UPS Updates

UPS Freight Update

Local 439 UPS Freight workers overwhelmingly vote for Teamsters Representation

April 7, 2008

The Teamsters Union now represents nearly 10,000 new UPS Freight workers throughout the country when they overwhelmingly voted to be represented by the Teamsters Union.

This victory was a hard fought battle with a Company whose reputation for tough bargaining is well known.

Locally, UPS Freight members at the Lathrop facility voted 28-2 to be represented by Local 439. According to Business Agent and Organizer Rob Nicewonger "this victory provides UPS Freight workers guaranteed wage increases and a real grievance procedure over the life of the 5-year agreement."

Local 439 would like to thank all those new UPS Freight members and welcome them into the Teamsters. We should all be very proud of this accomplishment.

Local Leaders Unanimously Endorse Tentative UPS Agreement

Representatives of local unions that represent UPS workers across the United States unanimously voted to endorse the tentative UPS national agreement on Thursday, October 11, paving the way for ballots to be prepared and sent to members.

Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division, and General President Jim Hoffa, who serve as co-chairmen of the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee, presented the changes contained in the tentative agreement to more than 300 local union leaders.

"While other unions are struggling against employers, this tentative agreement with UPS addresses our members' concerns and is an example of how the Teamsters are moving forward faster and stronger than ever," Hoffa said.

The contract specifics outlined during the "two-person" meeting, attended by two representatives from each local union, will be posted at www.teamster.org and will be mailed to members' homes soon.

(Las Vegas) – The Teamsters scored a major victory today after UPS agreed to the union's demand to come to the bargaining table to begin early contract negotiations for the 2008 National Master United Parcel Service Agreement. Negotiations are expected to begin in 30 to 45 days.

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa delivered the announcement at the Teamsters 27th International Convention in Las Vegas, which is being attended by more than 7,000 delegates, retirees and guests.

"We can't afford to wait to protect the pensions and health care benefits of our UPS members and we won't," Hoffa said. "UPS knows we will do whatever it takes to make sure Teamsters at UPS are rewarded for their hard work and dedication." The UPS agreement, which covers more than 200,000 Teamsters, expires at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008.

"UPS heard the Teamsters loud and clear," said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division. "We need a permanent fix to the complex problems of retirement security and health care, and we will be proactive and fix them at the bargaining table."

UPS also has agreed to the Teamsters' demand for a card-check agreement at UPS Freight, providing a major boost to the Teamsters' organizing efforts at the former Overnite Transportation.