The company announced to drivers today that any package with three delivery attempts will be returned to the shipper. No more post cards. No more phone calls. No more fourth attempts. Before it was only COD’s that were immediatly returned. Now all ground, and all air will be sent back after three attempts, no exceptions. Wonder what the wine companies will think when they get half of everything they ship back?
UPS Business News for YOU
United Parcel Service Business News from Topix. Check it out.
A Message to the Democrats From Ed Shultz
The Dems. better sit up and take notice. Ed Shultz spells it out.
Retirement and Health Care
Des Moines, Iowa —- The high cost of long-term health care will drag down the quality of life for nearly two-thirds of today’s retirees. It can cost $77,000 a year for a nursing home room and $20,000 for in-home care, expenses that many people are ill-prepared to absorb, said the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
A new analysis shows that when the cost of health care and long-term care is included, 64 percent of retirees likely will be unable to maintain the lifestyle they had before retirement.
“This is the No. 1 issue staring us in the face over the next decade,” said Paul Ballew, a senior vice president at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., which provided a grant to fund the study.
The cost of health care will create such an unexpected hardship on unprepared retiring baby boomers that it’s imperative to sound the warning now, said Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research.
Read the rest of the story here.
How Much Does D. Scott Davis Really Make?
The AFL-CIO has released it’s findings on what CEO’s are getting paid at the top 100 US corporations. It’s great reading and there are some other interesting pages there if you look around. But for sure go and see what UPS CEO D. Scott Davis raked in, you may be surprised.
2009 Executive PayWatch
Do Something, Even If It’s Wrong
Doing the wrong thing isn’t always the worst thing. Very often the worst thing is doing nothing at all. Many of the problems we have 
The fear of doing the wrong thing often drives people’s inaction. The first consideration would be that the “wrong thing” is actually a matter of perspective. You may be told you are doing the “wrong thing” for representing a driver that is accused of stealing time from the company. How many times have you heard, “why would you take that guys side?” In reality many times the company has jumped to the conclusion that the driver is guilty until proving innocent, and they are expecting you to make the same leap. Very often, after further investigation, you find that the company’s case is unfounded. Had you jumped to the company’s side, you would have done the “wrong thing”. That driver would have been gone. It turns out the “wrong thing” was the “right thing” to do. You certainly did the right thing in the driver’s eyes.
Had you done nothing at all, the result would have been very similar, but an example would be set. Doing nothing would set you up as a “do nothing” steward. The company would know they could run rough shod over you in the future, making things worse on the next go-round. By standing your ground, right or wrong, you let them know they can’t buffalo you. A reputation that will follow you for a very long time. Your reputation among the drivers will become more solid, and you will represent the Union in a better light to the Rank-and-File. Your membership will know they can turn to you. Your own self-esteem will improve. You will become more confident in your ability to represent people in the future, and stand up for what you think is right. You will also become a person people will look to for answers.
All by doing the “wrong thing”.
You can always fix something wrong.
You can’t fix what you didn’t deal with in the first place.
Contact Our Elected Leaders Today
Today is the day to get in touch with our leaders. The two major issues of the day are the Employee Free Choice Act, and the possibility of a National Health Care Plan. Barack Obama’s election was bought and paid for by the Rank and File American. He would appreciate a reminder when it comes to decision time. Below are the contact links. I also suggest you contact Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi and remind them that they work for the American people. 
Tell President Obama What You Think!!
Let Harry Reid Know What You Think!!
Let Nancy Pelosi Know What You Think!!
Remember these people work for you. We elected them to save our economy, protect our jobs, and to work for us for Health Care, and the Employee Free Choice Act. You have every right to demand that they hear your voice. You do not have to be afraid to let them know what you think, and demand action on the legislation that affects you!
E-Mail them today!
The Health Insurance Debate Has Begun
It is appearing the health insurance debate is beginning to rise to the top. Obama’s push seems to be motivated by the desire not to have the debate occur in an election year. My goal here is not to comment one way or another, just bring you the coverage. The 
Early news reports here.
Drivers 1 UPS 0
Some good news for drivers who are concerned about safety.
U.S. Department of Labor orders United Parcel Service to rehire, compensate Bay Area driver
Employee terminated for refusing to drive due to safety concerns
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered United Parcel Service (UPS) to immediately rehire and pay back wages, benefits, compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages to a former Bay Area driver who was wrongfully terminated after he refused to drive after raising safety concerns.
A whistleblower investigation by OSHA found that UPS terminated the employee in retaliation for his refusal to work in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 31105 (STAA). OSHA determined that the driver was terminated after refusing to drive his vehicle because he felt it was unsafe to operate due to vision problems and poor weather conditions resulting in visibility concerns. Although the driver notified UPS management of the unsafe conditions, UPS management continued to order the unsafe operation of the vehicle. Either party in the case can file an appeal to the Labor Department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges.
“It is vital that employees be able to raise safety concerns to their employers without fear of retaliation,” said Ken Nishiyama Atha, OSHA’s regional administrator in San Francisco, whose office investigated the complaint. “This order reaffirms both the right of drivers to refuse to operate vehicles when they reasonably believe it is unsafe and the Labor Department’s commitment to taking the necessary steps to protect that right.”
NOTE: The Labor Department does not release the names of employees involved in whistleblower complaints.
Systematic Corporatist Theft of the American Dream
In case it isn’t obvious to you, the corporatist agenda has been to gut the American Dream of having a good job, owning a 
The middle class has decreased, with many people falling into the poor category. While the top 2 percenters have gained more wealth than ever before in our country. Meanwhile every move has been to sell out our pensions, steal the equity from our homes, or own our homes outright, and also to steal our health care so we will all just die and go away. The gutting of the airlines was successful. The gutting of the American dream continues without fail. Many of us sit back and support it all with our vote, and our political dollars. I have one question for you all. Has your financial life improved with the corporatists in power?
Better rise up or better yet, wake up!
