April 24, 2008  

(Washington, D.C.) — An overwhelming majority of about 200 workers at UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) terminals in Utah have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters, bringing the total number of drivers and dockworkers who have signed cards to 10,400 since January 16, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced. The workers will be joining Local 222 in Salt Lake City.

“With this victory, a majority of UPS Freight workers in 37 states have submitted cards to become Teamsters,” said Teamsters Package Division Director Ken Hall. “We are nearing our goal of organizing 12,600 drivers and dockworkers at UPS Freight.”

“This victory has been a long time coming,” said Tom Monthey, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 222. “A contract will give them better benefits, better wages, a better life.”

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.

Beside Utah, a majority of UPS Freight workers have submitted cards in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, 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.