Hey all,
Yesterday around 11:30 I got a page asking if I remember anything happening on xxx street just after I left the center. I responded with "No, why, whats up?" I get a response saying they "had a concern that I was driving dangerously and cut a guy off". At the end of the text it said "I don't believe it though". I responded with "Neither do I as it didn't happen".
Very rarely is it that I am the only PC on this particular street and yesterday was no exception. I was traveling down the street with three or four other UPS PC's. I don't recall anything out of the ordinary happening.
As I have only been with UPS for 8 months and have not encountered anything like this before, I'm just wondering what I have to look forward to next week.
If I get called to the supes office and they want me to sign some disciplinary papers, what will happen if I refuse to sign?
In situations like this, the difference between those that keep their job and those that don't is knowing how to play the UPS/Union game. Get your union steward involved, and don't talk to them without him. Maintain the truth, don't try to elaborate. I wouldn't hesitate to politely deny the charges in an informal setting like if the supe just walked up and asked... but if it goes any further than that like being asked to come to the office or it seems like it's they're being argumentative, time to union-up. They have something in mind other than simply bringing the issue to your attention.
You've done nothing wrong, so there is no reason to sign anything. Even if they're saying it is "just a paper to acknowledge they reviewed it with you", there would be no reason to review anything with you if you've done nothing wrong. Don't sign it.
[long story] On the preload, a supe used to try to get ppl to sign "performance reviews" which kept record of packages that were missed on the belt. I always refused, saying I'm not bringing the noose to my own hanging. "Nooo, it's not for disciplinary reasons... this is just to show that I've reviewed it with you." Sorry... if I've done nothing wrong there is no reason for me to sign.
One day this supe pulled me off the belt to "review" my previous days performance... which I again refused to sign. We were off the belt for maybe 45 seconds... the whole time packages for my trucks going down the belt. After the review, he walked straight past my area and started writing up the packages I missed while he had me off the belt... giving me the "evil eye" the whole time. It probably didn't help matters when I started laughing at him, but I couldn't get to the packages because I was supposed to be splitting the belt and loading 4 trucks, and the loader next to me was so stacked out there's no way I could bring that much stuff back.
That was my first, and only warning letter. In the grievance hearing, the first thing they brought out was a huge stack of paperwork and made the announcement that I was uncooperative and wouldn't even sign the papers.
I said, "You told me those weren't for disciplinary reasons, now here they are in a greviance meeting." The BA went nuts... lol. "Yeah! What the friend* about that?!"
The representative looked embarrassed and told the center manager to put the papers away. After I explained what happened, they dismissed mine and 4 other warning letters for preloaders that were also there for missing pkgs. [/long story]
It's your word against the person complaining, maintain you've received UPS training and always follow the methods. No accident, they should just drop the issue... I wouldn't even accept a safety ride from this. All too often some hothead on the street gets pissed because you blocked his way when he was trying to race around you doing 20 mph over the posted limit. Talk to some of the older drivers too.. not just the steward. They've been around long enough to know what past practice has occurred in your center, what your steward is like, and what your particular management might try.
I seriously doubt they'll do anything. I've seen too many drivers receive similar concerns and it never goes beyond just being informed they exist. Management (good ones anyway) understands our drivers receive some of the best training in the industry. You're in a professional position to deny it was you, claim the other person was wrong, or whatever the case may be. Be careful about claiming it wasn't you.. the other driver may have written down your truck number and you may not have even know you offended anyone. That doesn't make them right.
By chance, was the other person driving a Volvo SUV? Just wondering. Don't let it be too much of a concern... enjoy the weekend.
