Article 22.3 of the '97-'02 CBA stated, "If there is a reduction in volume causing layoffs, the Employers obligation under this section shall be null and void." Following the '97 strike UPS claimed volume losses (yet still posted record profits) and drove their trucks through this loophole in the Carey/Hall negotiated agreement. The Hoffa led Teamsters filed charges with the NLRB and in March of 2000 enforced the 22.3 job provision forcing UPS to comply, and combo jobs were implemented with many receiving back pay awards. Then the wheels came off because no one properly documented the jobs and here we are with lots of questions. Hoffa had it right in '98 and apparently has now fallen asleep at the wheel. I'm hoping hall is awake.
As an inside employee, how are you negatively affected by Surepost? Don't all Surepost packages go through the sorts, with final delivery made by the USPS? Not saying I like it but FEDEX does offer Smartpost and without a competing service I'm guessing we'd have less volume.
Inthegame....thanks for info on the 97-02 22.3 agreement. I also keep all prior contract books (back to 1978) but never referred back to the 97 agreement.
My issues with the 22.3 language and apparent violations centered on our current contract. Per our BA, both the 22.3 language violations of the current contract as well as all the 9.5 grievances were to be resolved at the National level through arbitration last March 2012 (not absolutely sure of the month) . We the employees/stewards never heard back what the results of those hearings were. Totally agree with your statement
"Then the wheels came off because no one properly documented the jobs and here we are with lots of questions. Hoffa had it right in '98 and apparently has now fallen asleep at the wheel. I'm hoping hall is awake."
In regard to your statement
"As an inside employee, how are you negatively affected by Surepost?" The direct answer is, "I'm not". I was actually the first person to learn the SurePost sort and procedure. Our smalls volume increased dramatically. We initially had all kinds of issues considering UPS IE did not plan on the significant number of "large" SurePost "smalls" we were going to get. There were many packages that were 10 pounds and less that would not fit in the SurePost sort bins. Some of these boxes were so large that only 1 or 2 SurePost packages would fit in a SurePost bag.
So, you ask, "What is my problem with SurePost?". The first moment I saw what was happening with SurePost, I could not help but think about our contract language on subcontracting. This was a clear violation of the contract. I immediately called my BA at which time I was informed how this was going to be "good" for UPS and us as employees... SurePost was supposed to create more feeder work and inside work.
My immediate concern was about how many DRIVING JOBS SurePost would eliminate. As a 34+ year employee, I really don't worry about myself, but I do have concerns about all the young part-timers that have not been able to go driving
because of SurePost. We were once a 115-120 car center. We are now an 80-85 car center.
I understand the need for UPS to compete with FedEx's SmartPost. However, I believe that UPS is abusing the SurePost system in several ways:
First, drivers are going out with more stops than ever before. UPS has taken the lightest and often easiest stops off many of the drivers even though these stops are often at or very near the same location they normally deliver. The result is that these drivers get loaded up with additional stops with heavier packages and more miles. The result is fewer full-time driving jobs and more drivers forced to work over 9.5 hours per day.
Second, it is a dangerous proposition to give your business away to your competitor. I still remember the days when it was drilled into us that the United States Postal Service was a major competitor of ours.
Third, SurePost makes it easier for UPS to work around any type of "Labor Action" in the event a contract agreement cannot be reached.
Fourth, the initial limit for SurePost was supposed to be 10 lbs. It is my understanding that the weight limit of the SurePost package was increased to greater than 10 lbs. So, where does subcontracting our package volume stop?
In summary...I believe that our Union should have properly informed the rank and file of any major contract changes such as SurePost. We should have had the right to vote on this issue. How can we trust our Union not to change other important issues that we have agreed to in the original contract language? No....SurePost does not adversely affect me...but it definitely has reduced full-time driving opportunities for the younger part-time employees. It also has contributed to the longer hours of existing drivers.
