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Yellow | Road Drivers Performing Hostlers Work @326

Triplex said:
Have you noticed where so many of the "union shop" companies of the past are today? Times change and smart people have to adapt. When our competition is primarily non-union we might just have to take a new look at some of the old rules. What good are the old rules when we put ourselves out of business. Take a look at the railroads. Their old rules almost strangled them out of business. The workers got smarter, adapted, and they're thriving today.
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Our issues aren't work rules though. More a upper management strategy issue and I hate to sound like Wong, but this last MOU has put us in this position.
 
troubleman84 said:
I read your quote wrong my apologies. The work should still be handled by local operations only.
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No problem, I wasn't that clear myself. In general I agree about local operations handling that work, but they also need to cover the work. I've personally been delayed many times on road runs where too many hostlers book off and affect scheduling.
 
LEHIGH vALLEY said:
That's part of being in a Union Shop, Union rules! Rules the Company agreed too. So they have no reason to bitch now do they?
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you are correct on the company agreeing to these rules. But there is no way for us to compete, and stay in business using many outdated procedures. When it causes freight, or drivers to sit, it costs us customers and money.
 
BIG R GUY said:
you are correct on the company agreeing to these rules. But there is no way for us to compete, and stay in business using many outdated procedures. When it causes freight, or drivers to sit, it costs us customers and money.
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So what is the solution? One classifications , Utility Employees. No bids. Do what they tell you to do.
 
ROLLBACK said:
So what is the solution? One classifications , Utility Employees. No bids. Do what they tell you to do.
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OK, here's my take on one particular issue. I admit I love getting paid to sit and wait for a hostler to drop and hook my unit, who wouldn't. But if there aren't enough hostlers to do the work does it make sense to have me sit when I could do that myself and keep the freight moving? Aren't we a service company? Does delaying the movement of freight make sense just because of a work rule? What does the customer care about our work rules when he doesn't get his freight on time? No easy answers but food for thought maybe?
 
vongrimmenstein said:
Be careful on refusing work. Tell them you are sick & going home. If they object then demand they drive you to the clinic for you feel doing so yourself might not be safe. If they ask you what is wrong tell them it is a private matter between you & your doctor. Please tell me you are using your Olympus Digital Recorder or using the app in your cell smart phone. When it comes to management where you are employed you HAVE TO practice the BOY SCOUT MOTTO. 'Be Prepared'. CYA. Fight fire with fire. Be smarter than your boss so you can win you arguments. Get a witness if possible. Answer their questions with, I don't know, maybe, have no idea, never saw it, I will answer as soon as my steward arrives. Stall; lead them down the wrong path. When you demand a steward, it gives you time to think about the question & how to respond. Even if the steward can't make it, you have given yourself time to recover from the question. Stall, answer in a way that tells them nothing or has no bearing on the subject. If they object tell them you are doing the best you can & you don't think you can improve on your response. In other words, sell them a load of crap. von.
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I would like to point out that if YOU voluntarily remove YOURSELF from service. Claiming you feel it would be unsafe, based on an unspecified medical condition, you may be required to submit to an FCE at worst. Or DOT recertification. In either case you will be OUT OF SERVICE until the company is satisfied you can SAFELY perform you job.
I agree that generally speaking, refusal is considered a voluntary resignation, by grievance committees.
 
I agree with with Triplex. If all available manpower is called then let the Road Driver do his own work. The cartage folks can't file if they are the ones not at work and overtime has been made available to those who are.
 
BIG R GUY said:
Not trying to throw gas on the fire here, but if you really look at it, the work rules covering these types of things were fine in an industry dominated by union carriers. Now, if you honestly look at it, some of these rules do nothing but raise the costs of moving freight,and cause service delays. Something's we do,the non union competition loves....
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So, here we go again backing down on our working conditions because that's what the non unions do .why can' t the non Union guys see how this keeps everyone on a down hill spiral with working conditions . If only they could see how the conditions were 30 to 40 years ago. And how we could bring back some respect and dignity to the industry if we had some solidarity. ( I.e. A contract ) .
 
LarWoo said:
So, here we go again backing down on our working conditions because that's what the non unions do .why can' t the non Union guys see how this keeps everyone on a down hill spiral with working conditions . If only they could see how the conditions were 30 to 40 years ago. And how we could bring back some respect and dignity to the industry if we had some solidarity. ( I.e. A contract ) .
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When our Teamster brothers don't come to work to do their jobs and the company breaks the "rules" to get the work done, whose fault is that exactly?
 
Triplex said:
Have you noticed where so many of the "union shop" companies of the past are today? Times change and smart people have to adapt. When our competition is primarily non-union we might just have to take a new look at some of the old rules. What good are the old rules when we put ourselves out of business. Take a look at the railroads. Their old rules almost strangled them out of business. The workers got smarter, adapted, and they're thriving today.
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Well, that's the 'catch 22' now isn't it? I find I'm caught in the middle sometimes. I mean, we are under contract and I don't want to be treated like a punk, however, at the forefront, the other freight companies, including other union outfits, quite frankly want your blood, so, I also want this company to kick ass. I know, these days, it seems nobody cares about our company. Not me, I still like this job and won't this company to get it's act together. Anyway, I've also been told, NEVER refuse work, it can get you in some trouble. Just do it then talk to a steward about it.
 
IndyHauler said:
Well, that's the 'catch 22' now isn't it? I find I'm caught in the middle sometimes. I mean, we are under contract and I don't want to be treated like a punk, however, at the forefront, the other freight companies, including other union outfits, quite frankly want your blood, so, I also want this company to kick ass. I know, these days, it seems nobody cares about our company. Not me, I still like this job and won't this company to get it's act together. Anyway, I've also been told, NEVER refuse work, it can get you in some trouble. Just do it then talk to a steward about it.
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I hear you and totally agree about being caught in the middle. I also feel the same about the company and definitely want it to survive. We've lost way too many Teamster jobs over the years. It would be tragic if our last, big Teamster LTL company disappears. Sadly though we Teamsters sometimes seem to shoot ourselves in the foot with our behavior. Then when the damage is done we look back and wonder what happened.
 
LarWoo said:
So, here we go again backing down on our working conditions because that's what the non unions do .why can' t the non Union guys see how this keeps everyone on a down hill spiral with working conditions . If only they could see how the conditions were 30 to 40 years ago. And how we could bring back some respect and dignity to the industry if we had some solidarity. ( I.e. A contract ) .
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Not making fun of you Lar, but the whole trucking industry has changed. Those who do not want to change, will be left behind. Years from now, it may become unionized again, but right now the trend is non union. We are the ones being left behind. Not saying to give them the farm, but we also have to look at things differently.
 
Triplex said:
Have you noticed where so many of the "union shop" companies of the past are today? Times change and smart people have to adapt. When our competition is primarily non-union we might just have to take a new look at some of the old rules. What good are the old rules when we put ourselves out of business. Take a look at the railroads. Their old rules almost strangled them out of business. The workers got smarter, adapted, and they're thriving today.
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Well it's not going to be changed here on Trucking boards or in the T.M.'s office or in a Pre-shift meeting! There are right ways to change things and then there are wrong ways. If the Company wants change we'll see them in 2019 at the table. Until them they need to shut their frekin mouths and quit Boo-Hoo'in about issues what can't be changed until then!
 
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