Or you're happy that you already "got yours" and don't give a damn about anyone that comes after you.
Isn't that what already has happened before? A lot of people may not remember, but there was a time that PT and FT hourlies made virtually the same pay rate (not exactly, but very close to the same pay rate). There are still a few folks like that left, they have been called "red circle" employees since the PT folks at that time kept their pay rate, but all new hires started at a lower rate.
So, to say it will never happen, or not giving a damn of anyone that comes after you. That already occurred by a vote of Teamsters. That vote impacted all the current PT folks and most of you who started at FT at the lower rate.
A lot of companies are going to the same idea of split rates. I'm not saying I'd be happy if I were the new guy that got impacted.
I know a lot of people here say they will never vote for this, and I agree many won't. However, I think UPS learned a lot from the last strike. We thought people were UPS'ers first and Teamsters second. We thought that when given the opportunity to see what was done and why our people would vote the contract in (1997). Since that time, UPS has gotten rid of the knowledge needed for inside Preload operations. We've done similar with the driver position. (ie electronic manifesting in Diad, GPS location for incorrect address etc). Orion isn't a success yet, but that is being worked on still.
If a strike occurs, I don't see UPS backing down this time.
I see UPS first sending letters to the homes of every Teamster, with luck a lot of spouses will be reading the mail and seeing that UPS isn't kidding. UPS will outsource and go to the street and train, we will be a much smaller company but with a control on our costs in the future. As many of you already said, we are beholden to our shareowners now and do what wall street wants.
Ideally a new contract is signed well before the deadline. However, lets' assume there is a strike and the stock price drops due to that. What do you think Wall St analysts would prefer?
A. UPS gives the teamsters what they want and they continue to have a higher paid work force while at same time losing a portion of business due to strike with FDX?
B. UPS does not cave, they replace the workers with lower paid workers and comes out albeit smaller a much leaner company that can create more profit?
Think of it for a second... What do you think Wall ST wants assuming a strike does occur? My bet is on "B".
I hope that there isn't a strike, but I don't see the 97 strike happening again, I see this time UPS will have something to prove. I also believe that after 4 weeks, a lot of UPS drivers will cross and go back to work. Why? a lot of the drivers are married and their wife will be patient for only so long.
Again, just my two cents.
