What people are
saying about
the Jeremiah Project and
the article about the Teamsters
vs. UPS.
It's amazing to me that most of the people who write actually make my point of the discontentment of UPS workers, and most refer back to the Teamsters union as the source of that discontentment. Listening to many of those who wrote, they sound like they hate their jobs, hate the company they work for, and hate the wages they earn. If they hate it so much, why don't they take responsibility for their lives and quit... get a job they don't hate so much?
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Joe wrote, saying: "Although you have many of the facts right in
your assertions, your basic premise is wrong. The more syndrome as you alude to
doesn't hold much water. It costs more every year for a loaf of bread or a
gallon of milk, yet the farmers aren't making any more per pound for wheat or
corn than in the 1940's, the price of milk to a farmer is very little more
right now than in the 1950's. Have you check to see what a hog farmer is
getting for a weaner pig lately. Not everything is as it seems. You have
managed to glean a few verses from the bible to use in your arguments, as a
christian I applaude your efforts, but you fall short in your agenda. "And
why don't farmers make more for their wheat and milk? While I don't have any
actual figures, I'm sure they make more 'dollars' for their product, while the
spending power of those dollars is about the same, if not less, than the
1940's. It is the MORE SYNDROME you see. As they demand more money for their
product, so does everyone else along the chain... resulting in the farmer not
really gaining anything and only those at the end of the chain (corporations
and government) making any real profits. UPS could pay it's drivers a million
dollars a year to deliver packages and hire every breathing person into
full-time positions, and guess what? They won't have any more spending power at
the end of the day! Why? Because everyone else will raise their prices
correspondingly to pay the overhead of their packages costing them $1,000's to
deliver. And, who wins? The government gets to collect more in taxes to pay for
more socialist programs. The corporations maintain their 'profit margin' (% of
revenue less costs) and make more dollars because now we're talking bigger
numbers. And yes, even labor unions like the Teamsters benefit because they get
to skim an even greater amount through union dues, etc., not to mention
increased political clout to manipulate other events -- all at the expense of
the discontented (and deluded) union worker. PFrey wrote, saying: "I find your analysis of the
UPS strike to be laughable. I have a hard time
believing you would expect any person with even minimal intelligence to believe
this garbage. You throw in a few quotes from the bible and somehow expect the
reader to believe God is on your side. Your unidentified author obviously has
no first hand experience with either the Teamsters or working for UPS, yet has
the arrogance to editorialize on the matter. Your statement that "I am sure
there are many deserving..." is merely one example of the impressive depth of
ignorance from which you speak. Crazy4JCM wrote, saying: " I am a part time ups employee at the Richmond va. center. I like many others work 2 jobs back to back because I work the preload. I also like many others are hopeful that more full time postions will open up. They tell us it could be 8-9 years before you have a chance to drive which is insane. The work that I do as a part-timer will most definatly be the hardest work that I will ever do. Why should the ones that bust their butt EVERY DAY still have to wait longer to be a driver just because the person that comes in late if they come in at all has more senority than me? What I'm trying to say is that things should be done by how good of a worker you are rather than how long you have been there. I too joined the teamsters hoping for some change in the right direction. It is ridiculous for a company this large to have as many problems as they do. I love ups though and came to work here when I was only 18 yrs. and 1 month old so that I could get a head start on a great career that U can't wait to do. " To which, I responded: "I agree with what you said, "things should be done by how good of a worker you are rather than how long you have been there." That doesn't sound like a union slogan. In fact, it is the unions that discourage rewards based on merit such as being a good worker or having a better work ethic. Unions rather believe in "leveling the playing field" and making everyone equal in terms of the quality of their work and rather reward them based on seniority. If it's real improvement or change in the right direction you're looking for - rewards for good work, etc., - you are looking in the wrong place if you're looking to the Teamsters. The Teamsters idea of an ideal work place would be more like you might find in the old Soviet Russia or China. " - ed. SJ wrote, saying: " I am a ups driver and a union member. Walk a mile in my shoes before you preach to me." "If it quacks like a duck, you don't have to be a duck to know it's a duck!" - ed. SayUwill99 wrote, saying: "You should walk in the shoes of a UPS employee before you open your mouth and start flinging biblical verses! Obviously you don't know what you are taliing about!" "Some of these folks are beginning to sound like a broken record. I wonder who they learn their scripted responses from." - ed. Thomas wrote, saying: "You have certainly told one side of the story.
You are correct about the greed factor. But, you only told it from the
teamsters side. Look at the corporate side. Before the strike UPS showed
profits of $1.2 billion a year. Now that figure has jumped to almost $2 billion
a year. Mary wrote, saying: "UPS treats their employee's like crap...You must not have worked there or at least not as a driver. The Union has their own self interest, but, with a company like UPS, thank God for the Union. " BL wrote, saying: "I
think your article has some valid points, but is missing one important thing;
"Corporate greed"! Your article is very one sided. How does my 60,000 per year
compare to UPS's billion per year in profits? Don't you think that the
employee's should share in the success of the company thier breaking thier
backs for? In my opinion, I think we are underpaid. Upsman wrote, saying: "Its clearly obvious you have no clue. Ups does have a good benefit package and salary, but we have to work our asses off for that. Ive been with the company for 11 years and it took me 9 to get a full time job when there was clearly enough work for one in half that time. Ups breaks more labor laws then any company in the US. Most days and I mean most we are required to work straight through our lunch and breaks enable to get home at a decent hour. Ups can not be trusted they lie and fail to keep up there side of everything always. If we had no union ups would screw us 10 times more than they allready are. The routes we drive have not been time studied in so long, that they are so overloaded the average person including you would be amazed." Panama wrote, saying: "I work for u p s and let me tell you i might make $50 thousand a year with a hell of allot of overtime , i like to meet the guy who makes 70 thousand a year he must live at u p s . and that overtime is forced down our throats. we are treated like garbage no one likes to be treated like garbage ." "Why would you continue to work for a company that treats you like garbage or not like a human being? Could it be the money?" - ed. SONOR10 wrote, saying: "WRONG try working for BIG BROWN I spent 22 plus years there. UPS is the DEVIL. " "And I'll bet you don't have a problem depositing your pension checks signed by the devil." - ed. Casvol wrote, saying: "If you have ever worked inside a hub at U.P.S. (under paid slaves) you would know that $8.00 an hour is not even close to being worth the work we perform. I have had 2 shoulder injuries and a bad back in 4 years there, and will have to live with theses injuries the rest of my life. And you try and call it greed. The hell with U.P.S and every- body who is not a teamster!!!" GRANDMACDADDY wrote, saying: "You're a *!?#head! I'm a U.P.S. driver and a Teamster member. I work harder in a day than you do all month, so knock off the lazy employee routine. " "Don't recall saying U.P.S. drivers were lazy... maybe discontented. Perhaps this person is feeling a little guilty for something unspoken." - ed. Michel wrote, saying: "I think you are full of crap. The
discontentment of the employees was due to the deplorable working conditions
and UPS pettiness. I have worked for UPS for 17 years, from loader to driver,
and I have seen this once good and concienscious company collapse under the
weight of bad management and greed. After the strike, management began a
termination and intimidation campaign to show the employees whose boss. Many
employees have lost their jobs over minor incidences. FYI, when we returned
from the strike, it become common knowledge that the division manager had many
photos of picketers who were to be singled out for termination. "Terminated for striking... as they should be. Be thankful you still have a job and stop whining." - ed. Our3gang wrote, saying:
"As a UPS worker i think it is very
easy for you to make these claims that you have in your article here on the
internet. Yes I agree that greed is a bad thing but i also know that
unfortunate money makes this world go around. The cost of living in my state is
so high because of the greed of others so it means that i need more than
mimimum wage to support my 2 kids. This
writer makes my point well about the "more syndrome." It is because of the
greed of Teamsters and others like them that the cost of living is so high and
it only continues to get higher. Do they honestly believe that pay raises are
going to help their situation ... a situation where they are already one of the
best paid non-skilled laborers? Wrong! Their demand for "more" only makes it
more difficult for the less fortunate working people in America. Stangpride also wrote much like
Our3gang above, saying: "For your
information, I work for UPS and have been for over 4.5 years now. The fact that
you could even STATE that the strike was about more pensions and more funding
than what we deserve, ect, shows me just how ignorant you really are. See
what I mean? The above writer, like many others, believe they are "owed" a
career. When things don't work out for them like they'd like, rather than doing
something constructive to improve their lot, they just complain they are being
abused by the company that gives them a job. Yet another writes pretty much the
same thing (do you see the similarities here?) James wrote, saying:
"Why should'nt a part-timer want to
be full-time? Why should'nt a part-timer want to make 50,000 -70,000 a year? Do
you think that UPS would pay a driver or feeder that rate of pay if not for the
union? Of course not. Do you think that UPSer's would have the medical benefits
that they have if not for the union? No, they would not. And you left out the
reason that most part-timer's average $11 an hour. Because they have be
part-time(waiting for full-time)for more than 5 years! The wait for full-time
in most hubs is at least 10 years. Sorry to disappoint you, but I like many thousands of others, work hard for a fraction of what UPSer's are paid and we too want to buy our children nice clothes, piano lessons, etc. Unlike Teamsters however, some of us would rather do something positive to accomplish that goal rather than whining about our situation. Suggested reading: How to Manage Your Money by Larry Burkett. " - ed. Greg wrote, saying: "I have been a UPS union employee 25 years. I
find your article written from a view of outsider looking in influenced by UPS
management viewpoint. Yes there are nonchristian ideas and principles on the
union side,but there were many just as worldly nonchristian views on the other
side as well. RLJ639 wrote, saying: "It's people like you who are a danger to
society. You don't have the facts about the issues about that strike and you
don't know what working inside UPS is like. Blasphemy! Now the Teamsters are being raised to the level of a religion. - ed. ROCKYSHM wrote, saying:
"It's clear you know nothing about
the union. You can read about it, but you don't live it. Don't blame the Union,
we ask for a contract, it's the companies decision to agree to it. They can say
No. To which, I
responded: "Yes, they can say "No"
and they should have the right to do so without coercion from the unions. And,
likewise, employees can accept or reject the companies offer with the benefits
or consequences thereof. CONSTANTMOVE wrote, saying: "I think your web page is biased. It is easy to say that the work force is aply paid when you're making millions in Management stock and salary." Weezee wrote, saying: "I think UPS paid you to write this hogwash against the teamsters employees of UPS. " Yeah, right! - ed. G175 wrote, saying: "Every once in a while I stumble across a web
page that fills me with rage. Yours is right up their with the various white
supremacist pages that occupy cyberspace. Notice the qualifier for freedom of religion... "as long as..." Sort of makes the point of who is really being hateful. "You're free "as long as..." you agree with me." - ed. |
While I haven't received nearly as much supportive mail, not everyone is so negative as some of the following comments show: Dieseljones wrote, saying:
"My Brother I am very impressed
with the manner in which you took on this issue. If we could look at the rest
of the world from a biblical perspective this world would be a much better
place to reside in. You have peeked my curiosity to the utmost. I read the
article wondering which side of the fence you stand on, or whether your an
onlooker from around the corner. Wherever you stand you were well informed and
quite impartial for the most part. Impartial, I do not know if I can be that. I
can only make decisions based upon my experience. Ozzy wrote, saying: "So, I know it happened a while ago, but I've been an hourly at UPS, and now I'm a member of management, let me give you the real deal. For the most part, Teamsters are just lazy whiners. They are also bad workers. Don't get me wrong, some of them are good. But usually its just the folks that have been there less than 2 months. You tell them how they are supposed to do their job, you train them, and they do it the wrong way in spite of you. You write them up, but they don't care, they hide behind that p.o.s. union, get fired, and just get their job back. What i really don't understand is that if they don't like the job, why in the name of God do they stick around? Well, luckily, ive read over and over the last contract. And one by one, I'm firing the bad workers. Oh yes. The more they screw around, the harder I ride them. And the best part is, they HAVE to do what I tell them, or its termination time. I'm sick of all these lazy people.... However these people made it this far in life being as lazy as they are is beyond me. But that's ok. I just chalked another teamster today, and i'm gonna do 2 more tomorrow. So if you ever work at the 81st street hub in Indianapolis... Pray to God that you're not in Sort 2. Because (GASP!) I will make you work for that 9.50 an hour!" Trothay wrote, saying: "As a part-time UPS employee, I have come to several conclusion about unions. For one I see it produces employees who are whiny, lack initiative, and use it to hide behind when their work performance is lacking. The whole work structure is based on seniority for job promotion( i.e. full-time driver ), double shifts or vacation. This environment in return promotes poor work ethics, lack of initiative and whininess. You are not rewarded for doing a good job and being a good employee. However, working for UPS is not a walk in the park. All the jobs are fast pace, attention to deal, precise, routine and high pressure. That is where the union comes into play. The union protects the employee against unfair abuse and ensure good wage and benefits amongst other things. We UPS employees provide excellent package service. It amazes me the precision and timely delivery of packages we offer our customers. The union does have a good and bad side. I don't know what's the best solution is but we shouldn't allow the union to jeopardize our company i.e. greedy wages, interfering with company business decisions which in return would turn away customers, who should I remind you is our bread and butter. I still contend that UPS is a great company to work for. They reward us well with good pay and benefits. However, in return the company asks us to give 100% everyday to make the company what it is." Bob wrote, saying: " I am a pilot for UPS's competition, FedEx. We
had our own labor-management difficulties, but we resolved ours - or actually
God did - through prayer. A group of Christian pilots began meeting as talks
bogged down. Some, including myself, fasted and prayed that God would not be
pre-empted at Thanksgiving and Christmas by the shadow of a strike of clearly
demonic origins (If you have ever been there, you recognize the hate and
disloyalty that blinds those who have no spiritiual moarings.). Miraculously,
before Thanksgiving the union called off any and all job actions and went back
to the bargaining table. Within a few weeks a deal was struck and the holidays
were saved for worshipping our Lord!
Helen wrote, saying: "I think you are right about UPS. I see the same thing happening to Overnite Transport. What the people need to realize is that picket line is not a sacred thing. If you want to go to work step across otherwise you are facing financial ruin or you can go look for another job. Jr Hoffa will still take his paycheck to the bank. You will not have one if you listen to them." Mike wrote, saying: "I believe that we should take the time to make the contract more exact, there certain areas of the contract are left up to interpretation, which makes difficult to communicate ones concerns. I think that most of the anonmocity can be removed, if in every center the management team and the associates have collective consciences on how the system works most efficiently. The system in which we work is the definition of work time, weight, distance, with an emphasize on order. I would like too see more suggestions on how to solve the conflicts and make ups even a better company. " |
UPS vs Teamsters: A look at greed and discontentment in the workforce.
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