Teamsters held the line on union proposals during supplemental negotiations with UPS last week. While some progress was made on various proposals from the union, the overall pace of bargaining remains slow as UPS refuses to discuss economic provisions. Thirteen supplemental negotiating committees met last week, pushing the company hard on member proposals for more holidays and sick days, improved bidding and grievance procedures, more full-time jobs, and fixes to payroll issues. Other topics discussed in bargaining sessions last week included seniority lists, part-time overtime, MRAs, vacation accruals, breaks for part-timers, 6th punch, seniority rights for part-timers, and meal periods.

While UPS negotiators in some parts of the country are still attempting to pursue cost-neutral bargaining despite UPS’s record profits, they were met with unified Teamster resistance to a cost-neutral contract and a firm rejection to all concessionary proposals. Twelve supplemental negotiating committees have bargaining meetings with the company scheduled for this week ahead of the kickoff of national negotiations on April 17.

Here are the latest updates on Local supplemental negotiations as of April 10:

Cartage Services, Inc.

The CSI Negotiating Committee met with the company on April 3 to discuss local rider addendums in the Central Region. There was a total of 15 tentative agreements reached between CSI locals and UPS, including one proposal on getting a better job description when bidding on a route. Many subcontracting issues remain open. There is strong consensus among every local union in the Central Region and throughout the country that those subcontracting issues are a primary concern. No new bargaining dates have been scheduled with the company at this time.

Central Pennsylvania Supplement

The Central Pennsylvania Supplement Negotiating Committee did not meet with UPS last week. At previous meetings, tentative agreements were reached on 14 proposals, including a Teamster proposal that creates more opportunities for full-time job creation and another that updates bidding procedures. The next bargaining dates are set for April 25-28.

The International Union has launched a national training program to prepare rank-and-file members to win the strongest contract in UPS history. See below for details:

Monthly Membership Meetings are an important aspect of keeping the Members informed on the status of the Local Union. From the reading of the minutes and the financial report to reports from the Business Agents much information is disseminated at the meetings. The April 2, 2023, monthly meeting was doubly important because the membership helped chart the Local Union’s future.

A presentation was made to the members on the topic of purchasing another building to replace the current Union Hall on Jefferson Street. There was much discussion and many questions from the membership concerning the purchase. Once all the questions were answered to everyone’s satisfaction, the motion was put to a vote. By unanimous vote of the Members in attendance the Membership approved the purchase of another building to house Local 776.

With the backing of the Membership the Local Union will now move forward with the purchase of another building to meet the Locals Unions, needs now and in the future.

As we head into national negotiations at UPS and continue taking in-person action at our buildings, we also need to coordinate in digital spaces to win the strong contract that we deserve. The International is assembling a network of UPS Teamsters Digital Activists to amplify our message about this historic contract fight. The company has a plan to move its message to the public using social media platforms and influencers. We need to let the world know that UPS Teamsters are united and we are owed the best contract in UPS history – and we need to be ready to cut through any of the company’s propaganda that says otherwise. Tap below to join the network and be included in emails and text messages with content to push on social media.

https://teamster.org/ups-teamsters-digital-activist/

Teamsters put UPS on notice during supplemental bargaining meetings throughout the country last week, refusing the company’s outrageous insistence on cost-neutral agreements. While some progress was made on various proposals by the union, Teamsters also saw some disturbing backsliding by the company. As 11 supplemental negotiating committees held meetings with UPS last week, Teamster committee chairs continued to remind the company of the fast-approaching deadline. At the same time, UPS negotiators chose to either ignore economic proposals altogether or ask that such proposals be paid for with concessions elsewhere.

All supplemental negotiating committees are holding firm against concessions while presenting proposals for more paid time off (sick days and holidays), stronger seniority and bidding language, improved grievance procedures, stronger language against subcontracting, and more. Teamster committees are getting regular support from the Package Division as the International Union pressures UPS to stop its delay tactics and wrap up supplements. Supplemental negotiating committees have made it clear to the company that UPS is delusional if it thinks there will be a cost-neutral contract after it raked in more than $13 billion in profit last year thanks to the hard work of our members.

Here are the latest updates on area supplemental negotiations as of April 3:

Cartage Services, Inc.

The CSI Negotiating Committee met with the company from March 27-30. No new tentative agreements were reached. The committee remains locked on preserving existing line haul and local cartage runs and securing additional runs while stopping the company’s ability to subcontract work away from the bargaining unit. No new bargaining dates are scheduled with the company at this time.

Central Pennsylvania Supplement

The Central Pennsylvania Supplement Negotiations Committee did not meet with UPS last week. At previous meetings, tentative agreements were reached on 14 proposals, including a Teamster proposal that creates more opportunities for full-time job creation and another that updates bidding procedures and allows full-time cover drivers and temporary cover drivers to bid weekly on available work. A total of 98 union proposals and 43 company proposals have been exchanged. The next bargaining dates are set for April 25-28.

National negotiations kick off on April 17. Let’s send General President Sean M. O’Brien, General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, and the rest of our National Negotiating Committee into negotiations with a powerful message to the company – a message of unstoppable unity.

It’s time for UPS to pay up and deliver the strong, historic contract we deserve.

Follow the link below to view the rally:

Negotiations Kick-Off Rally

General President Sean M. O'Brien, General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, and Package Division Coordinator Johnny Sawyer met with Congressional staff on Capitol Hill this week to discuss upcoming national negotiations with UPS. Ending the 22.4 two-tier wage system, excessive heat, surveillance and harassment, higher wages, and stronger benefits for Teamsters were all addressed.

“Instead of investing resources into its workforce, UPS is already sending lobbyists to Washington to curry favor with politicians and run the traditional playbook of Corporate America. We want everyone in UPS management and everyone in Washington to understand the Teamsters aren’t playing games here,” O’Brien said. “Our union is powerful, more united than ever, and ready to fight. We will get the strongest possible contract for our members at UPS. There is no alternative.”

During the discussion, O’Brien made clear to Congressional staff members that negotiations had far-reaching implications for millions of American workers and the entire labor movement.

“Negotiations will begin on April 17 and if we don’t have a new collective bargaining agreement in place by August 1, there will be a major issue with supply chain solutions. The Teamsters don’t want a strike with any employer. If UPS chooses not to reward workers and if they fail to acknowledge the sacrifices that our members make to ensure this company remains successful, it will be UPS that disrupts parcel delivery in the United States. The Teamsters will set the standard for a strong union contract and our members will receive what they’ve rightfully earned.”

O’Brien and Zuckerman also met with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in his Senate office following the Congressional briefing. Sanders rallied with UPS Teamsters and other union members throughout 2022 and has remained a committed partner in the fight to protect working people.

Package Division Coordinator Johnny Sawyer, IBT President Sean O'Brien, and IBT Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman (Center L-R) address Capitol Hill Staff

Senator Sanders presents copies of his latest book to Fred Zuckerman (L) and Sean Obrien

The International Union has launched a national training program to prepare rank-and-file members to win the strongest contract in UPS history. We invite all UPS members to take part in this program: hear from organizers and trainers about the bargaining process; learn strategies for mobilizing your co-workers; find out how to map your workplace and build communications networks; get the tools you need to build effective Contract Action Teams in your local. Winning the contract we deserve is not a spectator sport. We will need every member engaged, educated, and motivated in this fight. To make UPS deliver on our demands, we need Teamsters in every UPS local nationwide who are ready to take action with their brothers and sisters! Follow the link below to register:

https://teamsters.eventsair.com/ups-trainings/ups-training/Site/Register

The Teamsters’ supplemental negotiating committees are holding firm against UPS’s concessionary proposals. In bargaining meetings with the company last week, 11 supplements continued to hold the line on issues ranging from 22.4s to market rate adjustments (MRA), and PVDs. With UPS negotiators initially dragging their feet and failing to take bargaining seriously, supplemental negotiating committees saw more movement on the company’s side as committee chairs reminded UPS of the looming April 17 deadline.

General President Sean M. O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman are making it clear to UPS that the company needs to make significantly more movement before national negotiations begin.

Teamsters are aggressively pushing proposals to win more days off (including sick days, MLK Day, and Juneteenth), rein in supervisors working, address payroll issues, and reject PVDs. Negotiating committees are also fighting to strengthen seniority rights and bumping language, end forced 6th and 7th punch, put more teeth in the grievance procedure to stop unfair discipline, and strengthen language around guaranteed hours, bidding, discharge, and suspensions.

Here are the latest area updates on supplemental negotiations as of March 27:

Cartage Services, Inc.

The CSI Negotiating Committee met with the company on March 21-22. Tentative agreements were reached on 10 proposals on CSI articles and sections within the Master Southern Region Agreement. The next bargaining dates are set for March 27-28.

Central Pennsylvania Supplement

The Central Pennsylvania Supplement Negotiating Committee met with UPS on March 21-24. Tentative agreements have been reached on 14 proposals, including a Teamster proposal that creates more opportunities for full-time job creation and another that updates bidding procedures and allows full-time cover drivers and temporary cover drivers to bid weekly on available work. A total of 98 union proposals and 43 company proposals have been exchanged. The company also withdrew several of its regressive proposals. The next bargaining dates are set for April 25-28.

ABM shuttle drivers transport UPS employees to their job sites at the sprawling Worldport facility in Louisville, Kentucky. Seventy percent of the shuttle drivers signed union authorization cards with Local 89 and then demanded that management recognize their union but management refused. Workers and Teamsters Local 89 turned up the heat. Instead of going through a lengthy NLRB election process, ABM workers announced they planned to go on strike to win union recognition. UPS Teamsters at Worldport would have the right to honor the strike line of ABM workers. With the threat of a shutdown at Worldport looming, ABM folded. They agreed to recognize their workers as Teamsters if a neutral arbitrator determined that Local 89 had majority support. With a super-majority of cards in hand, victory and union recognition was theirs. The newly organized Teamsters are gearing up for contract proposal meetings and negotiations. Drivers haven’t seen a raise in two years and their health benefits have eroded over time. Safety is another major concern. ABM shuttle buses are in disrepair–from failing breaks to   headlights–and requests for repairs have gone ignored. “People were fed up with what was going on and ready for a change,” said Curtis Durst, a former Worldport shuttle driver. Durst was fired by ABM for his organizing efforts, but continued to organize his former coworkers to sign cards. Local 89 is fighting for Durst’s reinstatement. The victory of these 190 shuttle drivers shows the power of a credible strike threat. “This is going to change the lives of 190 people and their families. And they all deserve it,” said Durst. “People should know that it is possible to win better.”

ABM Teamsters stand united!