What UPS Doesn't Want You to Know

When you think of good middle class jobs, you probably think of UPS. But the shipping giant has a secret.

While full time delivery drivers are the face of UPS, it’s the part-time workers like Cesar Mendoza who are the heart of the $100 billion shipping behemoth. In fact part-timers make up around 60% of the 340,000 UPS workers represented by the Teamsters.

These workers have been ignored for nearly 30 years, but as UPS and the union wrestle over a new contract – with a massive strike looming July 31st – part-time workers are coming out of the shadows to tell their story of what its really like to work for the world’s largest package delivery company.
#UPS #labor #strike
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[images]

7 years working for UPS, including management, and I would never recommend it to anyone. Once they became a publicly traded company the culture of leadership changed over night and the daily stock price became the only driver for decisions. They went from building long term relationships to exploitive BS.

[fallon]

I am a Teamster and UPS package handler. I've been with the company for almost 6 years. UPS doesn't want you to know that I make the same amount as a new hire due to their MRA abuse. We need significant catch-up raises for us part timers who have been left behind for far too long.

[Summitclym]

My son did the UPS part time gig for 7 years before going full-time. After 7 years of that he was laid off last year. He’s now managing shipping for a private company, ‘working from home, making less $ but so much happier!

[vowish]

I work at UPS as a part time preload since 2019 and yeah it does make u depressed, tired, angry, and muscley.

[omegal]

As an Amazon Driver I stand with y’all 100%. We’re really getting lowballed

[JustRaiHere_]

Corporate greed is the new norm in the US and workers are suffering for it.

[Jeffthedude]

I deliver for FedEx Ground and I stand by these guys. I hope they get what they should and maybe all the attention can shed light on what we go through. At FedEx Ground we don't get any benefits and not nearly as much pay as the Guys and ladies get at UPS or FedEx Express. It is intense labor especially in the heat and it takes a toll on your personal life. Get what y'all deserve!

[jameswilliams]

This video is 💯percent right on .. I was 14 years part -time and finally became a feeder driver and was told I wouldn't top out for another 4 years

[shmehfleh]

I worked third shift for two years, and it's something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I was full-time and making OK-ish money, too. Certainly enough to survive on, unlike the UPS part-timers. If they strike, I hope they win.

[whatsitwhosit]

Spent 14 years there..and I've always said that UPS has successfully pulled the wool over the entire world's eyes, fooling the public into thinking that it's such a great company. Back in the '90's one of the arguments during contract time was that the starting wage hadn't increased in over 8 or 10 years. That fact did not register with the company. Combine that with they're legendary combative and aggressive management practices in such a strenuous work environment and you have a recipe for conflict. Drivers frequently suffer multiple surgeries from injuries sustained during their work, not to mention the plethora of cuts, sprains, strains etc. that happen on a daily basis. A living wage with which you can buy a house (or just rent an apartment)...all for just driving a truck or working in a believe it!

[ralphcarter]

Im also a upser. was part time for 4 years been a driver for about 6. what they put us though during the pandemic was brutal with nothing to show for it other than physical and metal stress. Still even now 3 years later im still struggling with what happened. UPS has made record profits off our backs just so the CEO can make millions in bonus's.

[MiguelGonzalez-lrvt]

Im a ups driver and have been with the company for 29yrs. I was part time for the first 5 years.
I remember how brutal it was and how underpaid and under appreciated it was. I would work for 3am to around 8:30. By the time I got home showered and ate, it would be around 10. Slept until 1:30, picked my daughter up from school, dropped her off at my moms house, went to my 2nd job from 3pm until 11:30. Back home and in bed by 12:30am. (Slept in my work clothes to maximize sleep time) and back up at 2:30am to start the process all over again.
I was grateful to finally get a full time job after those first 5 years, and progression was only 2 yrs back then. Only to work 50 to 60 hrs a week which did take a toll my on marriage. I am divorced and missed watching my kids grow up. I remember running my butt off all day, and skipping lunch just to make it to the last few innings of my daughters softball games. Which wasn’t always possible cuz you always ran the risk of having to go help someone if you got done at a decent time.
All this just to say, we’ve made sacrifices throughout our whole career that no one sees and WE DESERVE A GREAT CONTRACT!!!

[samm]

All power to the Teamsters in this fight, my wife and I will be the first ones on the picket line with ya'll with home cooked meals.

[jomjohns]

I did about 3 months being a package handler back in 2018. The turnover was so high that I was one of the longest tenured when I quit at 3 months. We were so short staffed that I was loading 5 trucks by myself at one point. One morning they had a round of about 10 new people they were showing the ropes in preparation for the looming "peak" season I kept hearing from the veterans, and not a single one came back after the first day.
There was one driver who bragged about how much money he made, but I always called BS because he would join us at 4am to load packages and then delivered until 7 or 8 at night.
TBH I didn't hate it, it was a second job for me, but once I got fulltime at my primary job I handed in my notice immediately lol.

[Zicden]

I have been at ups as a package handler for almost a year and 9 months now and it is time that we finally strike back. We are tired of being treated like shit and they expect us to roll over. Better pay, more full time jobs and better hours. Ups has made billions of dollars and we want our share. It is not fair for us especially since we are the ones doing all of the work.

[vidzkid]

Solidarity from the outside! ✊️ There are millions of us out here right behind you guys! Labor is making a comeback and it takes all of us. Stay strong. Union strong!

[Randy-tcmv]

I've been a part timer nearly two years now in the warehouse. The work is definitely tough on your body, it takes it's toll loading trailers understaffed almost constantly. UPS chronically understaffs so they can violate our contract and have supervisors do union work. They keep you tired and poor so you don't have energy or resources to stand up for yourself. And as soon as you get hurt once, you become a liability. You need strong motivation to hold down a job like this and teamsters move mountains EVERY day. Many of us are very proud of the work we do, and deserve more respect from the company. Brothers and Sisters, I can't wait to see us all benefit from whats coming down the pipe. We're almost there.

[TubaZac]

My GF works the Twilight shift at UPS, the same hours as the man in the video. This whole video is incredibly validating. The finacial concerns and workplace culture issues are very real and span the whole country. I remeber her telling me when their wage was reduced back to $16, i was livid for her. Standing strong with the Teamsters 💪

[racerx]

I was a part time loader/ unloader/ sorter from 1986 -1989. one time I was watching a training film for drivers, where they counted the steps you take from the truck to the house you were delivering too. crazy stuff. they worked ungodly hours back then too.

[jeffhartson]

I am retired, but I wholeheartedly support All the UPS employees. Our country has gone down the tubes due to poor leadership in Washington. And this only adds fuel to the fire that has gone out of control. To much micromanagement from the government and company CEO's.