March 19, 2008  

(Washington, D.C.) – An overwhelming majority of nearly 350 workers at the UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) terminals in California, Colorado, Kentucky and Tennessee have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters, bringing the total number of drivers and dockworkers seeking to join the union to about 8,750 since January 16, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced.

The workers are seeking to join Local 287 in San Jose, California, Local 17 and Local 961 in the Denver, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs area, Local 519 in the Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee area, and Local 505 which includes Prestonburg, Kentucky.

“The number of workers that have signed cards in recent weeks has been overwhelming,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Package Division. “Their determination to become Teamsters will be rewarded with the union’s dedication to them to get them as strong a contract as we can.”

“Now these workers have union protection that they never had before,” said Midget Morgan, President of Local 505. “The workers are so excited to join the Teamsters.”

“These victories have been tremendously uplifting to all the workers across the country,” said Bob Blanchet, President of Local 287. “They see hope for a better future around the corner.” 

“Workers here have been concerned about their benefits slowly going away and were eager to join the Teamsters in order to get a contract,” said Chris Rodriguez, Vice-President and Business Agent of Local 17.

“This has been a long time coming and we look forward to a great relationship with the workers and with the company,” said Matt Fazakas, President of Local 961. “I also thank Mr. Hoffa and Ken Hall for leading our efforts.”

“The workers here were very united and committed and we got this done,” said Wes Trotterchaud, President of Local 519. “We’re sending the message that we are unified.”

In addition to these workers, a majority of UPS Freight workers in West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Indiana, California, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee Arizona, New York, Kentucky and New England, including the large cities of Baltimore, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, Nashville, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, San Diego, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Orlando, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Oakland, Seattle, Memphis, Detroit and Washington, D.C., have submitted cards to become Teamsters.

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