Teamsters Now Represent Nearly All UPS Freight Drivers and Dockworkers Eligible to Join Union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS173751+09-Oct-2009+PRN20091009

Fri Oct 9, 2009 4:37pm EDT

Teamsters Now Represent Nearly All UPS Freight Drivers and Dockworkers
Eligible to Join Union


Nebraska Workers Ratify Contract; Maryland, Kansas Workers Sign Cards


WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of
Teamsters now represent nearly all of the 12,600 UPS Freight drivers and
dockworkers eligible to join the union, announced Teamsters General President
Jim Hoffa.


Nearly 100 workers in Nebraska, Maryland and Kansas recently signed
authorization cards to become Teamsters. In Omaha, Neb., 55 workers
represented by Local 554 recently ratified their first-ever contract
unanimously. The Federalsburg, Md., and Wichita, Kan., workers will be holding
ratification votes soon.


The Teamsters kicked off the organizing campaign in 2006 when the union
organized UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) workers in
Indianapolis and negotiated a contract with the company that was ratified by a
107-1 vote in October 2007. The Teamsters won a card-check agreement from UPS
in December 2007, and in January 2008, launched its nationwide campaign.


By November 2008, the Teamsters represented more than 12,400 UPS Freight
workers in 42 states. The Teamsters now represent all but two UPS Freight
locations that employ 50 workers


"Our continued success to organize UPS Freight workers is a great victory,"
Hoffa said. "They were determined to become Teamsters and we are proud to have
them among our ranks."


"These drivers and dockworkers have shown a great commitment to joining the
Teamsters and we look forward to representing them," said Teamsters Package
Division Director Ken Hall. "We encourage UPS Freight workers who have not yet
signed cards to do so now so they can also start benefiting from a great
contract."

FULL story at link.