We want to give our support and solidarity to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in their victory in the contract battle with UPS. Militants in the Teamsters have demanded an uncompromising approach to contract negotiations. Since August of last year, the new leadership of the Teamsters listened to the members and launched a massive contract campaign, a breath of fresh air in the labor movement. As a result, they have achieved huge gains at UPS, reversing decades of Hoffa concessions. Members are looking over the tentative agreement now in preparation of voting it up or down.
Atlanta, GA – On July 26 Amazon workers and community members picketed ATL 6, the Atlanta Amazon Sortation Center. The Amazon drivers in Palmdale, CA extended picket lines to Atlanta as part of their unfair labor practice (ULP) strike against Amazon. The Palmdale Amazon Drivers voted to join Teamsters Local 396 earlier this year and ratified a contract shortly thereafter. Amazon responded to the workers forming a union by retaliating and terminating the newly organized drivers. As a result, the Drivers began their ULP strike.
Seattle, WA – On July 25, about 45 people participated in a practice picket outside a UPS warehouse in South Seattle shortly before 8 a.m. A UPS driver with Local 174, Giselle Neumann, led the crowd in chants of “Hell naw, you did us raw!” and “Hell no, pay me mo’!”
On Tuesday, July 25, the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement for the UPS 2023-2028 contract which covers 340,000 workers across the country. The agreement follows a rank-and-file campaign for a strong contract that resulted in a 97% strike authorization vote in June, and practice pickets all around the country in July in the lead up to a potential national strike on August 1.
Dallas, TX – On July 19, Teamsters and their supporters gathered at the UPS hub in Dallas to practice picketing for a possible strike this upcoming August 1. The strike would come at the end of a contract that contained inadequate pay and safety provisions for drivers and other workers. Teamsters practiced picketing and chants, such as “No pay, no work,” “What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now!” and “UPS, show me the money!” After practicing to picket, participants gathered to take a group photo together.
Minneapolis, MN – Over the weekend of July 21and 22, members of Minnesota Workers United took to the streets in Minneapolis and Eagan, a Minneapolis suburb, with hundreds of UPS workers who are members of Teamsters Local 638 and their supporters. The workers and solidarity supporters conducted practice-pickets to show their readiness to strike if UPS doesn’t meet their demands for a new contract by August 1.
Atlanta GA – On July 21, waste workers at Republic Services, who are represented by Teamsters Local 728 in Atlanta, rallied in support of a potential strike. The rally was held less than two weeks after 95% of waste workers in Local 728 voted to authorize a strike if the company refuses to offer a decent contract before July 31.
Los Angeles, CA – Chants of “Who are we? Teamsters!” and “Union power!” filled the street on July 19 at the UPS Olympic hub during a strike solidarity rally.
Grand Rapids, MN – At 6 a.m., July 15, around 200 members of Teamsters Local 346 walked off their jobs at the UPM Blandin Paper Company and began a strike. Grand Rapids gets its name because it sits along the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota. The UPM Blandin paper plant was built in its location on the edge of the river to use the river to power its paper mill. The plant has been an established feature of the town’s economy since its founding in 1901. Now, for the first time in the history of the plant its workers have gone on strike.
Landover, MD – On July 7 approximately 100 Teamsters of the Local 639 organized a practice picket outside their workplace in preparation for a potential strike.
Chicago, IL – On July 14, 300 workers turned out for the latest practice picket and rally at the UPS Jefferson Street Hub on the Near West Side of Chicago. International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 705 and Local 710 organized this event, which was the largest of many practice pickets in the Chicago area that occurred throughout the week. Flyers promoting the event read, “Chicago Teamsters stand up to UPS greed!”
Jacksonville, FL – 40 members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) rallied near the Jacksonville United Parcel Service Hub on the morning of July 12. Officials from IBT Local 512 called for members to hold a “practice picket” like others held around the country. These practice pickets are part of the overall Teamster campaign to win a good national contract at UPS. Teamsters around the country are prepared to go on strike come August 1 if their demands for higher wages and better working conditions in the new contract are not met by the company.
Chicago IL – 70 workers and community members marched outside of UPS’s Morgan Street Hub on the South Side of Chicago, July 11. This was one of many practice pickets that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 705, is organizing at UPS centers across the Chicago area. This comes as negotiations between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Parcel Service (UPS) remain at a standstill, primarily over pay for part-time workers.
Sunnyvale, CA – On July 6, members of the Teamsters union at the UPS Hub in Sunnyvale, in the San Francisco Bay area, held a picket in the lead-up to their contract expiring and a potential nationwide strike.
Commerce City, CO – After the contract negotiation fallout between UPS and the Teamsters a week before, 300 workers marched outside the UPS Commerce City Hub just outside Denver, Colorado, July 9. Teamsters Local 455 is holding practice pickets which have been exploding across the country as the Teamsters keep up their fight for a strong UPS contract August 1.
On Sunday, July 16 at 3 p.m. Pacific time (4 p.m. Mountain / 5 p.m. Central / 6 p.m. Eastern), Freedom Road Socialist Organization will be hosting an online event entitled “UPS Teamsters on the Frontlines” featuring rank-and-file Teamsters, some of whom are FRSO members, speaking on the latest in their current struggle for a contract with UPS.
Milwaukee, WI – On July 6, Local 344 Teamsters held practice pickets at the Elm Grove UPS location to gear up for the potential nationwide strike in August.
New Orleans, LA – On July 1, fifteen people gathered for a panel at the Nora Navra Library to hear report backs from the successful unionization of two local Starbucks coffee stores. The panel also included a report from the frontlines of the UPS-Teamster contract negotiations.
Atlanta, GA – UPS Teamsters across the state of Georgia are holding practice pickets at UPS facilities this week as negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS have begun to break down. The practice picketing is part of a national mobilization of rank-and-file Teamsters to prepare for a strike at UPS and to let the company know that the Teamsters are serious about striking for a good contract.
