November 21, 2012: UPS has told the Negotiating Committee it wants to expand into same-day deliveries. The Postal Service is experimenting with same-day delivery of online orders in San Francisco, with a new service called Metro Post. Amazon, eBay and Wal-Mart are also testing same-day delivery. In order to deliver a package on the same day it's shipped, the Post Office will have to get the pick-up request from the company between 2:00 and 3:00...

Increase Substandard Pensions "We need an increase in the UPS-Teamster pension for those of us who came out of the Central States. It's covered under Article 34 of the contract, so if we don't get an increase, we would be stuck for another five years." Chris JanssenLocal 90, Des Moines, Iowa Protect Jobs. End Subcontracting. "There's subcontracting language in our contract but when is it enforced? Ken Hall came to visit our terminal and management...

November 21, 2012 Brownout Hits Local UnionsThe International Union's information brownout is even keeping local officers in the dark. The International has not given Local Unions a copy of the company's bargaining proposals or the Union's own proposals on production harassment and 9.5, which Ken Hall says are priority issues. It's tough for members to back our bargaining committee when we don't even know what's being negotiated. Last time, the Information Brownout ended with Hoffa...

November 21, 2012: Part-time wages are at an all-time low at UPS. How much do part-timers deserve a raise? Consider these facts: The starting rate of $8.50 is less than minimum wage in some states. Before 1982, part-timers made the same wages as full-timers. That year, the starting rate was cut to $8. It has gone up just 50¢ in 30 years. If part-time wages had just kept up with inflation, then the starting wage...

November 26, 2012: UPS Freight Teamsters are under the same information Brownout as UPS parcel teamsters. Several bargaining sessions were held in October and November, but our union has yet to issue any updates or post information that would help unify our workforce to stand together for a good contract. Teamster Voice has learned that management has made a proposal to mingle the road operations of UPS Freight, Parcel and Cartage. We know well they...

November 20, 2012: Last August, a group of stewards and officers were invited to the IBT headquarters in Washington to discuss the contract issues we face at UPS Freight. I attended and wish to thank my local officers and the General Executive Board for the hard work they have been doing thus far on the negotiations. Many of us felt our contract was substandard, but it was the first so we expect a strong contract...

November 20, 2012: Concerned UPS Freight Teamsters have been working with TDU for some time to focus on what members need with our next contract. It's clear that the IBT listened when it came to putting the package of proposals together to bargain with UPS Freight management. Here are some of the key issues we discussed and what the IBT presented to the company. 1. Eliminate contractors taking Teamsters' work. No contractors to be allowed...

November 20, 2012: On October 4, a bunch of New Penn Teamsters near Boston showed up for work wearing skirts. Long skirts, short skirts, even plaid ones. The unusual attention-getting fashion choice of Teamsters was a protest against management harassment and pettiness. Article 12 of the National Master Freight Agreement says that “The Employer has the right to establish and maintain reasonable standards for wearing apparel and personal grooming.” Teamsters who interact with the public...

November 26, 2012: On November 29 officers from freight locals will meet in Kansas City to review the contract proposals that the International union will present to ABF.   ABF Teamsters have every reason to be concerned. Earlier this fall, the IBT mailed contract surveys to ABF employees.  The survey results have not been revealed to members or local unions, but the survey itself was worrisome. Some of the questions were fine, but others looked...

November 20, 2012: Two of the biggest Teamster Pension Plans have adopted a new pension model. What does it mean for members' pensions? Both the Central States Fund and the New England Pension Plan have a new pension model that may affect tens of thousands of Teamsters. Why are employers pushing for the new "Hybrid Plan" model? What will it mean for Teamsters' pensions? Companies are getting increasingly aggressive about getting out of defined-benefit union...