January 22, 2008

(Washington, D.C.) – An overwhelming majority of workers at the UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) terminals in the Oakland, California and Seattle, Washington areas have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters. About 300 drivers and dockworkers are employed at the terminals, bringing the total number of UPS Freight workers who have submitted cards to more than 1,100 since last week, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced.

“Now more than 1,100 workers at UPS Freight have taken the step to a more secure future,” Hoffa said. “The momentum is moving this campaign forward fast.”

The Oakland-area workers are employed at a terminal in San Leandro, California and are seeking to join Local 70 in Oakland. The Seattle-area workers are employed at terminals in Tukwila and in Kent, both in Washington, and seek to join Local 174 in Seattle.

“The workers here in the Oakland area are very eager to become Teamsters—we gathered a majority of cards in just four days,” said Chuck Mack, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 70 and a Teamsters International Vice President. “This campaign is a successful collaboration between our local union, the Joint Council and the International Union.”

“In recent years, we have fallen behind in this industry, so it’s great to see UPS Freight workers joining the Teamsters to gain the job security, fair pay and excellent benefits they deserve,” said Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 174.

In addition to the workers in Oakland and Seattle, a majority of 833 workers in New England, Memphis and Detroit have submitted cards to become Teamsters.

“With the cards submitted by the Oakland and Seattle workers, we have surpassed the 1,000 milestone, and we will continue to help UPS Freight workers fight for a brighter future,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Package Division.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.