New Video! The Great Lunch Debate!

[Coldworld]

Sorry, I’m far from gutless, and don’t appreciate the insult. I filed 195 grievances in our tiny (15 bid routes) building last year I am not exactly cowering to management.

if anyone can tell me why I should give away five unpaid hours a week to UPS I’m happy to listen. As I have said I am all in favor of right to lunch and it’s use as a tool to get business heavy dispatch fixed. But it does nothing as a tool to fix my dispatch..my tool for that is 9.5. Taking lunch (again…for my route) only turns 9.5 into 10.5. without a penny more on the paycheck.

I’m sure there are many routes with too many businesses and too many pickups and there are drivers who would like to take a lunch but don’t because they don’t want the hassle when there are service failures. I say, take your lunch, it’s your time.

But my taking an unpaid lunch will not only not change my dispatch it will not help anyone else.

195?? You have any proof of that.. seems like you would be public enemy #1 for that many grievances, especially in such a small center… now if you actually did file that many…damn, tip my hat to you brother!

 

[Bubblehead]

if anyone can tell me why I should give away five unpaid hours a week to UPS I’m happy to listen.

You should spend those five unpaid hours as a meal period because your supplement requires it.

....but if it doesn't and a contractual argument can be made to the contrary, then more power to you.

I personally prefer everyone operating under the same set of rules, with little wiggle room for individuality, including no bonus system.

 

[AKCoverMan]

195?? You have any proof of that.. seems like you would be public enemy #1 for that many grievances, especially in such a small center… now if you actually did file that many…damn, tip my hat to you brother!

I am Stewart the Steward here,, they weren’t all on my behalf. but yeah we been cranking them out. Mostly 9.5 and 8s. I had at least a dozen myself, rest for the other 18 drivers. But worse than that are payroll issues. God, I think we need to just burn our payroll department to ground and start again. And I’m pretty sure my management team agrees

 

[Wally]

See now this I just don’t get. Why do charity work for Big Brown? I’m keeping the meter running baby!

Add up those wage donations over a career! Huge dollars!

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

Sorry, I’m far from gutless, and don’t appreciate the insult. I filed 195 grievances in our tiny (15 bid routes) building last year I am not exactly cowering to management.

if anyone can tell me why I should give away five unpaid hours a week to UPS I’m happy to listen. As I have said I am all in favor of right to lunch and it’s use as a tool to get business heavy dispatch fixed. But it does nothing as a tool to fix my dispatch..my tool for that is 9.5. Taking lunch (again…for my route) only turns 9.5 into 10.5. without a penny more on the paycheck.

I’m sure there are many routes with too many businesses and too many pickups and there are drivers who would like to take a lunch but don’t because they don’t want the hassle when there are service failures. I say, take your lunch, it’s your time.

But my taking an unpaid lunch will not only not change my dispatch it will not help anyone else.

If you habitually refuse to take all of your REQUIRED breaks then you are, in fact, a gutless coward. No matter what the reason. Whether you’re offended or not. And regardless of how many grievances you’ve filed. The contract says so.

Sounds like you’re selective in which contract language you’re willing to follow. That figures.

 

[AKCoverMan]

You should spend those five unpaid hours as a meal period because your supplement requires it.

....but if it doesn't and a contractual argument can be made to the contrary, then more power to you.

I personally prefer everyone operating under the same set of rules, with little wiggle room for individuality, including no bonus system.

I see my ability to get those five hours to work to my advantage (mostly by skipping them but occasionally using them to my advantage during day) as one of the perks of my bid route, which I won by seniority. No two routes are equal. I prefer having rules that give members rights and choices, as opposed to rules we follow just because there is a rule.

I think one reason our local wants flexibility with lunch period (and I’m just spitballin here, this language predates my involvement in union business) is the differences in operations across our state. Our building has 1000 start time, and other places in state have later start times owing to flight schedules snd just for far west of lower 48 we are.

 

[AKCoverMan]

If you habitually refuse to take all of your REQUIRED breaks then you are, in fact, a gutless coward. No matter what the reason. Whether you’re offended or not. And regardless of how many grievances you’ve filed. The contract says so.

Sounds like you’re selective in which contract language you’re willing to follow. That figures.

Again, my language does not require it. I take all my PAID breaks. Would be stilly not to. But if your not paying me for the time, don’t tell me what to do. Why do you think I’m a coward for not taking my optional, unpaid lunch (or more accuratly, taking that time at home).. what do you think I am afraid of? And why insist on insulting me?

Why be in favor of contract language that takes so much time out of our members lives with no pay. That’s about 10% more time spent at work with 0% more pay. Lunch should be a right not a responsibility. it should be up to members to use that time as they see fit. I’m glad our language allows it. I don’t believe I know a single member here who would want us to require a one hour unpaid lunch.

 

[AKCoverMan]

We have several people who live on or very close to their bid routes. My sweetie is one of them. They will plan day to take lunch and maybe breaks together at home. I am many miles from home and would be taking unpaid lunch sitting in my package car on side of road in country. Thats a long unpaid hour, waiting for minutes to tick by.

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

Again, my language does not require it. I take all my PAID breaks. Would be stilly not to. But if your not paying me for the time, don’t tell me what to do. Why do you think I’m a coward for not taking my optional, unpaid lunch (or more accuratly, taking that time at home).. what do you think I am afraid of? And why insist on insulting me?

Why be in favor of contract language that takes so much time out of our members lives with no pay. That’s about 10% more time spent at work with 0% more pay. Lunch should be a right not a responsibility. it should be up to members to use that time as they see fit. I’m glad our language allows it. I don’t believe I know a single member here who would want us to require a one hour unpaid lunch.

If your language doesn’t require it, then why are you offended? LMAO

Why follow language? Because it’s our contract. Don’t pretend to be a hard core union man if you don’t respect ALL language.

 

[Coldworld]

I am Stewart the Steward here,, they weren’t all on my behalf. but yeah we been cranking them out. Mostly 9.5 and 8s. I had at least a dozen myself, rest for the other 18 drivers. But worse than that are payroll issues. God, I think we need to just burn our payroll department to ground and start again. And I’m pretty sure my management team agrees

You should spend those five unpaid hours as a meal period because your supplement requires it.

....but if it doesn't and a contractual argument can be made to the contrary, then more power to you.

I personally prefer everyone operating under the same set of rules, with little wiggle room for individuality, including no bonus system.

O’Brien in the next contract needs to get rid of the bonus system…

 

[AKCoverMan]

Why follow language? Because it’s our contract. Don’t pretend to be a hard core union man if you don’t respect ALL language.

I do respect language but we have a say in that language. I feel bad for drivers forced to take unpaid time they don’t want but if it’s the rule where you are it’s the rule. If I worked in such an area I’d do it, I’d also push for making it the drivers option but not the company option as our local has. The Union represents the Members, the Union is the Members. We have a say.

We all know coming in this is not a 9 to 5 kind of job. Flexibility of the unpaid meal break IMO makes sense in the ongoing battle to,both be a UPS driver and have a life. The extra hour on weekday evenings means a great deal to me, and I suspect many others.

Not sure why it makes people so angry, unless they are being forced out of unpaid lunch thst they really want to take.. and that shouldn’t be a thing under the contract, right?

 

[Appvol]

Sorry, I’m far from gutless, and don’t appreciate the insult. I filed 195 grievances in our tiny (15 bid routes) building last year I am not exactly cowering to management.

if anyone can tell me why I should give away five unpaid hours a week to UPS I’m happy to listen. As I have said I am all in favor of right to lunch and it’s use as a tool to get business heavy dispatch fixed. But it does nothing as a tool to fix my dispatch..my tool for that is 9.5. Taking lunch (again…for my route) only turns 9.5 into 10.5. without a penny more on the paycheck.

I’m sure there are many routes with too many businesses and too many pickups and there are drivers who would like to take a lunch but don’t because they don’t want the hassle when there are service failures. I say, take your lunch, it’s your time.

But my taking an unpaid lunch will not only not change my dispatch it will not help anyone else.

My route is the same way. Taking a hour lunch doesn’t help me. My 9/5 is what helps me. If you have a heavy business route like you said taking your hour lunch is a tool to help fix the dispatch.

 

[Red Devil]

Not sure why it makes people so angry, unless they are being forced out of unpaid lunch thst they really want to take.. and that shouldn’t be a thing under the contract, right?

That is the only part where there is an issue…if 3/4 of drivers skip lunch, management will start to act like the lunch takers are laying down on the job simply for exercising their right to a break.

 

[Bubblehead]

My route is the same way. Taking a hour lunch doesn’t help me. My 9/5 is what helps me. If you have a heavy business route like you said taking your hour lunch is a tool to help fix the dispatch.

Taking your meal period and breaks is also "a tool" to prolong your career and preserve your health.

....and helps you in ways you can't measure with a clock.

 

[AKCoverMan]

That is the only part where there is an issue…if 3/4 of drivers skip lunch, management will start to act like the lunch takers are laying down on the job simply for exercising their right to a break.

I don’t really care what management “acts” like, the contract rules. If I want unpaid lunch I’ll damn well take it, if not I won’t. Here, as I’ve said, many of us probably more than your 3/4 threshold do in fact skip lunch. Some take it every day (especially ones who live on route).

Worst I’ve heard from mgmt is from PT night OMS a trying to redispstch member to go help at 2015 and member deciding to take lunch from 2015-2115. Our supp also has a “no delivery after 2130 except by mutual consent” rule soooo…

i kinds feel sorry for night OMS it’s s revolving door of young college kids using ups for education benefits.. they have the task of trying to clean up the mess the over dispatching has caused, while rest of managing goes home.

 

[AKCoverMan]

Taking your meal period and breaks is also "a tool" to prolong your career and preserve your health.

....and helps you in ways you can't measure with a clock.

And getting home after 2100 every week night and not pursuing any of my non UPS interests is a tool to destroy my sanity and quality of life. Yes your body needs that break if your touching 400 Peices or more a day. I bitch when I have over 100. Peices, not stops. My route (and Appvol’s it sounds like) is more about miles both driven and walked. One hour sitting in cab doing nothing will not preserve my health, I spend enough time in my “office” already.

 

[UnionStrong]

And getting home after 2100 every week night and not pursuing any of my non UPS interests is a tool to destroy my sanity and quality of life. Yes your body needs that break if your touching 400 Peices or more a day. I bitch when I have over 100. Peices, not stops. My route (and Appvol’s it sounds like) is more about miles both driven and walked. One hour sitting in cab doing nothing will not preserve my health, I spend enough time in my “office” already.

Do what you gotta do. You work in a unique environment.

 

[AKCoverMan]

Do what you gotta do. You work in a unique environment.

To an extent, yes, our state has some unique challenges. But i believe my arguments about forced unpaid Lunch apply to at least a few routes in almost every building, Certainly plenty of rural territory across lower 48 especially in the west.

 

[UnionStrong]

To an extent, yes, our state has some unique challenges. But i believe my arguments about forced unpaid Lunch apply to at least a few routes in almost every building, Certainly plenty of rural territory across lower 48 especially in the west.

Perhaps. I may have taken my lunch later on some routes, but I always took the hr.
I also didn’t load my own truck either so, go with god.

 

[AKCoverMan]

Bottom line, lunch is a tool and one I will defend in the contract without exception.. but not every job requires every tool. You don’t use a wrench to remove a bolt if it’s loose enough to turn by hand,

I’ll keep the lunch tool in my tool box, and use it when I need it.