Thanks for the info Hi way Hombre. I will do that and check with my steward. The next time I will arm myself with photo's and will try to find other evidence to support the case. Like head rush I am new to yellow, I started last July and would rather find out all the info from the senior drivers, before going in unprepared. Thanks for your help.
DETrob, I know that the motel situation is a serious matter but I'm going to stray from the subject for a moment and discuss filing a grievance (I'm sure that there are some great Stewards at DET but I'm just throwing this out there for "FYI" just in case anyone can use it)...
1. Be as succinct as possible (clear and brief).
2. Remember, your grievance is not a sounding board, a vent or a *****/gripe post. Stick with the facts only. When it is a clear cut violation, state that the action violated a certain section of the contract.
3. You're grievance must be contractual and factual. Always base your grievance on a pertaining article and include always this (or similar) phrase, "any other articles that apply".
4. Be specific with your remedy request. As above, be succinct with your remedy and always include, at the end of your remedy request, "to be made whole in every way"... That only keeps the door open for negotiating a settlement by your Steward, Agent or Committee...
In a nutshell:
1. What happened or failed to happen?
2. Why is the situation a grievance?
3. How should the employer correct the situation?
For what it's worth... Hang on to that. You may need it one of these days...
As for the motel situation... It's no big secret on this site by all (union/non-union freighthaulers) that's ever ran laydowns, occasionally we all become 2d rate citizens in 3d rate accomodations. Fortunately, we (union) do have some recourse, by way of the grievance machinery, that's provided to us in our contract. But, as I stated earlier, the wheels of justice can turn slow... In the meantime, you have to use your best judgement and common sense to take care of #1 (you) first, when you encounter these situations. If the bedsheets are dirty and they look like the wolfman just crawled out of them, call the front desk and tell them to send the housekeeper to your room with clean sheets. If you have any problem, call the desk and complain. If you get no results, call the terminal and get them involved. If they don't get the situation corrected, request to be moved, and be persistent. If you get no results, call CDO, your Steward, your BA, whoever... What I'm getting at is this, don't take no crap from those rat hole motel people... Simply because we stay at those places for a reduced rate doesn't mean we stay there for reduced service, too... Be firm. Raise hell with them, but always in a tactful, mannerable way... Don't open yourself up for some type of action by them or the co.
The company's motto: We'll stay in no motel, that's not run by a Patel...