April 21, 2008  

(Washington, D.C.) — An overwhelming majority of about 100 workers at UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) terminals in Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters, bringing the total number of drivers and dockworkers who have signed cards to 10,100 since January 16, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced.

The workers will be joining Local 270 in New Orleans; Local 61 in Asheville, North Carolina; Local 509 in Charleston, S.C., and; Local 30 based in Jeannette, Pennsylvania.

“We continue to rack up organizing victories nationwide, including in right-to-work states. This shows the determination of UPS Freight workers to join the Teamsters to gain a strong contract and a strong voice in the workplace,” said Teamsters Package Division Director Ken Hall.

“This victory means a lot to the workers here in New Orleans, which is still in disarray from Hurricane Katrina,” said David Negrotto, President of Local 270. “By becoming Teamsters, these workers have just guaranteed themselves a good contract.”

“We have people calling us everyday, asking how they can join the Teamsters,” said L.D. Fletcher, President of Local 509. “This victory means a lot to UPS Freight workers in South Carolina. We are seeing our membership continue to grow.”

“The card check agreement that Ken Hall was able to get for us was priceless,” said Brian Ball, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 61. “That helped us tremendously in our victory.”

“This is a huge victory for the workers who tried for years to become Teamsters when they worked for Overnite,” said Ernie Gigliotti, President of Local 30. “We are proud to have them join us.”

Earlier this month, more than 89 percent of UPS Freight workers who are already Teamster members ratified a new contract, which improves wages, benefits and working conditions.

A majority of UPS Freight workers in 34 states have submitted cards: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Victories have come in numerous large cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

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