[PEN-L:11725] Re: questions about part time jobs

[MScoleman@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 97-08-12 12:55:23 EDT, you write:

>Michael P asked:
>
>> 1. The Wall Street Journal says that part time jobs are not increasing?
>> Any thoughts.
One of the problems with defining part time jobs is that many self-defined
part time jobs actually work people close to full time.  Several UPS workers
have been quoted as saying they are listed as part time but working 37.5
hours a week--that's full time by any standard.  I've had several friends
hired part time in the last two years, yet after a week or two of training,
none of them ever worked less than 30-40 hours!  One friend was hired part
time four years ago and within a month was averaging 60 hours a week. (she's
now full time).  Unlike UPS where part timers do receive benefits, most part
time jobs don't pay benefits.  I think many employers advertise jobs as part
time to avoid benefit payments, and then have the employee routinely work
close to full time.

>> 4. Could UPS hire enough scabs [replacement workers]to operate w/o the
>> unionized workers?
It is not as easy as people think to just hire outsiders and have them
provide anywhere near quality service.  NYNEX hired scabs right away in 1989
to replace "unskilled" operators.  AFter the strike was over, we found out
that 9 out of 10 temporary hires quit in less than a week.  A memo from the
legal department noted that this was for the following reasons:
a) The temporary employees refused to obey the standard work rules, like
flashing the light at your position to use the bathroom.  These temps just
got up and went when they had to go, and were RUDE to the managers (oh
darling, break my heart).  b) could not handle the call volume and were rude
to the customers.  c) Didn't show up on time and were unreliable, also took
too long for lunch and breaks.
Of course, there are similar horror stories to their hiring technicians.
As for UPS, it may seem to be an unskilled job, but I'll be willing to bet
that there is alot more to the job than meets the eye.  UPS may be unwilling
at this point to even try scabs because it would become apparent under public
scrutiny how much skill it actually takes to learn the job once outsiders
begin to try--hence making UPS look even cheaper and heartless than they
already do.
maggie coleman mscoleman@xxxxxxx