Divide and Conquer

     The dealer matrix is a way to make us compete against one another for a better rankings, and consequently, a better schedule at the expense of our coworkers' schedules. On the surface, it is incentive for better performance, but on a deeper level, it discourages us from assisting our fellow dealers to improve their skills and level of customer service. Why would any individual want to assist their coworker if it means risking their own status within the company? It would be for the benefit of the company to encourage us to help our coworkers without repercussions to our own personal security. The current policy only encourages a dog-eat-dog relationship among coworkers. We all know the silent “What time is your bid?” discussion that goes on behind the scenes after the dealer matrix.

     Besides the matrix, there are other “divide and conquer” techniques in place. We not only have varying start times, but also shifts and properties that are considered by some to be more desirable than others. This organizing drive is not about pitting shifts and properties against one another; it is about uniting for a Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is about improving our current respective situations as they now stand. This is about our best chance at getting back what we’ve lost since Gary Loveman came aboard. The executives prefer seeing us bickering over who works where and at what time instead of what we have been losing. The bickering distracts from bigger issues that effect us all.