August 14, 2009: Teamsters Local 2727 will take a strike vote of 1,400 UPS plane mechanics by Sept. 14.
The company wants Teamster mechanics and retirees to start contributing to their health insurance premiums. Management also wants to reduce coverage.
Because they are covered by the Railway Labor Act, the mechanics can only strike if the National Mediation Board says UPS and the Teamsters are at impasse.
UPS hauled in $22.8 billion in revenue in the first quarter and made $930 million in profits. Big Brown projects to make $91.2 billion in revenue for the year and $8.7 billion in profit – all this according to their newly released second quarter earnings report.
UPS CEO Carole Tomé’s Better, Not Bigger strategy is about cutting volume and Teamster jobs. South Carolina Local 509 has fought back and won new driver positions. Shop Stewards John Gacsey and Russell Sires share how the fight played out in their building in Palmetto.
