I am not going to entertain a discussion on whether the TA is good or bad. I am not going to waste my time, or the members of BC’s time by trying to get anyone to align their beliefs with mine. The yes voters will never convince me that this contract is in my best interest. The no voters will never convince the contract supporters that this is not the best deal. I will agree to disagree. I am not looking for raises that are above inflation. What I don’t want is to have raises that do not keep up with inflation and pay more out of pocket for healthcare. By excepting this contract, would be saying that I have been overpaid for the last 5 years. And my body, family and spirit tells me I am not overpaid. I am paid well. I feel like I am getting paid fairly for the amount of work I do. I do not want more work, for less pay, when you count in inflation and added healthcare costs.
What I fear, is that UPS is in a slow decent from what it once was. They have done so much to trim expense here and there. Added technology to achieve a very high efficiency. Trim miles. Business deliveries in the AM is not the norm anymore. Cut healthcare expenses. Make progression longer. I could go on and on. This is why I am afraid for the future of this once great company. Raising profits by cutting, cutting and cutting is the sign of a company that is in trouble. I understand to trim expenses, but where is the growth? Where are the plans to expand? Other then the TNT debacle, I don’t see it. The fact that Hoffa/Hall has brought this contract to the members for a vote, is a sign that in order for UPS to be profitable in the future, for the stock to be desirable, they need to cut payroll costs. At the least have the payroll rise slower then inflation. That alone should scare anyone. At some point, if we continue to follow the trajectory, UPS’ers will be able to apply for government aid. Don’t misread that as next year or even next contract we will need food stamps to survive. I am talking decades down the road. You can’t have inflation rise faster then raises indefinitely. If UPS can’t keep our pay raises at the same rate as inflation in this economy, then we are all doomed. Lower raises coupled with more health expenses and we should all be afraid.
As for the majority of the supplements being voted down, this is disastrous for Hoffa/Hall. You can bet your .70 cent raise that they are now working out a plan for damage control. This is not as simple as “fixing” some supplements. If anyone has bothered to actually read and understand the IBT constitution, you would realize that all bets are off the table. Yes, I agree, it is not likely for the master to be re-written, but large changes will need to be made to the failed supplements if there is any hope of getting the TA signed. This is most likely the end of the Hoffa/Hall era. If they somehow get all 15 supplements to pass with the Teamcare intact and not addressed in the supplements, there will be many many teamsters who didn’t vote asking “What happened to my insurance?” Unfortunately, as in life, people do not take the time study things that affect them when it is just on paper. Once these members start to see how their insurance has changed, they will then probably become more involved and vocal with the union. I can’t see how Hoffa/Hall can come out of this with a future with the Teamsters.
Again, you all can sit back and say that the TA will be signed, that all will be good, but the fact of the matter is, this will be a point in time to remember. This will not be forgotten quickly, and this is something that is causing a tremendous amount of stress, time and endless emails, meeting and such at the IBT and at UPS. This can be played out in so many different ways. Read the IBT constitution. Understand it. Once you do, you will understand how big the 15 failed supplements ts are for the IBT, Hoffa/Hall, UPS and the members. The IBT constitution allows several options for this to play out. NLRB will most likely be interrupting this constitution. I even see lawsuits being brought to the table....depending on Hoffa's interpretation of the constitution and how he uses it.
I laughed!
