Make UPS Pay for Supervisors Working

 
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Working at UPS is exhausting—and the company always wants it done yesterday. It can be tempting to look at supervisors working as a necessary evil—even a helping hand.

But supervisors aren’t helping us when they do bargaining unit work.

They’re taking money out of our wallets. Members lose out on the opportunity to work extra hours—even overtime.

The helping hand we deserve should come from an 804 member who wants the work.

It’s time to start making UPS pay for supervisors working violations.

UPS has to pay members who file a grievance double-time pay for supervisors working violations.

Carefully documenting the violation will make it easier to hold UPS to the contract.

Use this reporting form to document violations.

Documenting a violation is not hard. Just make sure to include the five W’s:

  • Who was working?
  • What were they doing?
  • Where were they doing it?
  • When did they start working and when did they stop? Including starting and stop time will give management less wiggle room to debate how long the supervisor worked.
  • Witnesses, if any. Witnesses aren’t required but having them strengthens your case.

Once you’ve documented the violation, talk to your steward about filing a grievance.

Let’s be honest. The problem of supervisors working has been allowed to slide for a long time.  And we won’t eliminate the problem overnight.

The place to start is with the most blatant violations.

If supervisors are regularly working on your shift, that’s an obvious place to document the violation and get a grievance filed.

If you’re nervous about filing a grievance yourself, talk to your steward or your business agent.

IB Image“The new business agents in my building are confronting supervisors who are working—and it’s making a difference.  But we all have to do our part.

“If a supervisor is regularly working on your shift, let your steward or business agent know. Take notes so the violation is documented—even if you’re not going to be the one filing a grievance.”

Anthony Johnson, Preload, Maspeth

 

What Does the Contract Say?

The company shall not “send any employee home and then have such employee’s work performed by a supervisor.” (Article 3, Section 7—National Contract)

The company must “maintain a sufficient workforce to staff its operations with bargaining unit employees.” (Article 3, Section 7—National Contract)

“Supervisors will not perform bargaining unit work until after all reasonable efforts have been exhausted to have the work covered” by Local 804 members. (Article 3, Section 7, Local 804 Supplement)