Dirk_Diggler
TB Lurker
- Credits
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I'm happy to see the majority of men and women are acting civil on these discussion boards. This contract may or may not be a serious tipping point for our employer and ourselves. I'll start with a little background info on myself before giving the reasons why I'll be voting no on this proposal.
I'm 35 years old with slightly over 7 years with ABF and about 11 years driving total. All accident free I'm proud to say. Also I'm a road driver.
Now onto the reasons I'll be voting no. First and most importantly, I'm unable to accept the local grievance procedures being taken away. I don't see how voiding that will be much of a cost saver at all. Second is the vacation time. Under the current proposal, a man will have to work 8 years to receive a second week of vacation. Someone please tell me what other carrier, union or non union, ltl or truckload makes a driver wait that long? Not even the so called driver mills like Werner and Schneider make a driver wait that long (maybe because drivers don't usually make that long at those places). Third and also very important are the proposed wage concessions. Frankly, with those concessions, this is no longer a very good job. At least not for a road driver. Currently I would guess I average about $1600 a week gross. That's working the required 6 days a week unless I'm low on hours, then I'll do 5. Now some of those are lay down runs which require a driver to take at least 10hrs off away from home, sometimes a lot more than that. What I'm trying to get to is, with all the hours we put in and the time off away from home, I'd be much better off getting a local job with a steady schedule for less pay. There are no shortage of driving jobs where I could work local, maybe a few more hours but all time off at home and still be able to gross $1200-$1500. I also wouldn't have to work 8yrs to get my second week of vacation!
To conclude, I begrudge nobody for voting which ever way is best for them and their families. But I if this is the companies best offer I'd really like to see what they really wanted. I'm not afraid of looking for work if that is what it comes to. Which with the new subcontracting language I'll most likely have to do anyway. That is a bigger issue than most people seem to think it is. I've protected my license like it was my way of making a living and feel I'd be an asset to many other carriers. My no vote is because I'm standing up for what I believe is fair; and I don't think what is being offered is.
I'm 35 years old with slightly over 7 years with ABF and about 11 years driving total. All accident free I'm proud to say. Also I'm a road driver.
Now onto the reasons I'll be voting no. First and most importantly, I'm unable to accept the local grievance procedures being taken away. I don't see how voiding that will be much of a cost saver at all. Second is the vacation time. Under the current proposal, a man will have to work 8 years to receive a second week of vacation. Someone please tell me what other carrier, union or non union, ltl or truckload makes a driver wait that long? Not even the so called driver mills like Werner and Schneider make a driver wait that long (maybe because drivers don't usually make that long at those places). Third and also very important are the proposed wage concessions. Frankly, with those concessions, this is no longer a very good job. At least not for a road driver. Currently I would guess I average about $1600 a week gross. That's working the required 6 days a week unless I'm low on hours, then I'll do 5. Now some of those are lay down runs which require a driver to take at least 10hrs off away from home, sometimes a lot more than that. What I'm trying to get to is, with all the hours we put in and the time off away from home, I'd be much better off getting a local job with a steady schedule for less pay. There are no shortage of driving jobs where I could work local, maybe a few more hours but all time off at home and still be able to gross $1200-$1500. I also wouldn't have to work 8yrs to get my second week of vacation!
To conclude, I begrudge nobody for voting which ever way is best for them and their families. But I if this is the companies best offer I'd really like to see what they really wanted. I'm not afraid of looking for work if that is what it comes to. Which with the new subcontracting language I'll most likely have to do anyway. That is a bigger issue than most people seem to think it is. I've protected my license like it was my way of making a living and feel I'd be an asset to many other carriers. My no vote is because I'm standing up for what I believe is fair; and I don't think what is being offered is.
