UPS strike

[Chris Trask]

On Thu, 31 Jul 1997, Kelley, Dave wrote:

> I thought I'd put in a good word here for the USPS.  If you haven't
> checked lately, the Post Office has noticed the competition and is doing
> a great job (notice I didn't say 'bang up job') on their deliveries.
> It's nothing like the old days at all.  FedEx is probably better, but
> you may pay more for shipping than the contents is worth.  For $3-$8 at
> the USPS you can have just about anything sent anywhere in about 3 days.
>
        I'd like to add my $0.02's worth here.  I recently tried shipping
a small package, which contained a screened cover for a Heathkit HP23
power supply, to a fellow in Maryland.  Not only did UPS open the pack-
age to see if I had packed it properly, but they wanted to charge me more
than $6!! I went to the post office, and they took the package, charging
me $3.75.  For another $0.25 it could have gone by air.  For heavier
parcels, the rates are in favour of UPS.

        If you call up UPS to ask about rates, they ask you all sorts of
questions about what's in the package, as though it mattered.  Call the
post office, and you get an answer.

        For small packages and service, my money's with the post office.
As far as unions are concerned, I'll say this:  Workers will not organ-
ize if they are treated fairly and have good work conditions.  Unions
are not, by nature, instruments of worker greed, but are for the pro-
tection of labour against inept/corrupt/incompetent/abusive management.

        I know that this is off-topic, but I've worked in a lot of
places where I wished to God there was a union.  Ever try to organize
engineers?  Last time I saw teamwork was on the side of a can of Boraxo.
Prior to that it was while flying transports in the Air Force.  Too bad
I grew up in the US Army, or I could be just like everyone else. :{^

        I'm taking the postal exam in August.  Got the paperwork today.

        I'm memorizing the "International".

        I gotta go.

                                          Regards,

                                          Chris

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