Hicksville Center Home Page
Why do I do this and what's the website all about?
This site was created to help inform and educate members of Local 804 who work for UPS. While the site is directed toward these members, much of the advice and logic are universal. Anywhere a reference to an article or section number are mentioned it is important to note that these may be part of a local supplement and you should check your contract or contact your steward for guidance. If you come away from this site with only one thing, it should be that we need to be united to be strong. UPS is a big company with lots of money, money that WE helped them to earn. We are not asking for the lions share of this money but a bigger slice of the pie is definatley in order!
Anywhere within this site that you see the Teamsters logo you can click to get to the internationals website. Anywhere you see the Local 804 trailer or logo you can click to go to Local 804's website. I have included links to several other sites that are of interest including the credit union, Magna-Care, a workers-compensation attorney, and links to several forms.
While you are here I ask if you could please take a minute and sign my guest book and let me know where you are from and what you think of the site. With your input I can keep the site up to date and interesting. Thank you for stopping by and always Keep The Faith!
A little bit about me.
I am in my 19th year at UPS and have been a package driver in the center since the day I started. I accepted the job of steward because I believe in the union and I believe in you, my union brothers and sisters. We deserve a strong voice on the job and anyone who's ever heard me in the office going at it with one of the bosses knows I have a strong voice! I come from a union family, my late stepfather was president of a local for the NALC (Nat'l Assoc. of Letter Carriers). I serve as your steward with pride and dignity. Some people say I'm heartless bastard because I don't take anything from anyone, and others say I'm a strong steward for the same reasons. Call me what you want, you're entitled to your opinion. One thing I'm not is a bullshit artist,I'll always tell it like it is whether you're going to like it or not. The right thing to do isn't always the popular thing. I won't make promises I can't keep and I'll always do what I feel is in the best interest of all of you and the union.
Listen to the latest press conference from CFO Kurt Kuehn here: https://www.upsers.com/ep-s/upsers/wcm/connect/UPSers/Utilities/Rich+Media+Utilities/View+1?mediaFile=/upsers/wcm/myconnect/resources/file/eb1ee142b07d2f4/KURT_UPSERS.wmv?MOD=AJPERES&surveyURL=&usersAuth=RemoteWeak&usersType=InternalNonCampus&userID=0367411&mediaTextURL=/UPSers/Utilities/Rich+Media+Utilities/Kurt_Kuehn_Script&docTitle=Scott
Brotherhood
As members of a union you belong to group that shares many common ideas and values. Unions have fought hard for years to make the working man respected and treated fairly on the job. All the things that people (both union and non union) take for granted come from many years of fighting and negotiating for. Things like the 40 hour week, week ends, paid benefits, pensions, sick days, vacation etc,etc,etc are all the results of these years of battle.
We need to stand together-shoulder to shoulder when need be and show the bosses that we have each others backs. When the company messes with one of us they mess with all of us. You are not a group of one, unions are about the workers but not necessarily the individual. The only thing that UPS and the Union have in common is that they start with U. And there is no union without you.
Think about this when you think the union doesn't do anything for you. How much do you pay for your benefits? Talk to your friends and neighbors and ask what they pay, do you think the company gives you these benefits out of the goodness of their heart? No f*&^%$ way, to begin with, they don't have a heart and secondly, they wouldn't give you a damn thing if they didn't have to. Do you get paid sick days? How about your friends?
If you are still convinced that the union doesn't do anything for you, come see me and I'll give you back your dues money from my pocket. The only catch is that I get your paid vacation time, sick days, oph's, and your raise each August. I don't expect everyone to be die hard union activists but I do expect everyone to at least respect what the union has done and continues to try and do. Please don't bad mouth the union to new employees, let them make their own determination, and especially don't talk trash about the union in front of a boss. They love to hear that we are divided among ourselves, that is their plan-divide and conquer. Don't give them any more ammunition, please. Thanks.
site updated 3/5/10
