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Progress Continues As Stewards Take Active Role August 31, 2007 With momentum on their side, Teamster negotiators returned to the table with UPS Freight during the week of August 27 in Indianapolis, and rank-and-file members played a key role in the talks. The co-chairman of the union’s negotiating committee expects a tentative agreement very soon. “I fully expect that we will have an agreement for the Indianapolis workers to vote on by the end of September,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division who is Co-Chairman of the union’s UPS Freight negotiating committee. Three stewards—a city driver, a road driver and a hostler—all participated in the talks. “It’s exciting and I’m proud to be participating in these negotiations,” said David Osborn, a 21-year employee of UPS Freight and its predecessor, Overnite Transportation, who is a city driver. “We’re making history here.” “The union’s leadership is including us and that makes us feel good,” said UPS Freight road driver Jesse Nicholson, a 19-year employee. “They care about what we have to say at the table—our opinions count. We’re making headway and things are going good.” Neal Hylton, a hostler and 21-year employee, agreed. “We’ve made a lot of progress,” he said. “I’m looking at the big picture. I’m looking beyond myself. I’m looking to negotiate protections that could affect UPS Freight workers in other cities if they choose to become Teamsters.” The rank-and-file members’ help was praised. “Having our members take an active role in the negotiations is very beneficial to our entire committee,” Hall said. “Our rank-and-file members are the people who are on the front lines every day, who know the issues better than anyone else,” said Greg Alden, an International Union Representative with the Teamsters National Freight Division, who attended talks this week. “We can’t do our jobs without them.” The committee continues to make solid progress in its hard push to reach a tentative agreement as soon as possible. Progress continues to be made on the non-economic issues, and work has begun on economic issues. “No group of UPS Freight workers are as anxious as the Teamster members here in Indianapolis,” said Brian Buhle, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 135 in Indianapolis. “But we are moving ahead well and we will negotiate a very strong contract that will benefit the 125 members in Indianapolis. We also hope that it serves as a model contract for the thousands of other UPS Freight workers nationwide. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.” Dates are currently being set for final bargaining sessions in the coming weeks.
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