you considered starting a petition?
I think the solution is better suited in an increase to the hours of service required for a years pension credit, as you alluded to earlier.
I'm pretty sure it is 1,800 hours here in the Central Region.
1,000 hours seems extremely low.
Raise it to 1,800 and the marginal "dive team" members(that's what we call them) and they will be forced to reevaluate their decisions.
The drivers who persist, don't qualify that year and the pension strengthens.
Workers Comp employees should get 40hrs credit per comp week.
Johney
Well-Known Member
BigUnionGuy
Got the T-Shirt
Could you clarify what you mean ? I don't want to assume what you're saying.... Thanks.
-Bug-
104Feeder
Phoenix Feeder
Unless you contribute to D.R.I.V.E., your dues money does not go "directly against your very being" which I assume to mean political purposes for which you disagree with. The Teamsters left the AFL-CIO, along with other unions like SEIU, specifically too much focus was on Washington and not enough on organizing. If Organizing is "against your very being" then I guess you are out of luck.
Sure the Teamsters support Obama, and you will see that in our publications but that's only because for the last 40 or so years most Republicans have been waging all out war against Organized labor. We supported plenty of Republicans prior to that. Personally, I would say that Democrats aren't much better than Republicans when it comes to labor, as they seem to love us on the campaign trail then sell us out on the House & Senate floor. Republicans are at least consistent. Just like the Teamsters focus should be on getting you the best deal during negotiations, Labor lobbyists should be focusing on getting the most out of Washington for you.
I don't know what State you are in, and I'm not directing this at you; but what I never understand is how someone who lives in a RTW state where they can object to the Union & never have to become a member or contribute one penny to the Contract they enjoy & all it's benefits can then retire & collect a pension check from the Teamsters for life without feeling any sort of moral twinge whatsoever.
W
want to retire
Guest
Well, if you are any of the listed groups(I am not).........generally left-wing types(I am not). The teamsters support Democrats(generally) and therefore all the rest of it. And yes, I see Obama(therefore Democrats) on Teamster magazine etc.(therfore my dues). Anyone with a general idea of current politics should be able to understand the connection. Clear?
104Feeder
Phoenix Feeder
The magazine comes out 6 times a year, and Obama was on the cover maybe twice? Usually it's because it's relevant to some sort of labor related legislation but I'm sure he will be on there for the next two for the election. That magazine is mostly used for propaganda purposes & for legal notices as required by the consent order for the independent review board. I assure you that very little of your dues money that gets sent to the National is being used to fund that slim magazine.
I think Unions are, in general, very good at getting people registered to vote and good at getting people to actually vote. Unions are marginal at best in getting that vote to go a certain way, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Here is a good analysis that I mostly agree with although I would control for additional factors:
The Effects of Union Membership on Democratic Voting - NYTimes.com
I think Unions are, in general, very good at getting people registered to vote and good at getting people to actually vote. Unions are marginal at best in getting that vote to go a certain way, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Here is a good analysis that I mostly agree with although I would control for additional factors:
The Effects of Union Membership on Democratic Voting - NYTimes.com
Packmule
Well-Known Member
While there are those that would bash you for stating the truth, others of us will point out that while any union can have it's good side, it MUST have real accountability. Conservatives, (and I am proud to be one) often miss this point too, thinking only of what unions do to businesses, totally disregarging how they tend bully and quash the very people they are supposed to represent. Strike 97 was a perfect example of that. In the end, your whole statement screams for a NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK LAW, which will not kill unions, but make them better. Lack of trust on the part of working stiffs is precisely the reason why unions are mostly dying in this country. Real accountability, accomplished through a NRTW law, would probably cause most unions to flourish. Company BS is the best salesman organized labor can have, and that isn't going to change, ever. IBT and others, are just too comfortable with bully pulpits and closed shop rules to let go and see what happens.
pretzel_man
Well-Known Member
First, I support unions and I absolutely believe that you make more money and get better benefits because you are in a undion.
But, from my perspective there is also an imbalance.
Last I looked, greater than 95% of Teamster PAC money goes to democrats. Certainly, you have a right to contribute as you see fit. But I'm not sure how well that distribution matches the political distribution of the membership.
Omega man
Well-Known Member
What you don’t seem to understand is that the Union exists not just for you.
The Teamsters are made up from all types of people with many different beliefs and backrounds. All that matters is that we stand together to try to make things better for us than if there was no Union. You don't have to agree with your officer’s positions, aline with their politics or vote how they suggest.
It is sad that after all this time you now believe the same entity that exists to help you is somehow your enemy. How would you have faired without a Union?
Have you ever participated in any way to change what you do not agree with? Do you go to Union meetings? Have you ever run for steward or office in your Local? Do you vote? Have you ever volunteered at your Local? If your answer is no then how can you complain?
