For UPS.

Fly on average 14 to 16 days per 28 day period. If you are very senior you will fly 12 and have 16 off, not necessarily in long blocks.

As far as dropping trips. I have heard that some folks have been able to do it, but its far from the norm to get it approved. Its in the contract, but requires company approval. They would rather have you take Personal Leave (PLOA) which will affect your longelvitity immediatly, and your senoirity after only a short while.

Not sure what you mean about take more time off than VAC. You have to fly your line unless you take personal leave (PLOA) see the above effects of doing that. Basically, NO. However, if you want to use PLOA you simply tell the company that "its personal" amd they can do nothing but approve your request as per the contract.

Yes, you are required to fly your bid line every month, no matter how senior you are. Forget any extra time off unless you call in sick, or take personal leave (with big consequenses i.e. longevity and seniority on th PLOA option)

Nope, not ridiculous, rather good questions. We have very little flexibility at UPS wrt our schedules. They figure that if you are an employee, you will work according to their wishes (contract).....period. The company will never waive the contract in your benefit, only in theirs, and in that case it is known as a disregard for the contract and a grievance.

Now from the FWIW department in the world acording to Viktorbravo......

I would love to be able to nomally drop trips and forfeit the pay. If we could do that I figure I would just work every third month. I'm not being a smartass by saying that, but I live a very simple life where I dont need much money from UPS as I work at other sources. My ultimate goal is to be free of a paycheck from anyone other than myself. I may very well be a rare breed of the business in that respect. At SWA, I could do this trip drop thing as a normal way of life. Not sure about FDX. I cant blame the company for wanting me to work and not letting me drop trips though. Its just the way it is. Hey, if I hire a person, I want them to do the work of one employee so I dont have to hire an extra body just to do the work of one person. Hiring individuals costs money. I understand this. Although I think a little more flexibility would bring us up to industry standard. But, its all supply and demand and right now our professions are on the short end of the stick. However, for whatever reason, we did not negotiate this into our current contract.

Also bear in mind.....UPS, (the company) will not "normally" do you a favor or "help you out" at any time. They figure that's what the contract is for. If you didnt negotiate it, you didnt pay for it, and it aint gonna happen unless its in their favor. That's business, and this is a purely a bottom-line, business oriented company. You can lament how much that sucks and is unfair as long as you want, but thats the way it is here, period.

UPS is about business and the bottom line, and they treat all employees as such, simply costs of doing business. You can determine for yourself whether you want to work in that environment or not, but that's the way it is for better or worse as an employee. Not much love here, but then again, its business. No, the company doesnt hate you, but yes they will try to get everything they can from you if it means more money in their pocket, pure business. Sorry if I discouraged you but I am just trying to shed some light on the reality without being emotional about the situation. I cannot stess enough how UPS operates with clear black and white +/- business goals in mind.

UPS is like most any other gigantor corporation in the way they operate, thats life ladies and germs...............