UPS and the "Package King"

[cheryl]

UPS and the "Package King" - Socialist Worker

United Parcel Service is one of the most recognized brands in the world of corporations. But the company's image has been meticulously created. Once you pierce the brown wall of propaganda, what's behind isn't pretty--as union workers, mainly members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, at the company's 1,900 U.S. facilities know well.

In this first article in an occasional series on the history of United Parcel Service and workers' resistance to Big Brown, Joe Allen examines the company's founder James E. Casey--the so-called "Package King"--whose personality and polices still shape UPS to this very day.

 

[Catatonic]

Perhaps Jimbo is not turning over in his grave at recent on-goings.

 

[oldngray]

Casey's personality USED to shape UPS policies but sadly those days are long past. Now its all about magic numbers to look good to outside investors. Casey was obsessed with things like military style uniform appearance standards and a bit odd in other ways but his heart and soul was about service to customers. That mindset is long gone. The author of that article seems very critical and just doesn't understand UPS and unions either in my opinion.

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

Casey's personality USED to shape UPS policies but sadly those days are long past. Now its all about magic numbers to look good to outside investors. Casey was obsessed with things like military style uniform appearance standards and a bit odd in other ways but his heart and soul was about service to customers. That mindset is long gone. The author of that article seems very critical and just doesn't understand UPS and unions either in my opinion.

I've read "Big Brown" and it really delves into Casey's history. He'd fire most of today's managers.

Sent using BrownCafe App

 

[Catatonic]

I've read "Big Brown" and it really delves into Casey's history. He'd fire most of today's managers.

Sent using BrownCafe App

Big Brown is essentially propaganda ... many of the older UPSers laughed at a lot of the stuff in that book declaring, "That's not exactly the way I remember it."

It's a different world and he is a dinosaur.
If he was here today, he would be a man out of place and time.

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

Big Brown is essentially propaganda ... many of the older UPSers laughed at a lot of the stuff in that book declaring, "That's not exactly the way I remember it."

It's a different world and he is a dinosaur.
If he was here today, he would be a man out of place and time.

Not necessarily. He hated dirty trucks. He hated sloppiness. He hated inefficiency. Those three things are plaguing UPS right now and he wouldn't allow it. Regardless of what time he comes from.

 

[Catatonic]

He kept clean trucks because he did not advertise ... I've never heard the media or a customer say anything about a dirty UPS truck.
I don't know what sloppiness is except that personal appearance was pretty much a homogeneous look beck then. Few people had beards, long hair or tats.
He definitely hated inefficiency but the new UPS hates it even more.

 

[Lwms]

He kept clean trucks because he did not advertise ... I've never heard the media or a customer say anything about a dirty UPS truck.
I don't know what sloppiness is except that personal appearance was pretty much a homogeneous look beck then. Few people had beards, long hair or tats.
He definitely hated inefficiency but the new UPS hates it even more.

I disagree the package cars are one big billboard . And I have had many customers comment about the dirty appearance of my package car !!!