Hannaford Transportation Union Vote

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Lotsa Bellyfat, Jun 1, 2024.

  1. Opus

    Opus Road Train Member

    19,196
    119,544
    Dec 18, 2011
    South GA
    0
    My dad always said, if they have a union, it's because they needed one.
    I'm not pro or anti either way. Never worked in a union shop except when I unloaded trailers at Roadway part time when I was in college. They had some pretty goofy rules and retaliated against each other (management and workers), using those rules all the time. It was really silly sometimes.
     
    gentleroger and Lonesome Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. NorthEastTrucker

    NorthEastTrucker Heavy Load Member

    884
    1,534
    Sep 21, 2019
    0
    I always think that depends on who you ask. For me, I worked for a company using teamsters however left after 20 plus years I found that the union was waste of time. 80% of the drivers snitched on each others (even though it 'Says' clearly we are not suppose to do that because we are union brothers & sister') and so much more conflicted with the Collective Agreement. A union is great for thoses workers who drag their feet and have that lazy steak or need direction. Considering the times we live in regarding trucking (Freight Recession), I'd say they're good to keep salaries at bay and progressive.

    The only issue regarding the money is when a company is financially sinking, how does it uphold progressive salaries and pay for their unionized employees? Isn't that what happened to "Yellow Corporation"..? :rolleyes:
     
  4. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

    13,247
    87,277
    Mar 19, 2014
    Arkansas
    0
    Just pay me what you’re going to pay a union rep and give me power to fire anyone there.
    I’ll have it straightened out within 6 months.
    Find the mismanagers, and everyone that works there from the ceo down.

    We’ll line them up for a “Promotion board review” infront of everyone then announce.

    IMG_6905.gif
     
  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    22,365
    115,987
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    Well honestly I don't give a crap whether it is union or not, I am trying to figure out why would anyone depend on the union when the union isn't there for the members, but rather just the dues. The teamsters is a union that has run amok with their purpose.

    Now that said if there is abuse, then great, get the teamsters or the UAW involved but it doesn't mean life will be better other than money.
     
    RockinChair, Feedman, Lonesome and 2 others Thank this.
  6. Opus

    Opus Road Train Member

    19,196
    119,544
    Dec 18, 2011
    South GA
    0
    I think it's more about giving a giant middle finger to management. Which speaks to the work environment.
    Actually, like I said before, I'm neither pro nor anti union. But to hire 5 retired guys to swing the vote says a lot about the management.
     
    IH9300SBA, gentleroger, Dflip and 4 others Thank this.
  7. Lotsa Bellyfat

    Lotsa Bellyfat Light Load Member

    54
    74
    Sep 21, 2023
    0
    Interesting that you say that…..

    As soon as the union got involved, even long before the actual vote, the upper echelons in the company fired about 75% of management, all within about 2 weeks. Even the HR manager got the axe; apparently, he had several complaints brought against him for aggressively telling drivers of all his perceived negative aspects of collective bargaining and why they should vote No.

    Hannaford also brought in a hired, well paid, anti union team, working 24 hours a day, to aggressively seek out each and every driver on an individual basis and try to convince them how a Yes vote for the union would be against the drivers’ best interests. BTW, this team was an ‘outside contractor’ consisting mainly of licensed attorneys that actually make a very good living traveling around the country to any company that hires them to “get rid” of any possible union problem.

    Being in the transportation office has been an eerie feeling, to say the least; who’s going today? Word has it that most in management that are remaining will be gone soon as well… especially if all NLRB hearings go in the Teamsters favor.
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2024
    gentleroger and Numb Thank this.
  8. Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

    11,115
    22,737
    Dec 15, 2007
    Northern Indiana
    0
    Belonged to 3 different unions over the years, the Teamsters, Communications workers, and United Paperworkers. For the most part, they were all the same. Do your job, show up every day, file no grievances, pay your dues, and we'll all get along fine. They protected the worker who did a good job, and they protected the worker, who should have been fired. Are unions still needed? In some cases, I'm sure they are. Do they help in every case? Not even close.

    One place I worked, a union tried to organize us, even though the employees were against it. They got two "plants" hired, who then tried to convince the others a union was needed. It was the summer from Hades. Pickets out front, the giant inflatable rat, union people wouldn't cross the line, people following you, etc. Had to meet the UPS driver down the street, things like that. Kinda soured my outlook on unions after that.
     
    gentleroger and cuzzin it Thank this.
  9. Lotsa Bellyfat

    Lotsa Bellyfat Light Load Member

    54
    74
    Sep 21, 2023
    0
    Here’s just one of the many issues going on with Hannaford Transportation: Hannaford is blatantly ignoring all DOT rules regarding the 10 hour break. Here’s how:

    Hannaford has no ‘set’ starting time for drivers. They do have set ‘runs’ (which are bid on by seniority), which means you as a driver will be assigned to deliver to a certain store on a certain day; example: Monday it’s Blue Hill/Bucksport, Tuesday it’s Concord/Exeter… and so on. However, all drivers have no idea what times to actually start their runs on a daily basis… you might start at 11AM.. you might start at 4PM.. or you might have ‘lost’ your daily run due to scheduling issues. It’s like this every day… you literally have no idea, regardless of seniority, as to what your next working day will be like.

    As a result, drivers receive a phone call from dispatch every day prior to their next day. This is where things get ‘sticky’; Dispatch will call you 5 hours (and up) into your 10 hour mandated DOT break. Every day. Let’s say you log off at 2AM….expect a call as early as 6-7 AM the following hours. That’s right, 4-5 hours into your 10 hour break. Every day. I’m sure the terminal manager at Hannaford, let’s call him Bruce, would love to be getting a phone call at 1-2AM, every day, during his 7AM -6PM workday.

    Anyway, you drivers all know the legalities of this one. It’s just so incredible that a company of this size and stature is so blatantly ignoring the culture of safety as well as the Federal laws that are in place to enforce those rules.

    Add all this in addition to the up to 50 charges just recently brought against Hannaford and it becomes more and more evident of why the drivers are saying… “enough”.
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2024
    gentleroger and Old_n_gray Thank this.
  10. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    11,807
    48,339
    Mar 4, 2015
    0
    The FMCSA says phone calls don’t interrupt the 10 hour break.
     
    Lonesome and buzzarddriver Thank this.
  11. Pepper24

    Pepper24 Road Train Member

    2,070
    1,583
    Dec 3, 2010
    0
    Not sure how you think a Union can help with the way a company contracts you about scheduling .It’s not illegal in anyway fmcsa or dot or any regulation to call you on the phone even if you are on a 10 hour break a phone call doesn’t constitute as on duty.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.