Twist and Shout
It'
s been an interesting week. The company never fails to seaze on an opportunity to increase profit and production. The fun part this week was the earnings announcement. Yes we shouldn't make assumptions about the future! Yes things could be worse tomorrow! Yes the world may end! The reality is big brown is still making tons of money. They love to keep you in a state of fear much like the Bush administration did for the last eight years. They get to control you thought process, and it makes you easier to buffalo. The big thing is the battle over nine fives. Management has been telling drivers they don't have the right to file if they didn't plan an 8.4 hour dispatch. Their new rule is you have to plan 8.4 and run scratch before you have the right to excersize your rights under the Union contract. Huh? When did that happen? They think we've forgotten that many of the areas have not been time studied since 1948. Many of our allowances do not reflect the specialized delivery requirments of today. I made a few phone calls to the union this week just to be sure we were all on the same page. All 9.5 rules remain as they were. Obviously we advocate a fair days work for a fair days pay. Do your job correctly, safely, and to the best of your ability. If you continue to be dispatched over 9.5 hours, file! For those of you that don't mind the overtime, let them know. For those of you that do not want the overtime, let them know. Just don't ask for one thing then do another. Don't make your steward crazy by getting your dispatch reduced, then working over 9.5 hours anyway. Also don't make your steward crazy by telling them you'll work over 9.5 hours then filing after your 20th 9.5. They have made it clear that they intend to harrass anyone filing a 9.5 hour grievance. Be consistant in your work methods, (we've discussed that here), and know what is a reasonable dispatch for you. Be upfront about what you think is reasonable, but don't expect something for nothing.
s been an interesting week. The company never fails to seaze on an opportunity to increase profit and production. The fun part this week was the earnings announcement. Yes we shouldn't make assumptions about the future! Yes things could be worse tomorrow! Yes the world may end! The reality is big brown is still making tons of money. They love to keep you in a state of fear much like the Bush administration did for the last eight years. They get to control you thought process, and it makes you easier to buffalo. The big thing is the battle over nine fives. Management has been telling drivers they don't have the right to file if they didn't plan an 8.4 hour dispatch. Their new rule is you have to plan 8.4 and run scratch before you have the right to excersize your rights under the Union contract. Huh? When did that happen? They think we've forgotten that many of the areas have not been time studied since 1948. Many of our allowances do not reflect the specialized delivery requirments of today. I made a few phone calls to the union this week just to be sure we were all on the same page. All 9.5 rules remain as they were. Obviously we advocate a fair days work for a fair days pay. Do your job correctly, safely, and to the best of your ability. If you continue to be dispatched over 9.5 hours, file! For those of you that don't mind the overtime, let them know. For those of you that do not want the overtime, let them know. Just don't ask for one thing then do another. Don't make your steward crazy by getting your dispatch reduced, then working over 9.5 hours anyway. Also don't make your steward crazy by telling them you'll work over 9.5 hours then filing after your 20th 9.5. They have made it clear that they intend to harrass anyone filing a 9.5 hour grievance. Be consistant in your work methods, (we've discussed that here), and know what is a reasonable dispatch for you. Be upfront about what you think is reasonable, but don't expect something for nothing.
So, a minimum of 8.4 and scratch, then filing is ok? That is really creative isn't it?
I just looked at the contract, and guess what? That language does not appear anywhere I have looked.
It would be of interest to compare this to the highlighted WOR report on the wall. When I was working, they knew the time studies were old and inaccurate, so they did not talk to drivers who were coming in at 1.99 hours over, or less. 2.0 hours over was the trigger for a visit to the office.
Seems the two sets of numbers do not match up. Under the assumption that a driver's time study is 1.50 hours off in favor of the company, then filing under the new 8.4 scratch deal would be nearly impossible.
Drivers must be advised to think about it carefully before filing. They have to be strong, and stand with the steward and argue the position, while also being given lots of unwanted attention for a long time.
Isn't it sad that a driver must pass through the fire in order to exercise rights under the contract?
Reply to this