March 20, 2012: The UPS Freight National Grievance Committee met March 7-9 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but the International Union only managed to win one (1) grievance at those hearings.

The committee deadlocked 12 cases. Under Article 7, Section 5c, the union must submit a deadlocked grievance to arbitration within ten days. However, working Teamsters are still waiting for a resolution of the lone grievance that has been taken to arbitration thus far. Another hearing for that arbitration is scheduled for April 25.

The union prevailed on only one (1) case – an Article 5, Section 1 grievance – and the grievant won 40 hours pay with no precedent established.

The committee found in favor of the company on six grievances. Two cases were referred back to the Company and Union for review. Another grievance was denied but the grievant was "allowed to return to part-time with no back pay." One case was deemed to have "no specific case...however, any specific case may be adjudicated in the future."

Four grievances were settled or withdrawn. Four more were "withdrawn with rights." Eight cases were postponed and 44 were put on committee hold.

So 24 cases were heard. And then another 60 didn't even get heard. And just one grievance was won, on a minor matter which set no precedent.

The minutes are here for you to see for yourself.

That's a lot of losses, deadlocks, and gibberish to win one small grievance. And a lot of union officials in Florida, too.

It's clear that UPS Freight Teamsters will never see any good results on grievances under this agreement, no matter how many times union and company officials head to Florida.

We need a plan to show we are ready and organized to win substantial improvements in the 2013 contract. Without real change, it will be the same rope-a-dope grievance panels for the next contract. Change is not going to come from Hoffa and Hall.

Get involved. Become part of the national network which is uniting members to demand real contact enforcement. UPS Freight Teamsters launched a website to discuss contract issues and strategies for winning a good contract next year. Click here to visit UPSFreightTalk.org.