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A little bit more ammo to prove that harassment is acceptable

Contract Working for UPS
Our working conditions are at an all-time low. But the current contract is working just fine for UPS. The company has been able to boost profits and cut costs.

In a terrible economy, UPS is making billions by squeezing more out of working Teamsters through longer hours, excessive loads, production harassment, and using Telematics and GPS technology to monitor (and push) drivers more than ever.

UPS has also boosted profits by eliminating full-time jobs—cutting air drivers, eliminating 22.3 positions, and reducing package jobs.

Cutting and combining routes is happening nationwide. Subcontracting is on the rise—in both feeders and package where work is going to the Post Office. Volume is up. But most centers still have fewer routes than they used to.

Money Won’t Stop Harassment
UPS was making record profits when they negotiated the last contract.

But union negotiators agreed to watered-down language that has helped UPS drive down our working conditions—including 9.5 (Article 37), new technology and “proven
dishonesty” (Article 6), and full-time job creation (Article 22.3).

UPS got what they wanted in exchange for giving the Teamsters 12,000 new dues-paying members at UPS Freight.

This year the danger is that Hoffa and Hall will settle short on the contract again as long as UPS throws money into Teamster benefit funds.

The Hoffa administration has made no secret that negotiating money into Teamster pension and health and welfare funds is their priority.

Of course, strong Teamster benefits are a top priority for working Teamsters too! But they’re only half the story.

More money won’t stop production harassment, excessive loads, subcontracting, full-time job elimination and declining working conditions. Only strong contract language can do that.