UPS Teamsters to conduct nationwide pickets with one month left until contract expiration
On Thursday June 22, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) announced a nationwide call-to-arms. The IBT is calling on all locals to enact a “practice picket” at UPS distributions centers around the U.S., to be held as soon as possible. The aim is to show United Parcel Service (UPS) a strong hand as negotiations continue.
With 35 days left before the Teamster’s national contract expires, the move is bold, yet is consistent with the newly elected General President Sean O’Brien’s fast-action style of leadership. The IBT sent materials out to every local, which includes flyers, chant sheets and picket signs reading “JUST practicing for a JUST contract” in the leadup to the pickets.
The UPS and Teamsters negotiating committees exchanged economic proposals recently after reaching agreement on a wide array of non-economic language. The IBT demanded significant wage increases for part-timers and full-timers, and an end to a lower paid class of drivers coined as “22.4s” in their existing contract. UPS issued a counter proposal with significantly lower wage increases of 50 cents every year. They also sought to keep drivers’ wage increases low. Additionally, UPS’s proposals would curb 22.4 drivers pay from ever reaching top-rate, that regular package car drivers can attain.
The company’s proposal has been met as an attack by working UPS Teamsters and further fueled organizing on the shop floor towards a strike on August 1 if no deal has been reached.
This fight is front and center to many in the labor movement across the U.S. and seen as a crucial fight to uplift the working class as a whole and many in the Teamsters union at UPS feel it could play a key role in emboldening a new wave of strikes and unionization across the country as others in the working class see over 340,000 UPS workers fighting back.
The recent strike authorization vote was resounding with 97% voting “yes” to strike, which shows UPS management and the world that UPS Teamsters are ready to strike if needed to get across the finish line with a contract that meets their demands.
“This practice picket is important as it’s the training ground where our solidarity will be on display. It will show our commitment for a contract we deserve,” said rank-and-file UPS worker and Teamster Victor Rodriguez from IBT Local 396 in Los Angeles, California.
By flexing their muscles through practice pickets, the Teamsters have a real opportunity to show UPS management that they are strike-ready and gain insightful experience before a potential nationwide strike beginning on August 1.
To find out how to get involved, UPS Teamsters are asked to contact their union locals and ask how they can organize or participate in their own pickets at their hubs.