[PEN-L:11809] UPS -- health & safety

[Michael Eisenscher <meisenscher@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Open Letter to UPS Members:
(from Carolyn Robinson, Teamsters Local 315)

I am sick and tired of hearing UPS spokespeople, women in
particular, espousing their message of concern for "our people."
"Our people" want to come back to work, we want "our people" to
have the best benefits, and so on. This supercilious,
sanctimonious prattle comes from a company I regard as the most
callous, uncaring employer I have ever dealt with as a Union
Business Agent.

For the past nine years, I have spent a good part of every
working day talking to injured UPS workers who can't get UPS to
pay their Workers' Comp. Benefits, can't get their MRI tests,
therapy appointments or surgeries approved after suffering
permanent injury at work as a result of poorly designed, unsafe
work place equipment, lifting packages up to 150 lbs., being
refused proper help and being punished for having incurred
injuries by receiving letters of "concern" implying further
discipline is forthcoming for getting hurt. Remember, UPS has
three times the national average for injuries to their workers.

As the Union Chair of the National IBT-UPS Safety and Health
Negotiating Committee, I was responsible for presenting Union
proposals and safety matters to UPS and listening to their
excuses as to why the workers would not be receiving help in any
of the proposed areas.

For example, we asked for information on deaths and serious
injuries at UPS as they occur. Company refuses to supply this
information, but look at just a few recent ones. In Phoenix in
June, two part-time workers caught their legs in a running belt,
one receiving 400 stitches, torn muscle and tendons, and the
other suffering damage to instep and sole, and second and third
degree burns to lower leg. After the accident, UPS installed a
cut-off switch in the area. In Long Island, N.Y., during
negotiations, young girl lost a finger in belt, no one at cut-off
switch to stop the belt. In Oakland, CA, last year, young man
lost his hand to belt accident. In two states, UPS drivers
backing up have fatally injured children who dashed behind their
package car due to the lack of a rear cross-view mirror. This
mirror would have prevented these deaths and traumatic shock to
our drivers at a cost of $55 -- Company still studying this
issue!

In Oakland, California, a young driver pulled rom truck and
beaten to death for less than $40. UPS offers a measly $5,000
until Union shames them into a decent reward. The Company refused
to do anything about high-crime areas and drivers collecting COD
money.

Company raised 70 lb. weight limit to 150 lbs. one week after
last contract ratified! Now the Company refuses to negotiate over
any proposed weight increase or to provide UPS drivers with
freight equipment to properly handle 150 lbs. plus packages!

The Company refuses to install harness seat belts, head rests or
decent seats in package cars; instead, tells Union drivers they
can wait for new truck, but it may be *10* years for many
drivers.

The Union proposed that all temporary UPS buildings be heated and
no workers work in temperatures lower than *55 degrees.* Company
answer -- No need for this -- hard work will keep you warm!

The Union asked for proper ventilation in buildings due to diesel
exhaust and excessive heat in trailers while unloading -
Company's answer - *No!* (Last August, young man in the first 30
days of his probation at UPS died of heat exhaustion while
unloading a UPS trailer - OSHA fined UPS $5,000. UPS is
appealing, as usual!) We asked for proper ventilation for
processing hazardous material packages. Company's response was,
to outside and process the packages if you need more ventilation.
Company will not install blower or fans for workers who have to
clean up and process hazardous materials in buildings after
spills from damaged packages! This is after receiving millions of
dollars in fines from OSHA for hazardous materials mishandling!

We asked for first line tires on steering axles of package cars
instead of retreads. Company's answer - too expensive.

We asked for scales at the Hubs as Feeder trailers are now
carrying heavier packages and volume should no longer be the
determining factor in the configuration of trailers. Company's
answer - way too expensive!

We asked for information on recalls and information on brake
failures in various areas of country. Company's answer - too hard
for us to do. As of today, I have new reports of brake failures
from buildings in South Carolina, where brake fluid is routinely
added as drivers leave the building and while they are driving on
the highways.

I'll not go into detail on proposals about faulty defrosters,
heaters, wipers and other equipment except to say these were
proposals also made four years ago by drivers across the country.

Does this sound like a Company that cares about its workers, or
even a Company that cares about the general public?

These issues are as important as part-time employees and the
Pension and Health and Welfare issues and have *still* not been
resolved. Respect for worker safety is non-existent at UPS and
that is why UPS workers are continuing to walk the picket lines!

UPS pays out over a million dollars a day in Workers'
Compensation and the injuries are serious, many drivers and part-
timers have suffered permanent, damaged, vertebra, collapsed
discs and ruined knees, due to the excessive demands of the job.

A reporter investigating a story on the death of a UPS worker in
Atlanta, GA, last year (he was crushed by a truck backing into
the dock) told me that her investigation led her to believe that
at least one person a month dies while working at UPS.

During a recent lawsuit against UPS regarding the DIAD Board the
Company testified they had no information on carpal tunnel
injuries incurred as a result of the use of the DIAD Board.
Later, we learned that Liberty Mutual had detailed information on
the hundreds of workers who had complained and reported injuries
due to these new boards. UPS is vigorously fighting these suits.
They have lost one in California already.

Due to UPS's lack of concern over workers with vision
disabilities, EEOC has filed a Class-Action lawsuit against UPS
for not offering these long-time workers a reasonable
accommodation at UPS. Many still sit at home waiting for work
after having given UPS years of loyalty.

And let's not forget the $12,000,000 UPS was sued for and had to
pay in back wages in the State of Washington after they cheated
workers out of their breaks and lunch periods.

Concern for "our" workers? Give me a break!

"Little Nobodies" is the phrase UPS's top negotiator in the West
used to describe UPS workers. I am surprised he didn't say
"Little disposable nobodies!"

Carolyn Robinson
Secretary-Treasurer, Local 315
IBT Co-Chair, National Safety & Health Negotiating Committee