Tech workers react to UPS drivers landing a $170,000 a year package with a mixture of anger and admiration::Some tech workers questioned whether UPS drivers deserved high pay — others jumped in to note the importance of the jobs and harsh working conditions.
Points from the article:
could get $170,000 in pay and benefits in five years’ time in a new contract.
“This is disappointing, how is possible that a driver makes much more than average Engineer in R&D?”“This is disappointing, how is possible that an average Engineer in R&D makes much less than a driver?”It is important to note that the $170,000 figure represents the entire value of the UPS package, including benefits and does not represent the base salary.
Despite some tech workers’ resentment, many workers pointed out UPS drivers work under difficult conditions.
“I’d love for you to meet my dad who has delivered for UPS for over 35 years, hauls 100s of packages in the 105+ degree Texas heat, is literally Santa Claus in Dec, and does it for 9+ hours a day at 67 yo,”
My FIL recently retired after 25+ years with UPS. He made pretty good money, but he worked a ton of overtime. IIRC their top pay rate was somewhere between $30-35/hour. That puts base pay at about $75k/year. I wonder how UPS calculated the extra $100k/year in benefits or if they’re assuming their average driver works some quantity of overtime. I’m betting it’s the second, which would drive the numbers up. However, to make that kind of money you’re going to be working 50+ hours a week and most holidays.
There are guys at my hub that make 150k take home, but never see their families because all they do is work. Sorry. That’s not for me. I like my wife and kids way too much to sacrifice what little time we get on this earth. I do my 40-50 hours a week and go the fuck home for weekends and take my vacations.