It seems that, although CPC has mistaken CUPW members as traditional vampires, it looks like CPC management are Energy Vampires! Energy Vampires are the most dangerous of all vampires. They thrive on sucking the energy out anyone around them, regardless the cost. They also derive pleasure and sustenance from creating conflict around them.
Incidents we have seen of these are supervisors calling out our members on the floor for not “pulling their weight”. In one case we had the Energy draining supervisors telling some members on the floor that other members thought they were lazy. Of course, this is a ploy Energy Vampires use to help divide us and gain power through our conflict.
We also see these Energy Vampires on the Collections and Delivery side. Separate Sort from Delivery is a prime example! We often hear management telling us that those who have converted to SSD love it. This is done to divide us and push through their agenda. We all know SSD has a negative effect on all of us, and to try to sell it as anything other brings a rise out of us for them to feed off of. If carriers love SSD so much, wouldn’t they be transferring in to SSD depots instead of out?
But how do we fight Energy Vampires you may ask? Here are a couple tips. Make sure you know your rights under the collective agreement. Energy Vampires hate people who know more than them. They do not know how to fight back.
-Question what is said. Energy Vampires like to trip you up by ignoring and then making up their own “facts” from thin air.
-Remind them of the code of conduct. Energy Vampires often fall victim to breaking their very own rules, which they both claim to know well enough to enforce on you but forget what they are when applied to themselves.
These are just a few tips and tricks to avoid falling into Energy Vampires traps.
If you ever need help with the management team acting like a Energy Vampire, please let a steward know or contact either the executive steward or myself at the hall.
In Solidarity,
Bryan Schuck, 3rd Vice President