Contract highlights.

Here are some of the more common issues we face, as well as the article and section numbers where applicable. I have also included excerpts of the specific language.

If you do not have a copy of the contract book please let me know, I will get you one.

We have a right to come to work without fear of being harassed and belittled. We each have the right to be treated fairly, and with dignity and respect. This is discussed in article 37, section 1 of our contract.

Section 1 states that "the parties agree that the principle of a fair day's work for a fair day's pay shall be observed at all times and employees shall perform their duties in a maner that best represent the employers interests.  The employer shall not in any way intimidate, harass, coerce or overly supervise any employee in the performance of his or her duties. The employer wil treat employees with dignity and respect at all times, which shal include, but not be limited to, giving due consideration to the age and physical condition of the employee. Employees will also treat each other as well as the employer with dignity and respect.

There is no provision for this action in the contract. This is not a "shape" job, we do not come to the worksite to see if there is work today. You are responsible to report to work as scheduled unless otherwise notified and stay at work for 8 hours. You destroy the language we have in place for report pay when you go home "over". Report pay is when you come to work and their is no work for you, they need to find you work or pay you four (4) hours for reporting. There is an "extra" list posted, if these drivers are not told the day before not to report to work, they will get this four hours. It's important that you come to work and stay.

Our contract also includes language regarding supervisors working. It explains what the company must do before allowing a supervisor to perform bargaining unit work. When a supervisor works they are taking work away from a union employee. We cannot stand by and watch our jobs be given away, please be observant and speak up when you see a supervisor working. Tell the supervisor to put you on the clock and you'll get paid for the work. If you are told no, we can file a greivance and you will get paid for the time the supervisor worked. This is covered in Article 3, section 7.

The language states "the employer agrees that the function of supervisors is the supervision of employess and not the performance of the work of the employees they supervise".

Again, there is no provision for working time only in our contract. We are not part time employees, we are full time package drivers who are entitled to earn no less than eight (8) hours pay.

Article 15, section 1 discusses the regular list. It states; "Any full time seniority employee on a weekly regular list who is scheduled to report for work, and does report, will be afforded the opportunity to earn (8) eight hours pay in his/her regular classification of work, unless notified not to report by the completion of his/her current working day or prior thereto, or if not working, then by telegram filed with Western Union not later than 4:30p.m. of the day before such reporting day or other notice prior thereto".

The company must notify you the day before if they do not want you to report, if they say nothing and you come in, you are entitled to earn 8 hours pay.

We have a right to not have to handle over-70's alone. Article 44 states that " The parties agree that the health and safety of the employees are of the utmost importance. The employer agrees that UPS management will not insist that any unsafe action be undertaken and the union agrees to encourage it's members to cooperate in effectuating the handling, pick up, and delivery of without exposing themselves to safety hazards.

Article 1 continues on to state " No employee shall be required to handle any over 70 pound package alone if it is the employees good faith belief that such handling would be a safety hazard to herself or himself. In such cases, the employer shall provide whichever of the following is requested in good faith by the employee in handling over 70 pound packages;

1. Another bargaining unit employee for assistance, or
2. Appropriate lifting/handling devices, or
3. Another bargaining unit employee and an appropriate lifting/handling device for handling,pick-up or delivery circumstances that require both bargaining unit help and an appropriate lifting/handling device.

There is no reason to handle an over 70 if you belief you may get hurt, ask for help.

There is no reason for any driver to work off the clock. Do not go into your truck before your start time and set up your load, there are several reasons I say this.

1. You are not getting paid!!
2. If you happen to have an air in the load there is no way to prove or disprove who put it there, same goes for off routes.
3. If you get hurt there could be an issue of whether or not you were rightfully on the clock and entitled to workers comp.
4. You are not getting paid!!!!

The best advice I can offer is do not go into your truck prior to your start time. If we are not in our trucks there can be no issue regarding off routes, mis-loads and air in load.