Open up your pockets and will stuff them full of cash Union trucking .

[Duncanpup]

The title above used to be a saying in union teamster L.T.L.outfits. (LTL definition is less than truck load )
As in make your self available to work and you’re gonna be loaded with coin yet you worked for it 400 mile nights mileage pay maybe 2-3 drop hooks in route getting paid clock time for cutting set of pups two trailers and cracking those cans back together.

And other nights may get 500 Mile night no drop and hooks yet gravy night average usually 10-14 hour night unless you jockey then maybe 8-10 hours.

Now please understand I’m not bragging I feel fortunate for my last job in freight came here in 2018 yet until I retire I’m fortunate.

I been around Preston 151 Red Star express Roadway YRC.

TodayI’m feeder driver for UPS buster brown. And it’s public knowledge our hourly rate new contract we get paid all hourly and anytime after 8 is time half anytime after 40 is time half. So last night i go in for six punch overtime and easy night I’m running North jersey out of central Pennsylvania, and i run into this young guy been here maybe year half he’s out my barn / terminal.

He asked where you going out here i said home but I’m stopping to eat he said oh the truck stop I said nah i stay out of those places when I can. I’m going to this North jersey diner good coffee great chili he said cool I’ll follow you.

We park on street middle night North Joisey teamster parking police won’t bother you anyway listening to him over dinner made me feel glad for him. He opens up saying once again how he’s sorry i lost Liz I replied that’s why I’m out here tonight on six punch sometimes i can’t stand being at home other days it’s ok no drama bro just my reality.

Yet he said i remember when i started here you gave me your phone number and other drivers phone numbers in case i needed help. And he then says i remember what you said to me as in he was telling me. That he felt bad leaving his employer a non union small company he told me they are so nice Christian family owned company.

He then said i told him wow he was paying $150 week healthcare for you and your family a $5000 deductible per person you won’t have that here wow you only made $65000 running regional you’ll be home every day here and make more than that dude he said i told him.

He said you told me young man they were sodomizing you at that non union carrier i don’t give a dam if Pat Robertson is my dispatcher.

Yet he’s doing ok his his wife is in Nursing college no student loans he’s paying tuition and his daughter who i think he said she’s 8 her hearing problems are getting taken care of and paid by union insurance 100% no bills.

I told him 18 was premature in 2004 after one month in Neo natal we’re looking at bill $180 grand paid 100% by teamsters because i pay union dues monthly which is two hours of my wages.

Just ramble dyslexic bad punctuation ramble yet I’m glad for the kid and his family.

[peacebuzzard]

1. Kid is lucky he jumped ship from Christian Trucking

It was a difficult decision for the kid to leave the Pat Robertson dispatcher company and shows that he has much to learn. So glad you and your brothers and sisters out there will mentor this sweet kid.
great story

edited to add sister truckers. I met some great sister truckers back in the days when I burned up the roads myself.

[Duncanpup]

2. Female union drivers here as well

[3Hotdogs]

3. My teachers' union is a blessing. I'm retired now. Monthly net pension is $3,625 + S.S.

I'm not rich but there is no financial stress in my life.


AND

The state pays my Medicare (Thanks LBJ).

So some of my friends resented I get a pension and they don't. I pointed out that it is not gub'mint charity. It is part of the contract that the state agreed to when I began the job.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. My husband is a retired teacher too

He gets a pension too and State Teachers Retirement picks up part of his Medicare premiums. …. although we are far from wealthy, we can live on his pension. I get attitude from some people over teachers getting retirement paid by the taxpayers. These are the people who work for private businesses and then claim “I can’t afford to retire! I’ll have to work until I drop dead!” And then they bash union employees as lazy and greedy. My answer is always, you should have worked for a union.

[SouthernDem4ever]

4. I have been in the same union for 45 years

I never went hungry, always had income except for a couple of strikes, which I saved for so it was more like a vacation, and always had the respect at work from bosses who knew we would hold their feet to the fire if they were just plain assholes. I just can't understand union members that vote for right-wingers. I had an accountant ask me why labor never supports repuglicans. I almost laughed until I saw he was serious. (I thought an accountant that is this dumb?) Anyway I responded "when I see just ONE republican initiative that supports labor I'll consider it. That was the last thing said and, of course, I got a new accountant.

[MOMFUDSKI]

5. You were so gracious to enlighten

that young man. I tried to explain what unions do for members to the kids I was working with when I moved to Florida which is a “right to work “ State. They looked at me like I was making it all up. Sad thing is they were content with the way things were. My son in Wisconsin some years back was subjected to a “talk” given by an anti-union group at his manufacturing company. I was disgusted. It is up to the current workers to fight the good fight.

[multigraincracker]

6. 50 years of paying union dues.

21 or those years retired. Not rich, but had every bill paid off when I stopped working. Stopped working at age 52 and now 73.

[MOMFUDSKI]

7. Started getting $122/mo from my ex-husband's

Teamster Pension at age 58. He only worked 14 years in the Union. Not a lot of $$$ but it’s a good deal. Money that stayed out of some non-union outfit’s pocket.