NO UNION MEMBERS AROUND HERE

[Admin]

WHERE ARE ALL THE UNION MEMBERS? WE HAVE BUILD YOU A UNION HOUSE , YOU JUST HAVE TO MOVE IN. :cheers:

[saddletramp]

Boy nothing like being in the minority here! :wow:

Maybe a few union sympathizers will show up............

Or even a non union person to get a argument going :vmad:

[Capt._Chaos]

Given time, I'm sure some Union folks will show up here.

Provided it's not the troublemakers from the "other" forum who claim to be Union drivers, then things should turn out OK.

I'm not a Union member myself, but I do believe in the purpose the Unions have in giving the workers the leverage they need with some companies to be paid fairly and have safe working conditions.

Having worked for U.P.S. Truck Leasing as a Diesel Technician years ago, I got to see first hand how U.P.S. management can screw around with non-Union employees. Not a pretty sight! I'm glad the people on the Package side have the Teamsters Union to back them up.

If I was young and had a "crystal ball", I probably would have tried going to work for U.P.S. on the Package side after I got out of High School. I do try to encourage some hard working younger people I see to go that direction if they don't see any initiative in going to college (like many justifiably seem to do these days).

[saddletramp]

Hey Jeff, I gotta tell you, after reading some of your posts on other places about the pride you had pulling our equipment and the care and attention to detail, I would have been proud to call you a fellow "UPS'er".

We could use more folks like you who take some "self worth" to the job they do! Some of our drivers just don't understand the good fortune they have working for UPS. ;)

As I said, Roger is in the union, but he doesn't get on here. LOL

All I know is, if it weren't for the union, he wouldn't get the pay he does, and his job security wouldn't be as good as it is.

Provided it's not the troublemakers from the "other" forum who claim to be Union drivers, then things should turn out OK.

HMMMM...One does not have to be in a Union to agree with what a union stands for, and that does not automaticly make them troublemakers.

Its not that easy to get into a union shop, and once you're in it takes years to get up on the ladder....I myself have never worked in a union place, but I have nothing against better pay, better working conditions, and most of all getting paid for all my time.

If I would have been able to find such a job driving, I never would have even thought about buying a truck, and getting my own #s...

One sure cant pay a mortgage and raise a family, on trucking wages nowdays.....Of course there are a few exeptions...

[DrivingZiggy]

Maybe if you pay them they'll begin posting. But then again it would have to be their job. In writing. With a break after every 5th paragraph. Paid break, that is.

And don't you dare ask them anything not pertaining to their job.

Maybe if you pay them they'll begin posting. But then again it would have to be their job. In writing. With a break after every 5th paragraph. Paid break, that is.

And don't you dare ask them anything not pertaining to their job.

I agree....the nerve of some people actually want to get paid for working... :rofl: Whats the world coming to???

[steemer]

there are some union folks around, but most are haulin' the overnight frieht at 03:00!!! :rofl:

[Capt._Chaos]

there are some union folks around, but most are haulin' the overnight frieht at 03:00!!! :rofl:

Very true!

I'm not in a Union myself, but my food delivery route will keep me doing a lot of overnight work like many of them are doing. Obviously, I won't have as much time to post here any more as I had for a good while.

[Lowdown]

i don't like unions.
i was in the machinists' union for 5 years and they never did anything but take my money and protect the chosen people they 'liked' who were worthless lazy slob employees.

i was in the international union of operating engineers last year for 8 months, but when i told someone i supported bush not kerry-- it all went downhill from there. they all teamed up against me and after about 4 months cooked up a story and got me fired.

union scumbags do not have any sympathy from me. :p

[SweetSnuggler]

It is too bad that you have had such a horrible experience with unions. I have been a member of two unions, Retail Clerks back in the 70's and now the teamsters. But your broad generalization of all members being scumbags, just shows that you didn't have respect for them even before you became a member.

The unions can and have given millions of people the opportunity to enjoy a better quality of life. Ensuring them better wages, better working conditions, the opportunity for health and welfare benefits, and a good strong pension plan to count on later in life. THAT is their sole purpose, not protect the lazy slob employees that they "liked"

Personally, I am proud to be a Teamster, and wish that more people would be able to enjoy the benefits and laud them, rather than sit in their corner and complain about them.

Of course that is just me. :D

[tommy]

I have been a member of two unions, Retail Clerks back in the 70's and now the teamsters.


Damn your old :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[SweetSnuggler]

I have been a member of two unions, Retail Clerks back in the 70's and now the teamsters.


Damn your old :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:Maybe so but I will NEVER catch up to how old you are!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[The_Governor]

Its a "closed shop"....................they can't get in :p

[Kranky 1]

Now that I'm in the teamsters, I guess I can post in here.

When I consider what some of the non union companies around here are paying their employees, and the serious lack of good benefits at those non union companies, it makes me grateful to be in the union.

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[Norberto]

I no longer drive a truck here in the United States but I always tell my trucker friends from Mexico to when they come to the United States, to always look for a good union job driving trucks if they stay here. I may not be the most smart man and even my English isn't perfect but I know it is "common sense" to work at the best company and make the most money, yes? I think this is simple to figure out.

Norberto Chancaca

[Jimbo]

Unless of course you are working for a good employer, who pays you very well, then the union comes in and kills the business, leaving you looking for another job.

[Jimbo]

By the way, I **WAS** a teamster way back when for a short time, but pride would not allow me to keep working for a place where the bums were protected from being fired, while the hard working guys has to take up all the slack. So don't go crying to me about my "unfair view" of the teamsters. They are a big part of what's wrong with this great country today.

[tommy]

They are a big part of what's wrong with this great country today.



A Man that understands how it really is!!!! I have no use for unions, never have never will...Look at the car makers, it is catchin up to them now , all the perks from years ago...

[saddletramp]

By the way, I **WAS** a teamster way back when for a short time, but pride would not allow me to keep working for a place where the bums were protected from being fired, while the hard working guys has to take up all the slack. So don't go crying to me about my "unfair view" of the teamsters. They are a big part of what's wrong with this great country today.


Do you feel it is fair to "lump" all union members into your "bums who are protected from getting fired" diatribe, anymore than I would lump all non union company drivers and owner operators into a degrading comment like that???

Every craft has good and bad people in it; no matter what!

I cant imagine Jimbo that 1.5 million Teamsters will agree that they are a big part of what is wrong with this great country today.

Remember, it was the unions who brought you the 8 hr. day and weekends off.................... ;)

[saddletramp]

They are a big part of what's wrong with this great country today.



A Man that understands how it really is!!!! I have no use for unions, never have never will...Look at the car makers, it is catchin up to them now , all the perks from years ago...

And you Tommy have constantly told us how it really is with anyone who is a union worker...............
time and time again!

Its funny though that you will have a hard time getting all those union workers to agree with you.

[Capt._Chaos]

Unions have kept the blue-collar workforce from being forced into "sweatshop working conditions" by their Upper Management, and it has had a positive effect for most non-Union employees as well. Unions helped us gain a lot of what we take for granted now.

While I'm not a union member myself, nor do I always agree with everything regarding Unions, they have motivated some employers to improve their pay & working conditions to keep a Union from being "voted in" by their workforce.

I don't have the best attitude about many UAW workers myself, but I'll tell you from my own observation that spending one night watching what goes on around most any UPS facility would likely make your head SPIN! :yikes: They're represented by the Teamsters Union, but the fast- paced environment around their workplace would sure as hell leave at least 90% of their non-union counterparts at Fed-Ex cryin' for Mama! I'm NOT exaggerating one bit either!

There's quite a few Union employees who definitely earn everything they make. My dad's in the IBEW union, and at age 63 he literally leaves people 1/2 his age in the dust!

[Jimbo]

I didn't mean to say that every union member is a bum, but rather the union can give a place for a bum to hide from real work. Every single day I see union drivers sleeping in their day-cab trucks for an hour or two, instead of returning to the yard. This of course is after having been in the burger king for an hour and a half or so already. They are getting paid by the hour, which makes the time they spend not working, but getting paid for it plain old fashioned theft.

Why are these bums not fired? It's simple. The Teamster decal on the window.

When I was a teamster, we had a one-man local in our house out of Trenton. He delivered Newspapers. He had a start time of 4am, which he missed every single day. He came in late 20 or 25 minutes every single day. The union talked with management, about him not actually needing to be in at that exact time, so management moved his start time back to 4:30. What happened next? He starts coming in at around 4:50 every single day.

So... The bigshot at the union meeting says someone has to talk to him, since he's making him look bad. I piped up, and said "Maybed we should find someone else to run the route, and throw him out". The deal he had was great. He gets paid $25 or so an hour, and gets paid for 8 hours even though the day only takes him 6 and a half hours or so. And his way of showing thanks for such a good deal, is to show up late every single day? This guy needs to be fired, but the Teamsters stand up for this guy. It made me sick to watch.

[tommy]

OOIDA Member 836609

Now jimbo you have to understand this is even worse than Unions!!!!!

[Jimbo]

....Remember, it was the unions who brought you the 8 hr. day and weekends off.................... ;)

They also brought us the log book. You know, that great little item that says I can't work more than 6 hours today, because of how long I worked 6 days ago.

[saddletramp]

I think you better talk to the Feds who started that in 1933 with the implementation of the ICC Jimbo...........

[tommy]

Hey Bob,Did the UNION lose your retirement money like they did here in Fl.?? I would think UPS would be all the same,not sure though.

[saddletramp]

No, our is fine here on the west coast, in fact its the best its ever been, with a 1.76 accrual rate it tops most pension plans around. The Central States and Eastern Region supplements took big hits from not only CF shutting their doors but the government got in the middle of it shutting off alot of the reaccrual from the companys to the pension trusts.

[saddletramp]

I know you would like me to "admit" that the Teamsters stole all the money cause that makes for good rumors but................


It didnt happen that way Tommy no matter how you spin it!! ;)

[tommy]

I know you would like me to "admit" that the Teamsters stole all the money cause that makes for good rumors but................


It didnt happen that way Tommy no matter how you spin it!! ;)



I just asked a question, nothin more, now you just calm down and stop tryin to put a "SPIN" on something that was not there Bob..

[Joethemechanic]

O/O and proud member of Teamsters Local 470 in Philly here.

And here are my little window decals.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s230/joestruckpictures470/TeamsterStickers.jpg


I guess that kinda makes me the truck driver equivelent of a "Star Bellied Sneech"

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s230/joestruckpictures470/046e5b31-62f1-4a27-989d-923a70179b5.jpg

Notice the Non Stars look tired. I think they must be working way too many hours. And yet their kids don't have a ball to play with. Could it be that even though Daddy Non Star Belly is working himself to death, he just doesn't have enough money???

And look here is Mama Non Star talking with that nice single Mr. Star Belly she met in the supermarket while shopping. He always has a nice smile for her.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s230/joestruckpictures470/6b5db5e5-07c4-4344-b2d9-d25b84bd8a7.jpg

She is happy to see him. He listens to her when she talks to him. She has been very lonely since Daddy Non Star has been away at work for so long, sometimes he is away for a month at a time. She says to Mr. Star Belly "Why don't you have a cup of coffee with me at the Starbucks down the end of the shopping center, I'll buy".

Mama Non Star feels a little funny about having coffee with Mr. Star Belly, But then she thinks "it's not like I am doing anything wrong, The kids are in school and I really enjoy having someone to chat with over a cup of coffee. It's not like I am cheating or anything",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[silverwolf]

;) This might not be the right place to ask this question, but here it is; Can anyone tell me, why, the teamsters union cannot or maybe its will not represent the, OTR drivers? Including the company OTR drivers and the O/O? I'm just wondering why the teamsters represent the local drivers, but not the OTR drivers? Does ANYONE know the anwers to this?? Thanks!

[silverwolf]

It is too bad that you have had such a horrible experience with unions. I have been a member of two unions, Retail Clerks back in the 70's and now the teamsters. But your broad generalization of all members being scumbags, just shows that you didn't have respect for them even before you became a member.

The unions can and have given millions of people the opportunity to enjoy a better quality of life. Ensuring them better wages, better working conditions, the opportunity for health and welfare benefits, and a good strong pension plan to count on later in life. THAT is their sole purpose, not protect the lazy slob employees that they "liked"

Personally, I am proud to be a Teamster, and wish that more people would be able to enjoy the benefits and laud them, rather than sit in their corner and complain about them.

Of course that is just me. :D

GOOD ANSWER!!!

[silverwolf]

[QUOTE=Jimbo;153124]By the way, I **WAS** a teamster way back when for a short time, but pride would not allow me to keep working for a place where the bums were protected from being fired, while the hard working guys has to take up all the slack. So don't go crying to me about my "unfair view" of the teamsters. They are a big part of what's wrong with this great country today.[/QUOTE:rolleyes: Not meaning any disrespect BUT, it's people like you is the main reason that the, OTR drivers don't make enough money to buy a 3-liter coke each week!!!

[saddletramp]

;) This might not be the right place to ask this question, but here it is; Can anyone tell me, why, the teamsters union cannot or maybe its will not represent the, OTR drivers? Including the company OTR drivers and the O/O? I'm just wondering why the teamsters represent the local drivers, but not the OTR drivers? Does ANYONE know the anwers to this?? Thanks!



Silverwolf,

In fact, the Teamsters do represent some OTR drivers in the US. Farmers Brothers Coffee otr drivers are Teamsters for one, and there are alot of Construction Owner Operators who carry Union cards for the road and building jobs they have their trucks leased on to.

Of course there is the line and sleeper drivers for the major freight companies, and UPS (Package and Freight).

[The Saint]

Saddletramp..but what about the TL OTR carriers out there? Why dont you see them with Teamster contracts?

[saddletramp]

Well first off the drivers who work for these carriers have got to want to become a member of a bargaining unit. That means they have a need, be it poor working conditions, health and welfare issues or what have you. I doubt you would ever see a Swift, Scheinder, or the like with a labor agreement, simply because if a group of drivers petitioned a union to represent them, the company would simply shift work from that group to another "arm" of the company and basically "starve" the work group out.

There are many companies who's workers dont need the representation of a union, since they pay good, offer excellent benefits, and treat their workers good and with respect.

There are also those companies who exist for the new driver to get their feet wet in this industry and get some stick time to be able to move up later to a better job.

Of course we would love to represent all drivers and workers in the country but that is not going to happen and there are many who are quite happy with the jobs they have and have no need to change.;)