I really don't see the need for all the arguing. As a management person who has also been a driver, I am perfectly fine with admitting that the delivery drivers have nearly as important job as any. There are all types of roles that people play in order to get that package delivered that are very important, but ultimately the only person that the customer sees is the guy that delivers the package. That doesn't mean it's the only important job. Also, just because you are a BD guy and setup a contract with a customer doesn't mean you are the guy that is bringing us our work. You just happen to be the guy that benefitted from the sales lead and the good reputation of our brand. Certainly, we need guys like you to negotiate the contract with the customer, but it's unfair to act as if you did all the work to get the volume. Another thing to point out -- there really isn't a single job that I can think of at UPS that is "really hard." Almost all of us are replacable in some way or another - drivers, loaders, unloaders, IE, PE, middle management, BD, feeders, clerks, DMs, CMs, sorters, safety, security... - we may have our own personal specialization that make us better equipped for our own job, but that doesn't mean our job is so hard that no one else can do it. Granted, not all drivers could go and be a BD guy, but likewise, not all BD guys could go and be a driver (maybe an air driver, I guess
). For the most part though, we all are pretty hard workers and work tough as nails to get the job done.
I'm starting to rant too much, but I'm just getting annoyed by the petty and precocious argument that is going on in this thread. We all play an important role and we need all the different branches of our company (mgt and union) in order to be as successful as we are.
