That is exactly what they are doing, it is pitting ignorant people that just want a little extra money, against people that want keep the same level of health care. IMO the raise is the best card we have at the table, because until that passes new hires can make more at other places. UPS can't hire and keep new workers, then if we miss service on millions of packages next Christmas the customer goes to another shipper. So many people want it, and it seems like nothing at the same time.
You've got a good point -- retention keeps slipping and sliding at my hub; they can't get warm bodies in off the street fast enough and I've been getting 35-40 hours a week as a PT'er since mid-January. If minimum wage goes up to $10.10/hr, it's going to get even worse. Who would want to sling boxes and get screamed at for minimum wage and 20 hours a week when you could flip burgers for the same wage in the AC and get a free Big Mac at the end of your shift?
I disagree on the health care issue, though. I feel that holding up the supplements
solely on TeamCare is the wrong move; healthcare was covered in the National Master Agreement and it (barely) passed. The influx of roughly 140,000 (minus Local 177 and the Western Conference now) Teamsters with industry leading H&W contributions into CS H&W will improve the lot of Teamsters in other industries.
That being said, Teamsters in Local 89 have every right to vote down that sham "last, best, and final" offer that was even worse than what UPS originally proposed. Riding a shuttle for 30-45 minutes day without being paid when you have a 3 hour/day guarantee sounds like a raw deal. The same applies to Teamsters in Ohio who haven't really seen any changes to their Rider that was voted down previously.
with the current language we have.
