I’m a new steward at UPS. I’ve been encouraging members to file grievances against excessive overtime and supervisors working. My supervisor told me that I need to watch my step because I am not allowed to “solicit grievances.” Am I doing something wrong?

- Troublemaker in Training

We’re being buried in forced overtime because of understaffing. Management is making us work 60 and 70-hour weeks. How can we make management hire enough employees, instead of working us to death.

–Overloaded on Overtime

Rumor has it that our local officials are looking to merge our local. Do members get a say? Do they have to let us vote?

– Merger Mayhem in NYC

I filed a grievance demanding that the company pay “all affected workers” who had been denied holiday pay. My business agent told me the grievance would only cover the members who personally signed it. I say he’s full of it. Who’s right?

–Teamster Steward

The union has been weak at my job for a long time. The shop steward and I have been trying to bring members together to enforce the contract. Now management is cracking down. They gave the shop steward and the assistant steward (me) a letter threatening us with discipline, up to termination. Management said the shop steward is “too aggressive” because he raised his voice to a manager.

When management gave us the letter, all our business agent could say was, “I’ll have to look into this.” Since then, we’ve heard nothing.

– Not sitting down and taking it in New York

I put in for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. The company told me that I have to use all my vacation time and personal days. Can they really do that? I thought the whole point of FMLA is that it’s extra, unpaid leave.

Ticked Off in Tennessee

When I put in for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, the company told me that I have to use all my vacation time and personal days. Can they really do that? I thought the whole point of FMLA is that it’s extra, unpaid leave.

– Ticked off in Tennessee

I am an active member in a local with do-nothing officials. There is no steward in my area for over 200 workers! I’ve decided to run for steward, but when I contacted the union about setting up an election, they won’t set one up. I am willing to serve as steward and many workers in my area already come to me with their problems. How can we get an election?

– Shut Out in Chicago

If I’m a steward, do I have the right to demand that another steward sign my grievance? Does that come under “duty of fair representation?”

Many times, I’ve asked other stewards to sign off on big grievances with me, because I think the union would be more effective if we worked together to attack difficult managers and problems at the workplace. It’s also good to have a witness at the meeting. I’m usually faced with a “do-it-yourself” attitude. Yes, I’m a steward, but I’m already in danger of retaliation from a manager that seems eager to fire me. I’m constantly wondering what will happen if I stick my neck out any further with grievances.

- Lots of grief but no support

This October, I am eligible for a 30 and out pension at age 54. But with the new pension law on the books I don’t know what to do. I’ve heard that if my fund goes into the Red Zone next year, they can cut my benefits after I’m already retired. I can’t afford to retire on less than my full benefit. Do I have to keep working to hedge my bets or what?

- 29 and Almost Out