I had my orientation for UPS today.
It was supposed to be 35 hours a week. Said multiple times in the application process they were hiring for six and seven hour shifts.
It did say that end times could vary based on package volume. Then a friend told me that they heard the warehouse workers were only given about 15-20 hours a week.
So when I got the call to offer me the job officially, I asked about it.
The woman on the other end of the line assured me that the 9am-4pm shift I was signing up for was the average shift I’d work. That the variance was based around that 7 hour average, until peak season, when it would only increase. And that’s two months away.
Okay – I went and quit my clerk job.
I bought the required boots – turns out I could’ve bought a cheaper pair and one without laces like I like. I bussed there for over an hour and half – it would’ve been a 20 min drive but my car’s fucked, not their fault but I hoped with this SHINY NEW JOB I’d be able to get it in running order. Had to walk fifteen minutes in the sun to get there off the bus. I felt grimy because I decided to shower AFTER work, being that we were supposed to get on the line after a quick orientation class.
We did not. I spent four hours stinking in a classroom next to beautiful people.
Our trainer was late which did cut into our hours for the day. It also made the class run longer so I suppose it evened out. But I was informed – who guessed it? – that I was guaranteed less than 20 hours a week. That did not even out.
The $7/hr increase from my last job looked dimmer by the minute ($15.75 to $23 if you’re curious). Our wage was set to change when peak season rolled around too, depending on how many people they needed to attract to the job. Sure, it could increase if they need a lot of people. And they even might. They certainly COULD. But the wage COULD even drop if they decide they COULD get away with it (Yes, I wrote “drop” on purpose). And they might. Because they COULD.
Our trainer said they tried cutting pay down to $18/hr last year, and half the warehouse staff quit – at which point they kept the wage at the same rate. Everyone in the class oohed and awed. No one seemed to question whether or not the company got its wish either way. Maybe I’m bitter.
Certainly cynical. I walked out of that shit four hours later with the trainer saying class went a little long and it won’t be like that all week. But I need it to be like that. All week. Plus some.
I’m desperate, which makes me feel small. And I was fooled, which makes me feel stupid.
Shit, I could be stupid. This isn’t the first time this has happened to me. Other jobs have tricked me, swallowed me up and spit me out in the same spot. Sometimes before I knew what was happening. EVERY job I’ve had has lied to me, and I don’t think I always catch it. But for every thought I have about how I should know better, I know that I was lied to. Like every time. With my worthless life on the line, they played with me. And that makes me mad.
I’ve always worked-to-rule, stole time, and showed up high. That’s business when you pay shit wages. But I’m not faceless. I’m not a businessman or a business, man. I’m a man. A human. One who’s $85 in the hole with boots and bus tickets.