Laid off, now what?

[BrownSyndrome]

I was a seasonal driver off and on for two years but gained seniority in September of 2014 and I successfully completed my 30 days. Therefore I am now a permanently employed driver, however I am at the bottom of the list in seniority in my center. Apparently corporate ordered my center to lay off 3 of our least senior drivers on a week to week basis. I was told I would have the option to work in the hub next week for 2 shifts a day of 3.5 hours each. I know that my being laid off has nothing to do with my merits as a driver since I am, without question, one of the safest and most productive drivers in our center. The lay off is simply a result of being on the bottom of the seniority totem poll.

Anyways, my questions is....how common is this? And how long might I expect this layoff to last?

I know that they hire seasonals again in the spring so wouldn't they have to put me back to work by then at the latest before they could hire seasonal help?

I LOVE my job as a UPS driver and I have been so excited to finally become permanent. So when I learned I was being laid off it was pretty devastating news. I could use some reassurance right now that my career is still safe and that perhaps I'm just over-reacting to a routine and temporary hiccup to my employment status.

If anyone has any experiences or advice they can share it would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[bottomups]

Bump into part time, collect unemployment or look into full time at other centers within your local.

 

[PT Car Washer]

Being laid off after Peak used to be common for the lower seniority drivers. Just as soon as there are a few injuries or vacations kick in you will be right back at it. No, UPS can't hire seasonal while you are laid off.

 

[Wally]

You get 8 hours, not 7. Also, you should start no later than the first start time on that shift. I would be last to leave too.

 

[Mugarolla]

You get 8 hours, not 7. Also, you should start no later than the first start time on that shift. I would be last to leave too.

Not in the Central. You are only guaranteed 3.5 hours for each person you bump. If you elect to only bump 1 and work just to keep your medical, you're guaranteed 3.5 hours. If you bump 2, you're guaranteed 7.

ARTICLE 3-SENIORITY

Section 6

Laid-off, full-time seniority employees, in the order of their seniority,
may elect to take the work of one (1) or two (2) part-time
employees, for the duration of the layoff, provided they have more
total Company seniority. In such cases, the full-time employees
shall be guaranteed a minimum of three and one-half (3 1/2) hours
work at the prevailing rate of pay for the classification of work
he/she performs, or the rate of pay per Article 41, Section 3, which
ever rate is higher, in addition to all fringe benefits. Employees who
have not completed progression shall be paid in accordance with the
progression scale in Article 41, Section 3 or their prevailing inside
rate whichever is higher. Article 40 employees will be paid in accordance
with Article 40, Section 6. If a full-time employee bumps
two part-time employees, said full-time employee shall receive
time-and-one-half after eight (8) hours of work. After thirty (30)
working days in a ninety (90) calendar day period under this provision,
a full-time employee may elect to bump the least senior fulltime
employee in his/her building, excluding automotive, maintenance
mechanics and feeder drivers, and have up to thirty (30) calendar
days to qualify for said full-time position. If a laid-off, fulltime
employee elects to take a layoff rather than exercise his/her
right to displace a part-time employee, he/she shall be considered a
laid-off employee for lack of work for the purpose of unemployment
compensation.

 

[PT Car Washer]

Not in the Central. You are only guaranteed 3.5 hours for each person you bump. If you elect to only bump 1 and work just to keep your medical, you're guaranteed 3.5 hours. If you bump 2, you're guaranteed 7.

ARTICLE 3-SENIORITY

Section 6

Laid-off, full-time seniority employees, in the order of their seniority,
may elect to take the work of one (1) or two (2) part-time
employees, for the duration of the layoff, provided they have more
total Company seniority. In such cases, the full-time employees
shall be guaranteed a minimum of three and one-half (3 1/2) hours
work at the prevailing rate of pay for the classification of work
he/she performs, or the rate of pay per Article 41, Section 3, which
ever rate is higher, in addition to all fringe benefits. Employees who
have not completed progression shall be paid in accordance with the
progression scale in Article 41, Section 3 or their prevailing inside
rate whichever is higher. Article 40 employees will be paid in accordance
with Article 40, Section 6. If a full-time employee bumps
two part-time employees, said full-time employee shall receive
time-and-one-half after eight (8) hours of work. After thirty (30)
working days in a ninety (90) calendar day period under this provision,
a full-time employee may elect to bump the least senior fulltime
employee in his/her building, excluding automotive, maintenance
mechanics and feeder drivers, and have up to thirty (30) calendar
days to qualify for said full-time position. If a laid-off, fulltime
employee elects to take a layoff rather than exercise his/her
right to displace a part-time employee, he/she shall be considered a
laid-off employee for lack of work for the purpose of unemployment
compensation.

For an off the street new driver, what would their pay rate be?

 

[margaritaville]

Long as i have my senority date i dont mind being laid off. Long as its not permanent. Im sure your different and want to work everyday though. Just to reassure you though. Youll be fine long as economy doesnt randomly crash. You have a full-time permanent spot. Eventually youll get people under you. Everyone goes through this the first year. I gonna embrace my free time and relax why i my senority date keeps moving towards max wage without having to work for it ha.

 

[Mugarolla]

For an off the street new driver, what would their pay rate be?

Looks like $15/hr. Contract states pay specified in Article 41 Section 3, not the pay he was making. So he will most likely have to take a pay cut, but will make decent money, have medical and pension credit.

I do not know of many, or any part time job with a wage rate for that classification exceeding $15/hr. Some make more but that is not the base pay. That is base plus all their years seniority.

If this driver has less than a year in, he is still in progression and can only bump part timers with less seniority, so he will be bumping $9-$10/hr guys so he should get the $15/hr with a 7 hour guarantee.

This is seniority with less than 12 months. If he has more than 12 months, he should get $16/hr.


Section 3. Full-time Inside Wages

The rates in this Section shall not apply to any full-time inside jobs
guaranteed in Article 22, Section 2 created prior to August 1, 1997.
Rather, for employees entering those jobs, Article 41, Section 2
(c) above shall apply.

Part time employees whose rates are higher than those set forth below
who bid into a full-time inside job covered by this Section shall be
paid their current inside wage rate plus the general wage increases.
Other part time employees who bid into a full-time inside job covered
by this Section will be red circled at their current wage rate
until such time as the calculated progression rate set forth below
exceeds that rate. The transfer date will become his/her full-time
start date for purposes of applying the progression set forth below.
A part-time employee shall not lose the red circle protection provided
by this paragraph as a result of transferring from one full time
inside job to another full-time inside job.

Start $15.00
Seniority plus 12 months $16.00
Seniority plus 24 months $17.00
Seniority plus 36 months $20.00
Seniority plus 48 months Top Rate
The Top Rate shall be $26.74 plus the general wage
increases provided in Section 1 above.

 

[Mugarolla]

Long as i have my senority date i dont mind being laid off. Long as its not permanent. Im sure your different and want to work everyday though. Just to reassure you though. Youll be fine long as economy doesnt randomly crash. You have a full-time permanent spot. Eventually youll get people under you. Everyone goes through this the first year. I gonna embrace my free time and relax why i my senority date keeps moving towards max wage without having to work for it ha.

The only problem is that if you are in Teamcare, you will not have any medical during that lay off if you do not work or burn a vacation day during the week.

Where I'm at, there are 5-10 drivers laid off and it could be for 2 months. No medical for 2 months becomes very risky.

 

[STFXG]

While you aren't working you should thank your union brothers for not caring about your work being given to the USPS.

 

[bottomups]

While you aren't working you should thank your union brothers for not caring about your work being given to the USPS.

We thank FedEx. If not for Smartpost there would not be Surepost. At least we are getting some of that volume back to Brown.

 

[box_beeyotch]

Bump into part time, collect unemployment or look into full time at other centers within your local.

I was told in another forum, you cant collect Unemployment if you are offered the part time work.

 

[Mugarolla]

I was told in another forum, you cant collect Unemployment if you are offered the part time work.

You need to check your locals lay off procedure. This is one of the areas that locals have local agreements above and beyond the supplement.

It is possible that you could lose your unemployment if UPS had work for you and you refused to come in.

The best place to check is your steward or BA for your locals agreements.

 

[Brownslave688]

Looks like $15/hr. Contract states pay specified in Article 41 Section 3, not the pay he was making. So he will most likely have to take a pay cut, but will make decent money, have medical and pension credit.

I do not know of many, or any part time job with a wage rate for that classification exceeding $15/hr. Some make more but that is not the base pay. That is base plus all their years seniority.

If this driver has less than a year in, he is still in progression and can only bump part timers with less seniority, so he will be bumping $9-$10/hr guys so he should get the $15/hr with a 7 hour guarantee.

This is seniority with less than 12 months. If he has more than 12 months, he should get $16/hr.


Section 3. Full-time Inside Wages

The rates in this Section shall not apply to any full-time inside jobs
guaranteed in Article 22, Section 2 created prior to August 1, 1997.
Rather, for employees entering those jobs, Article 41, Section 2
(c) above shall apply.

Part time employees whose rates are higher than those set forth below
who bid into a full-time inside job covered by this Section shall be
paid their current inside wage rate plus the general wage increases.
Other part time employees who bid into a full-time inside job covered
by this Section will be red circled at their current wage rate
until such time as the calculated progression rate set forth below
exceeds that rate. The transfer date will become his/her full-time
start date for purposes of applying the progression set forth below.
A part-time employee shall not lose the red circle protection provided
by this paragraph as a result of transferring from one full time
inside job to another full-time inside job.

Start $15.00
Seniority plus 12 months $16.00
Seniority plus 24 months $17.00
Seniority plus 36 months $20.00
Seniority plus 48 months Top Rate
The Top Rate shall be $26.74 plus the general wage
increases provided in Section 1 above.

No he gets paid his inside rate which would be what $9

 

[Mugarolla]

I was told in another forum, you cant collect Unemployment if you are offered the part time work.

And, at least in the Central, you can take a lay off instead of bumping into part time and this will not affect your unemployment.

But if UPS needs you to drive 1 or 2 days here and there, you may, and again I say may, loose your unemployment if you refuse.

Check with your BA.

 

[Inthegame]

I know that my being laid off has nothing to do with my merits as a driver since I am, without question, one of the safest and most productive drivers in our center.

You forgot to add humility to your resume...

 

[Brownslave688]

You forgot to add humility to your resume...

I found that a bit of an oxymoron lol.

 

[PT Car Washer]

No he gets paid his inside rate which would be what $9

Contract states his inside pay rate or Art 41 sec 3 FT inside pay rate whichever is greater.

 

[Brownslave688]

Contract states his inside pay rate or Art 41 sec 3 FT inside pay rate whichever is greater.

Interesting. They used to just pay us our full time rate. That all changed the last time I got laid off.

 

[PT Car Washer]

Interesting. They used to just pay us our full time rate. That all changed the last time I got laid off.

That is why I asked. Don't know if this is something new in the contract or if it has always been there.