Yes...the perennial problem of favoritism. I’ve experienced it so many times I’ve lost count. Lots of ‘two sets of rules’ jobs I’ve had over the years. You see, I’m very...uh...’outspoken’ at work. I call a spade a spade, etc. Plus, I have a very good memory. So, when I bring up little incidents from the past, I get the ‘raised eyebrow’ look from the TM and the guys who assign routes. Apparently I was ‘wrong’ to think that seniority works for everyone who HAS seniority. Silly me!
Hah!,......You've got to learn to call a Spade..... a Manually-Driven Blunt Force Agricultural Instrument,....especially when dealing with management. They're impressed with Multi-Syllable Obfustication of Purpose Language Techniques.....
.......(....us truck drivers simplify the method as : "Baffling them with B.S."......).........(......anyone dealing with management, nowadays knows the method,....and the taste and smell....)..........
The one thing that works in our favor is the Unilateralism of Collective Bargaining. In response to the Company recognizing the Union as the Agent for ALL the employees,.....the Company has to apply all procedures, policies, discipline and Labor decisions........Unilaterally......and without prejudice,........regardless of whether the employee is Prince Valiant,...in management's eyes,...........or a warty, smelly, dirty toad,........again,...in management's eyes.
This is unlike companies who only operate under "Employment-At-Will" rules.......There a "toad" can be castigated , ostracized, and fired, merely for being a...."toad",......in management's eyes......
And the company's designated..."Prince Valiant"....can be coddled,...held up to the rest of the employees as a..."good example",.....favored with favorable assignments, blessed with better equipment, and sanctified with simpler work rules than anyone else............regardless of any sort of....."seniority".
By the way,......"Seniority" at an Employment-At-Will facility,....only exists because it works in the companies' interests. When it doesn't, it goes out the window........Nothing in "writing", you see.........
Seniority,....as codified by a collective bargaining agreement,.....can be your best tool in the toolbox of Labor rights. Unlike the military,.......Seniority DOES NOT imply ....rank. As the members in a Union all pay the same amount for Union dues,.....then it is presumed that the SAME AMOUNT of collective bargaining rights are applied,....from the top of the seniority board, on down to the bottom.
As codified by Labor law, no less......
If you're being treated unfairly,....and held to a DISTINCTLY different set of standards than the other employees,.....then that TM is treading in a legal minefield,....in oversize combat boots......
ONLY if you have a collective bargaining agreement..........If you're ..."Employment-At-Will",........you lost your rights of "fairness" when you punched the timeclock,........They can fire you for parting your hair on the wrong side,....or for being a..."toad".....in management's eyes..........You're a...."contestant".... in the daily Management Popularity contest, until the day you retire,...or get fired.......
Hold management to the Unilateral Fairness Standard, Brother,.........NLRB law is on your side......