June 6, 2012: The International Union announced that early bargaining will begin with UPS on Sept. 27 with limited bargaining over workplace issues like production harassment, technology, over-dispatch, and full-time job creation.

Negotiations will begin in Washington with just three weeks dedicated to what Ken Hall called, "operations issues."

With just three weeks to deal with all the problems that have exploded over the last four years working UPSers will need to speak up if we want our issues heard in contract talks this fall. 

Early bargaining will reportedly be suspended during peak and then resume in January.

At that time, workplace issues will be off the table and the IBT and UPS will negotiate economics: wages, pensions, and health benefits.

The Teamster press release says that relevant operations issues include: subcontracting, workload, and safety and health. But that just scratches the surface of problems facing working Teamster at UPS. 

To continue earning big profits in a down economy, UPS management has been on a production push: reducing the number of drivers and full-time 22.3 workers and using technology, harassment, and excessive loads to squeeze more work out of a shrinking workforce.

While many drivers have too much work, many part-time workers want the opportunity to work more guaranteed hours, earn overtime or get a full-time 22.3 or driving job.

Contract negotiations come only once every five years. They're the only chance we get to negotiate improvements on contract language that makes or breaks our quality of work life, including protections from: production harassment, technology, unfair discipline for "dishonesty", 9.5 violations (including intimidation against members who go on the 9.5 list), full-time 22.3 job elimination, subcontracting, and creation of full-time driving jobs.

TDU's Make UPS Deliver network is bringing together UPSers who are concerned about these and other issues. Click here to send us a message. Let us know what issues matter most to you and find out more how you can get involved in the campaign to win a good contract.