Former Local 996 Member Wins UPS Settlement

Former Local 996 Member Wins UPS Settlement

Case Involved Unfair Treatment

December 23, 2003

A former member of Local 996 in Honolulu who worked as a driver at UPS has settled a discrimination complaint with the company for $150,000.

Carlos Harris, a four-year employee of UPS, was fired in September 1998 for using an obscenity during a telephone call with a supervisor.

Local 996 filed a grievance, and an arbitrator upheld the termination. The case then proceeded through the legal system. While Harris ultimately lost his court challenge, he filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that UPS punished him more severely than other workers accused of the same violation.

This month, Harris settled the discrimination complaint for $150,000. UPS also agreed to develop an anti-discrimination training program for managers and supervisors.

“Jack Bookter, who at the time was Western Region Director for the Parcel and Small Package Division, did a great job fighting on Carlos’ behalf,” said Mark Komomua, a Local 996 Business Agent. “We sent the message that UPS cannot discriminate against our members.”