September 4, 2003

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has dismissed an unfair labor practice charge filed against the Teamsters Union by an anti-union, pro-business group that challenged a portion of the National Master United Parcel Service Agreement.

The Virginia-based National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation challenged the contract’s provision that UPS recommend to new employees in so-called right-to-work states that they join and remain members of the Teamsters.

In dismissing the charge, the NLRB’s Regional Director in North Carolina, Willie L. Clark, Jr., wrote: “the contract provision is not … invalid as it does not require the Employer to induce or coerce employees to join the Union, but only to ‘recommend’ that employees do so.”

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a mouthpiece for anti-union, pro-corporate interests, had filed the charge against the Teamsters’ National UPS Negotiating Committee and Local 391 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“This organization is an anti-union group that stops at nothing to challenge the interests of workers,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division. “We’re pleased that the NLRB saw this as yet another attempt by this group to topple workers' rights. We worked hard to win that contract provision, one that will strengthen the Teamsters’ clout as it fights on behalf of our members at UPS.”