May 21, 2008: Stewards and other UPS Teamsters in North Carolina are getting together on conference calls to deal with contract issues and help each other enforce members’ rights on the job.

“It can be really hard dealing with all the problems management throws at us when you feel like you’re on your own,” says Scott Weaver, a Local 61 package car steward out of Shelby, N.C. “These meetings give me a chance to learn from other stewards and members.”

Once a month, North Carolina UPSers meet by conference call to talk about an issue they’re dealing with at work, and share strategies for solving the problem. The meetings are pulling together members from all three North Carolina locals—61, 71, and 391.

The last call dealt with production harassment at work. Members talked about the different ways UPS management uses harassment to speed up the work, and members talked about strategies for dealing with harassment, including using the daily log book for package car drivers (available from TDU).

Another call dealt with excessive overtime. Members discussed strategies for dealing with excessive overtime and heard how several centers have reduced over-dispatch issues.

Turning the Tables

“These calls have already helped me deal with grievances,” Weaver reports. “I found out one of our issues was covered under company policy. When I brought that up in a grievance meeting, I turned the tables on management, and they dropped the issue.”

“I think UPS has a plan to put more pressure on the young guys,” says James McLeod, a feeder driver in Local 71 from Florence, S.C. “Our job is to communicate with them and share information and experience about how to put up with management’s games. My goal in Florence is to get more folks onto these calls—and get the other South Carolina centers in the loop too.”

If you’re interested in participating in a call in your area, contact Teamsters for a Democratic Union at (313) 842-2600.