UPS Freight Deal Is Over

October 18, 2006. The neutrality agreement with UPS Freight, announced by James Hoffa in dramatic fashion in Las Vegas this June is now officially over. UPS Freight spokesman Ira Rosenfeld emphasized to Traffic World that the Teamsters would be bargaining for “one location only” and that the neutrality deal is now void.

A “neutrality and card check” agreement with a company allows our union to organize without company opposition, and when a majority of workers join the Teamsters, the company agrees to bargain.  Hoffa claimed that he had such a deal with UPS Freight (formerly Overnite), but it later was revealed that it covered only one terminal, with less than one percent of UPS Freight’s workers.

The International targeted UPS Freight in Indianapolis, quickly got a majority of cards signed, and will start negotiations with UPS Freight Indianapolis in September.

Bargaining with one terminal out of 200 with UPS will not be easy. When the Teamsters organized 37 Overnite terminals, Hoffa could not bargain a contract.

The neutrality and card check deal will revive only if the IBT wins it (along with an acceptable union contract that does not undercut our national UPS and freight contracts) in a signed agreement with UPS Freight in Indianapolis. UPS members have also raised the issue in contract proposal meetings that neutrality be won not only for UPS Freight, but all UPS nonunion operations.

Get Advice Join TDU Donate

Recent News

The 2026 Teamster Election

The two-year process for electing Teamster International Union officers is underway. Here is what you need to know about the process and how to participate.

Watch Webinar: Enforcing Heat Safety Rights at UPS

UPS Teamsters won new contract language protecting our right to work safely when temperatures rise. Watch the webinar to learn about heat safety rights under Article 18 of the contract and how to enforce them. Then scroll for resources, including heat safety wallet cards, printable fact sheets, and a parking lot meeting guide.

View More News Posts