March 6, 2009: A confidential memo obtained by TDU reveals that a UPS boss in Chicago is apparently drinking too much coffee. Either that, or he thinks he’s General Patton.

Check out this management memo, “March Cost Cutting Initiatives,” that went to UPS building managers in the Chicago area.

It’s worth reading to get a feel for what the tie-guys often do when pressure comes down from above: they stick it to the employees.

The first part on overtime, over-allowed, job elimination and driver harassment is especially educational. But it’s chock-full of crap all the way through. For non UPSers, allows us to translate some of this UPS speak:

Point #1. Put the hammer to anyone not running at 110%. Harass them relentlessly and don’t let up. This is management at its ugliest – hammering away at the employees they consider “least best.”

The problem is that there are always employees on the “least best” list, so they get all the attention from management and it isn’t good attention. The goal of hammering the “least best” employees is so that, as the memo states, “others will fall in line.”

In several of the points you can see the hammer coming down on part time employees— no overtime, reduced hours and more production harassment.

Incredibly, the manager openly advocates violating the contract by stating that full-time combo employees (22.3s) be laid off.

Safety spending? “Keep it cheap.”

Read it over and share it with your fellow employees. This is why we need a union with leaders who have a backbone and educated Teamster members.

Remember, Local 705 has the right to strike in their contract; if you have it, you don’t have to use it too often.

Click here to read the management memo, “March Cost Cutting Initiatives” that went to UPS building managers in the Chicago area.