April 10, 2009: New Jersey Local 177 bargained groundbreaking contract language on supervisors working in the new contract.

Now that language is being put to the test.

Representing more than 8,000 Teamsters in New Jersey, Local 177 is one of the largest and most powerful UPS locals in the Eastern Region.

Local 177 is one of a handful of large locals with its own supplement to the UPS national contract. In the last bargaining round, the local used its clout to negotiate new supplemental language that imposes stiffer penalties for supervisors working than the national contract.

Now the local is headed to arbitration on cases that will put this language to the test.

Under the Local 177 Supplement, UPS has to pay two times the hourly rate for the actual time worked by the supervisor. This is the same language as the national contract.

Tougher Penalties

But the Local 177 Supplement imposes stiffer penalties on subsequent violations. The second time the same supervisor is caught doing bargaining unit work, the contract imposes a penalty of double-time pay for a minimum of two-hours—or the actual hours worked, whichever is greater.

The third time that the same supervisor is caught working, the minimum double-time pay penalty is increased to four hours at double time—or the actual hours worked, whichever is greater.

Documenting Violations

Local 177 stewards, members and business agents have worked together for months to document supervisors working violations. Business agents even have photos of repeat violators—which will make it pretty difficult for the company to deny the violations.

To protect members from discipline, only local union staff photograph violations.

The local has a number of arbitrations coming up, each one targeting multiple violations by individual supervisors. Focusing on individual supervisors will enable the local to use the 2-hour and 4-hour minimum double-time penalties negotiated in the supplement.

The first arbitration is scheduled for April 24.