Article

2023-08-16 Economy

My husband works for UPS and I wish people could see how hard his job is ‐ and why the new $170,000 contract deal is well deserved

[Insider] This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kourtney, a 30-year-old hairdresser and wife of a UPS driver in Rhode Island. Her last name has been omitted for privacy reasons. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

After the Teamsters union secured a win guaranteeing that UPS delivery drivers would make $170,000 in salary and benefits by the end of a 5-year period, people in tech and other white-collar workers had a lot to say about it. As the wife of a UPS driver, so do I.

Let's start with the facts. The $170,000 is not a base salary — it takes into consideration healthcare and pension benefits. But that's not even what bothers me most about people's reactions, which range from wondering why drivers would make that much money to calling them overpaid and undeserving.

I really want people to think about why they believe UPS workers don't deserve to be fairly compensated.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-08-16 08:50|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 Meanwhile, elementary school teachers in many rural Georgia counties make less than $40,000. per year.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-08-16 08:58|| 2023-08-16 08:58|| Front Page Top

#2 Bear in mind, That's the amount in five years.
From what I see, UPS drivers work like SOB's in a difficult situation, and just deal with it.

Posted by ed in texas 2023-08-16 10:44|| 2023-08-16 10:44|| Front Page Top

#3 It's simple. You get paid as much as somebody is willing to pay you for whatever skills you have managed to acquire. If you don't like it, you look for a better job or try to acquire better skills.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2023-08-16 12:10|| 2023-08-16 12:10|| Front Page Top

#4 'You can't outearn stupidity': Dave Ramsey just explained why teachers — with a median salary of $61K — become millionaires so often. And why doctors don't even crack the top 5

Posted by Skidmark 2023-08-16 12:16|| 2023-08-16 12:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Judging by how stupid kids are these days I would say the teachers are overpaid.

Posted by Chris 2023-08-16 12:19|| 2023-08-16 12:19|| Front Page Top

#6 My brother in law drove for UPS for 25 years, retiring before the big contract. Worked his tail off, in the remote Denver suburbs, rain or shine or blizzard. Just one anecdote.

Posted by Bobby 2023-08-16 22:47|| 2023-08-16 22:47|| Front Page Top

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