February 3, 2014: Eight months after it was first rejected by UPS Teamsters, the Indianapolis Local 135 Rider was approved by a vote of 551 to 357. Approval came after several changes were made to the rider in bargaining after the rejection.

The International Union did multiple mailings to members to encourage a yes vote. The mailings advertised the improvements made in TeamCare benefits since the first rejection, the changes made to the Rider, and played up the retroactive pay building up.

You can access the language in the rider here.

There is no end in sight to the UPS bargaining. The Western Pa and Philadelphia supplements were defeated by a 3-1 margin in the second vote, and the Louisville Air Rider is still not bargained. The Ohio Rider has also been rejected twice. It’s time for the International to step up to the plate, admit their mistakes and deal with the contract issues of concern to members.

Ken Hall is apparently going to step up the pressure on locals and members in supplemental areas which have not yet settled, as he hints about in a letter he sent to locals today.