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January 12, 2007 This past year, 2006, was an exciting year for UPS Freight workers, as the Teamsters Union took major steps in 2006 to bring to these workers the same strong voice that 1.4 million members enjoy. During the first half of 2006, the union continued to mobilize its “One Company, One Union” campaign. Across the country, UPS and freight Teamsters talked to the former Overnite employees about the benefits of working under a Teamster contract. These efforts by Teamster members to educate their nonunion counterparts at UPS Freight helped to accelerate an historic victory. In June, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced at the 27th International Convention that the union won a card-check agreement at UPS Freight. The union announced its strategic plan to organize UPS Freight workers at one location, negotiate a strong contract for those workers, and then build on that victory to organize other terminals. By August, the UPS Freight campaign was off to a victorious start. The first major step to organize the 15,000 UPS Freight employees was achieved in Indianapolis, where a majority of UPS Freight workers signed authorization cards to join Local 135. With the strong support in that city, 125 drivers and dockworkers at the Indianapolis terminal are now on the path to winning a contract that aims to be a model for the UPS Freight workers nationwide. Bargaining Begins Bargaining with the company was kicked off in early September, with a focus on information requests between the union and UPS Freight. In late September, a proposal meeting was held with the UPS Freight workers in Indianapolis, who provided valuable input for a model UPS freight contract, including submitting proposals about wages, better work rules and the need for a grievance procedure. In October, the union continued contract talks with the company, presenting its non-economic proposals. During the meeting, leaders from both the union and the company reiterated their commitment to seeing a contract negotiated smoothly and quickly, and both sides expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached in the near future. “We expect 2007 to be an equally exciting year for UPS Freight workers,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division. “The union and the company plan to return to the bargaining table in the near future. We know that UPS Freight workers in the 300 terminals around the country have many questions about joining the union. We believe that many of those questions will be answered in the form of a model contract for Indianapolis.” “UPS Freight workers should expect to receive continued updates on the Teamster web site (www.teamster.org), as well as from local unions on how negotiations are progressing,” Hoffa said. “As the momentum builds, our freight and UPS Teamster members will continue to offer their support to UPS Freight workers, as we get closer to providing them with the fair pay and decent working conditions that they deserve.” |
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