March 20, 2008: A Teamster mechanic is a quarter million dollars richer after settling an OSHA whistle-blower complaint at UPS.

Teamster Local 687 member Dan Petersen was fired by UPS after he reported trucks in its Watertown, NY building were unsafe.

Petersen successfully won his job back through his local union and then took on the company for violating federal whistle-blower protections.

According to OSHA, UPS has paid Petersen $254,000 and pledged “not in any way interfere with, coerce or restrain its employees from exercising their rights…”

UPS admitted no wrong-doing, showing it’s easier to get Brown to pay up then to come clean.

Whistle-blower protections protect workers’ rights to report safety and health problems without fear of termination or retaliation.

Want to learn more about your health and safety rights?

Click here to send TDU a health and safety question.

Click here to buy the STAA Handbook, a guide on how to use federal law to enforce truck safety and protect your job.

Click here to watch 7 News reports on Dan Petersen’s efforts to ensure truck safety at UPS in Watertown, N.Y.