March 9, 2010: UPS Freight Teamsters nationally have been demanding union action on widespread subcontracting violations. And they seem to have gotten the ear of our Teamster leadership.

The International Union announced at the end of the national grievance panel that it will take a “lead case” from Dallas Local 745 to arbitration.

A recent TDU special report documented subcontracting violations across the country that are putting Teamster members out of work while subcontractors take our loads. Following the report, the Hoffa administration publicly acknowledged the problem for the first time.

The IBT issued a press release that declared subcontracting a “major issue” at UPS Freight. That’s not news to UPS Freight Teamsters who are losing work while subcontractors run wild.

Ken Hall, the International Vice President in charge of contract enforcement at UPS Freight, says the national grievance committee is doing “an outstanding job” on the issue and the lack of progress on reducing subcontracting is “absolutely not their fault.”

Hall said the union needs “to take on good cases with well-developed facts and supporting documentation to win grievances and arbitrations” and that “You can’t just walk in to an arbitrator to complain that something isn’t right, because you’re not going to win.”

That’s true. And that’s why UPS Freights stewards and members across the country have been collecting evidence to document subcontracting violations. We thought the issue was well-documented and not just in Dallas!

The International Union could help by providing stewards and members with guidelines on the facts and documentation they need to win subcontracting grievances.

UPS Freight Teamsters have shown they will step up to enforce our contract. The International Union needs to do the same.

Click here to have your say. Send a comment or report on what’s happening with subcontracting and other issues at UPS Freight in your area.

Click here to read the Teamster press release on subcontracting.