I brought up that uniform idea for management to my TM , and he told me that they have to wear a "uniform".......a suit and tie , usually.
But ,.......as usual,......upper management misses the point......
They make a big deal about the "ABF culture" ,........DIRTFT, ....Skill and the Will....... we're the most " professional"......."honest"
.....
They forget........or willingly don't want to know..........,that the employees that make this culture,......this set of standards.......ALSO has standards of our own.
Most of us have been in a Union for a long time. Many of us bounced around after deregulation from job to job, consciously choosing Union carriers. We are steeped heavily in the Union culture. My self, as a veteran, regard my Union membership as an expression of my First Amendment rights....I'm sure I am not the only one who feels that way.......
The language in Art. 12 was to bolster solidarity and to help us feel pride in our Union membership by wearing American-Made , Union-made, Union delivered clothing. When the Art.12 language was put in the (now defunct.......at least for ABF employees). NMFA 25 or 30 years ago,......I think both sides respected that culture,........and an "out" was even given to the companies who pled "poverty"....... don't make the uniforms mandatory......your choice.
ABF took advantage of that "choice" with the previous uniform policy........not mandatory, so therefore, we could give them to a select group regardless of seniority........and no Teamster patch.
Well, now they have mandatory uniforms, and we all look like Freight Stormtroopers. .......and, of course,.....the upper management officers completely disregarded OUR culture and values,..........while using us as walking billboards.,......And,......of course,......our Union........"leadership".........had to help facilitate that.
I don't know what's more insulting..........the companies' complete disregard of our values and culture...........or the IBT's........