Working Safely is Essential
There has been growing concern about how quickly some routes are being completed. While finishing early may look like a good thing on the surface, the truth is that when routes are consistently shown by the carriers as having “undertime”, management uses that data to justify increasing the length of existing routes or even eliminating routes altogether. Unsafe rushing to complete your assignment today could mean fewer routes and fewer positions tomorrow.
Even worse, unsafe shortcuts and excessive speed put every one of us at serious risk. Running on the street, skipping breaks, driving too fast, or leaving the truck engine running may save a few minutes, but those minutes can turn into painful injuries, costly motor vehicle accidents, or long-term health issues. When these accidents happen, it is the carrier who suffers, not management. Although managers may sometimes encourage you to “go faster” or act as if they are your friends, make no mistake. If you are observed to be working unsafely, those same managers will not hesitate to discipline you to protect themselves. If you are injured after rushing and working unsafely, they will be the first to deny your medical claims. Remember, most houses have doorbell cameras and/or other surveillance systems. Management will investigate the scene and retrieve these videos to prove unsafe carrier activity. There have been too many situations we see where the carrier is on camera jumping down steps or over fences and bushes, leaving the truck engine running, or not paying attention to their surroundings. Management will send these videos to Department of Labor and/or as evidence when issuing discipline.
The contract exists to protect you from this kind of pressure. Carriers are entitled to two ten-minute comfort breaks per day, a lunch period of thirty minutes, and the right to perform duties at a safe, steady pace. The M-41 makes it clear that safety is your first responsibility. It requires carriers to obey all traffic regulations and drive safely at all times. Importantly, as confirmed in a Step 4 Settlement H1N-1D-31781, “There is no set pace at which a carrier must walk and no street standard for walking.” That language is binding. Management cannot dictate or enforce a walking pace, nor can they use such a standard against you. Article 34.A of the National Agreement, Work and/or Time Standards, says it best, “The principle of a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay is recognized by all parties to this Agreement”.
Professionalism is not about being the fastest carrier on the street. It is about doing the job correctly, safely, accurately, and in full accordance with the contract. Protecting our jobs begins with protecting ourselves. When we take our contractual breaks, follow all safety rules, and refuse to be pushed into unsafe habits and behavior, we not only safeguard our health. We also defend the routes and jobs that we have all worked so hard to preserve.
