IBT to UPS Freight Teamsters: The Sound of Silence [1]
July 3, 2013: It's been over a week since UPS Freight Teamsters stood together from coast to coast and said no to the company's ridiculous first offer. Where did Ken Hall and our Teamster leadership go?
Brother Hall, this is no time to disappear. We have given you the leverage you need to tell UPS Freight that the Teamster rank and file—against the unanimous recommendation of you and the negotiating committee—stood strong.
Tell them that to get a contract, they need to meet our reasonable demands:
- Language banning subcontracting of Teamster work, and no substandard LHD board.
- Pension improvements: raise the accrual to keep pace with inflation.
- No premiums for health insurance: Why is our contract the only Teamster trucking contract that forces members to pay premiums?
- Raises of $1/hour each year—or at least match the UPS package raises, as we did in the first contract.
If they do, we will continue doing the outstanding work that Teamsters are capable of. And if they refuse, we will stand ready to say No even louder.
Time for Members to Step Forward
Now is the time to make a difference. Let's show management that members are informed, organized and ready to Vote No again if necessary to win a fair contract.
You can download a leaflet on the issues [2] to distribute at your terminal and on the road.
Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) is looking for concerned UPS Freight Teamsters who want to work together to win contract improvements. Click here to contact TDU with your questions or to get involved today. [3]
We can and will win—if we keep building solidarity.
You can see the local-by-local chart [4] of votes here.