United Parcel Service (UPS) and deaf and hard of hearing drivers have finally settled an old lawsuit. Under the settlement (which settles a case that had been continuing since 1999!) deaf and hard of hearing drivers can drive lightweight vehicles IF they can hear at at least 45 decibels. Of course, this means deaf people whose hearing is worse, will not be able to get the driving jobs. Does this sound like a fair settlement?
Sources:
I realise that it is not easy for a deaf person to get a job like the one you discussed
above. Why? Because I live in an apartmengt building where a UPS deliverer would have to use voice to have a residential manager open the entrance door for him to get in to deliver parcels to tenants. Also he would have to be able to talk on the intercom to a tenant if a residential manager is not available. No camera is available at the intercom. I know it sounds very frustrating.
This is not a good settlement. I worked for UPS for almost ten years, part-time. Hearing employees were given the high paying driving jobs, while deaf employees were forced to stay in the low paying part-time jobs. Also in this settlement, which is a class action, 7 of the Deaf employees get $35,00 each. The law firm gets over 5 million dollars. This is a bad settlement, and I hope the court rejects it.
This is a very bad and unfair settlement. I think these deaf employees got a raw deal.
Is the requirement 45 dB AIDED or UNAIDED? I’d probably qualify, as I can hear at 30 dB AIDED. But my hearing loss is at 75 dB UNAIDED. So that is my question. Aided or unaided?
This is a bad settlement… I am deaf myself and have friends who are deaf and drives Post Office vehicles to deliver mails so why can’t a deaf person drive UPS vehicles to deliver parcels. Deaf people have better eyes than hearing people because deaf people rely on their eyes more than their ears. Hearing people rely on their ears. I don’t see what is the difference between driving Post office vehicles and UPS vehicles. UPS should be more fair. I have noticed UPS have been very discriminating. This is not right.
That is discrimeation. It is against the a.d.a. law. So all deaf people can drive with their orginal driver lic.but for me myself insside at Chrysler Plant, they wont allow me to drive Hi-lo fork except g.m. I dont file for complain instead of they give me eaiser job with even high pay job. period !!!!
UPS seems like clever idea using “45 decibels” to protect any deaf people drive over 2 ton vehicle. Look at me, I worked for USPS for almost 23 years and I am still using over 2 ton driving for mail collection. I am doing great so far. Really, what is UPS’s problems? Is it really hearing issue? No! My experiences: I have plenty of mirrors on both side plus video TV monitor for back view. When someone in front of signal sign and waiting for green light then don’t go until 3 seconds because of alarm sound from cop or ambalance. Yes Deaf drive can drive over two tons of vehicle anytime.