Socking It to UPS
August 11, 2010: A package car driver has filed a class action lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing the company of violating labor law by requiring drivers who wear shorts to buy socks with the UPS logo from the company.
Unfortunately, when it comes to socks, our contract rights stink.
The problem goes back to the 1993 contract negotiations. The company was absolutely dug in to not agree to shorts. Our union won the argument and got the shorts, but did not get the socks. Instead, we got language in Article 42 that says, “Such shorts may only be worn in compliance with uniform and appearance standards established by the Employer.”
Of course one of the standards established by the employer was the wearing of specific socks.
In many places drivers have successfully gotten around the restriction by buying their own brown socks and not making a big deal out of it. The socks must be identical to the company catalog socks (minus the logo).
( categories: Teamster Voice 268 September 2010 | UPS )
We fought this as well at our building. UPS logo socks must be bought by the drivers through CINTAS. When, as a steward, I was fighting this, my BA told me I was being silly. We make so much money, we shouldn't be complaining about buying socks! Our BA also came to the building in the last two years to ask for donations for their gas fund! What nerve! All the expenses, the vehicle, the added money and we get a lecture and a request for donations so they dont have to pay for gas.
Another reason this was important to me: Cintas is known for their atrocities against their employees. Aren't unions supposed to be denying business to companies like this to force them to do better business? I felt this, plus the priciple that UPS should supply us with any logo materials was worth fighting. Glad to see despite my lectures from my weak BA, other buildings have also fought the good fight. So far, our brown socks have been allowed, but originally, we were told if we showed up 24 hours after the warning by management without logo socks, we would be sent home! Yes, fighting that kind of behavior is "silly".