When employees conduct informational picketing, they hope to raise public awareness of their workplace problems and send a message to the employer.
But a Thursday march involving about 50 ASTAR Air Cargo pilots outside UPS’s Atlanta headquarters reached different eyes: A UPS software engineer on lunch decided to join the protest and, after leaving the picket line, resigned on the spot when approached back at work by two security workers and two Human Resources staffers.
Tony Bordoli said by phone Friday he came upon the picketing while walking with a friend, and was touched when he saw a big sign on a vehicle that said the proposed UPS-DHL deal could devastate 10,000 families.
“It affected me and there was something I knew that I could do about it, so I did. And I took a stance against an unethical action by my company. It’s probably not going to change things. I know I’m one person but it may slow it down,” Bordoli mused.
Bordoli said his work was not related to the proposed contract, but that as a UPS software engineer in a financial office, he created programs that produced detailed analysis reports regarding which workers should have their hours cut.
“I just felt I was really being used as a tool to devastate families and communities, and it was just simple. I mean, how could I not put the two together? I’m not going to be used as a tool to devastate families and communities anymore. I can’t conscientiously be a part of that,” said the 36-year-old Bordoli, who had worked at UPS for 10-plus years.
“In a way, the picketing indirectly woke me up,” he feels.
He had been working on his current project for the past four months, said Bordoli, and had gotten to the “second plot point, if you will.”
“It’s a big burden off my mind and off my back,” he said Friday concerning his decision to quit UPS. “Because I was feeling very conflicted with this particular project to begin with.”
On Thursday evening, after joining the ranks of the unemployed, Bordoli did some research on the DHL-UPS deal and about the picketing ASTAR pilots in an attempt “to get more educated in what exactly I had chosen to do,” he chuckled.
“And that’s when I was reassured that I was making the right decision,” he said.
“This was by no means premeditated. I just went by my conscience when I saw the picketing, and the information of the families being devastated. It dawned on me that what I was doing by my actions, you know by my involvement, I wasn’t that far from that, you understand.”
Bordoli said it may sound like a rash act and he admitted he did “get a little harshness this morning from my father.”
“This time, I’ll pick a better company,” Bordoli said. “One that actually exercises proper social responsibility.”
When he joined the picketing with the pilots, all in their pilots uniform, the picketers started asking him who he worked for?
“I said UPS, and everyone, it was like a cheer moment,” he said.
Later he told Human Resources staff and security in the stairwell that he was tendering his resignation, and let fall his UPS identification badge to the floor in protest.
“I wish the cause well, because I have a family. You know, my family won’t be devastated from this because in the Atlanta area, I have marketable enough skills to quickly recover. So, I’m not worried about myself in particular. But I know things in our breadbasket up in Ohio, those guys are going through a lot more than I am. I’m actually fortunate,” said Bordoli.
UPS spokesman Norman Black said Friday it is company policy not to publicly discuss individual personnel matters.
Reader Comments Posted: Friday, August 01, 2008
Article comment by:
Tony Bordoli
Kathy Fitzpatrick,
Regarding: "I couldn't believe that someone would actually take such a stance and give up his high paying job to aid us in our fight to save our jobs, many of which are at a much lower payscale than Mr. Bordoli's."
It wasn't all that high-paying a job. I was barely making more that an accountant in this area (approx. @$50,000). Irregardless, thank-you for applauding my sacrifice for standing up to 'big business' UPS.
On a good note, my actions appear as if they'll be landing me with a job paying twice as much as UPS was paying me for doing their 'unethical bidding(s)'.
If nothing else, the past 10 years of 'stability' at UPS, along with the 5 advanced degrees that I obtained (on my own dime, not UPS's) have positioned me into as favorable a marketable situation as I ever could have imagined even despite the downward economy.
Irregardless of where my future takes me, the cause that 'woke me up' will continue to have a special place in my heart and I will continue to assist in any way possible so that a bright light can be cast into this matter that UPS and DHL wish to relegate to the shadows.
Regards,
Tony
Posted: Friday, August 01, 2008
Article comment by:
Tony Bordoli
Dan Wooten,
I've seen this same "We don't have a job for you" stance in my former Southeast Region as well. E-mail me at abordoli@comcast.net to talk more.
Regards,
Tony
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Article comment by:
Antony Bordoli
[quote=Channahon 376219]As far as Tony Bor[d]oli joining the picket line, after reading the article, looks to me like he just needed a reason to leave UPS and got some media attention at the same time. [/quote]
6 days after the event, I'm coming to that same realization ("that [i] just needed a reason to leave UPS and got some media attention at the same time") and am slowly but surely losing steam to fight the good fight. My UPS pay officially ends end-of-day tomorrow and it's certainly time to move on.
My comments last Thursday, those that sparked the entire "media circus" with me, admittedly, the self-promoting leader twirling the baton, have been removed from the bizjournal article(http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/07/21/daily46.html#tp_newCommentAnchor)
.
Could UPS have called the media-entity to have my initial comment and rebuttals removed? Could I take this as a violation of my 1st Amendment right to free speech (irregardless of what I had to say was 'right' or 'wrong').
Once again I have choice: I can either continue to fight and delay this "festering" wound (see post several posts above) from healing and now take on the media entity for caving in to UPS' lawyers (an obvious assumption on my part for there could be any number of reasons including a TOS violation on my part) -or- do I simply let it go and move on with my life? A rhetorical question, for the 'right' answer is obvious (that 'right' answer the one being the healthiest for me and my family).
[quote=Channahon 376219]Good Luck to you in your future jobs. I'm not sure a whole lot of companies will view you as a loyal employee.
But the again, you state you are marketable in the Atlanta area and can take care of your family. [/quote]
I have battled with this over the past 6 days. Obviously, none of the media attention would have followed had I "resigned with dignity" (as one poster on the bizjournal article site pointed out). In the insuing days, I've been accused of being a deat-beat-dad, an opportunist, a disloyal employee, a moron, a BS-er, someone missing their 'red swingline stapler' (LOL), etc., whilst at the same time a hero, a class act, a non-apologist, someone with courage, etc.
My head has spun around and around and I no longer know what to think. I have many options in my immediate future (back to the private sector, academia, a union entity, the government, etc.) Just like all of us, the ideal career is one that is challenging, engaging and takes on the task that would otherwise be a 'hobby'. I have some time ahead of me to really think hard about where I'll devote the next 20 years of my time.
I hope, in earnest, that those that have interacted with me in the last several days, either in a positive or negative manner, will understand that what I did, right or wrong - self-promoted or otherwise, has been done. My "15 minutes of fame" has come to a close and I'm more happy than sad that it is over.
This will be my final statement on this topic post (to some, goodriddance, I know ).
Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Article comment by:
Dan Wooten
Having retired from UPS April 1 of this year, after 33 years of service, I aplaud the stance taken by Mr. Bordoli. His actions prove he is a man of integrity and intestinal fortitude. It would be very interesting to me to see the results of research into the average age of employees who have left UPS in the past 18 months. In my Region, it was very obvious that the Senior Management at UPS had and endice on their Balanced Scorecard that included removing a specific number of employees who fell into the category of over 45 years of age and having been gainfully employed for over 20 years. In my last 12 months with UPS, I was removed from my position, which I had held for 8 years, during which time I had achieved well above average performance results, and told, "We don't really have a position for you." I was given tasks that were obviously directed at pushing me out the door, and I was reminded on a regular basis that "We don't have a positon for you." From speaking with many of my peers, I know that this tactic was wide spread, and it mostly affected those who were over 45 years of age. It would be nice to see UPS exposed for what they are.
Posted: Saturday, July 26, 2008
Article comment by:
Steve Edmonson
I just left the community meeting at Kelly Hall. It was a comfort to hear all of our elected officials say they would do anything it takes, to keep the DHL/UPS from going through.
Why did they ALL defer to the Govenor ( who was not there ) when I asked them to consider getting the Kentucky government to agree that the anti-trust issues are real? Was it because they feared losing their jobs?
Yes, I am very let down with any of you that won't put your actions where your political mouths are!!!
Posted: Saturday, July 26, 2008
Article comment by:
Janet Gerhardt
Tony Bordoli is a hero in my book. Would that more business people were as ethical.
Posted: Saturday, July 26, 2008
Article comment by:
Kathy Fitzpatrick
Being an ABX employee along w/my boyfriend, I was so moved by this story. I couldn't believe that someone would actually take such a stance and give up his high paying job to aid us in our fight to save our jobs, many of which are at a much lower payscale than Mr. Bordoli's. You just don't see acts such as this being done much anymore. More often than not, even if we feel strongly about a cause, we just can't or won't stand up because we're afraid of stirring the pot or losing our jobs and being unable to care for our families. BRAVO!
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