The Struggle at UPS
UPS workers confront wall of union-company collusion in local supplement fights
By Kayla Costa and Mark Witkowski, 27 March 2019
After the Teamsters unilaterally imposed the national contract last October, workers now confront efforts by union bureaucrats to push through local and regional supplemental agreements.
“There’s been a blackout from the union”
Teamsters locals use anti-democratic loopholes and deceit to impose sellout agreements
By Erik Schreiber, 21 February 2019
Adding insult to injury following the imposition of the national UPS contract last year, the Teamsters union is using anti-democratic procedures to ram through local supplemental agreements by overriding the express will of the membership.
“The union sold us out”
Chicago UPS drivers angered by Teamsters sellout contract
By George Marlowe, 25 January 2019
UPS drivers and warehouse workers in Chicago are opposed to the pro-company contracts imposed by the Teamsters across the country and are looking to mount a fight.
“Rather than strike, the union sold us out”
UPS workers in Rockford continue to speak out against sellout contract
By George Marlowe, 24 January 2019
Workers in the economically depressed Midwestern city of Rockford, Illinois, are seething with anger at the sellout contract imposed upon them by the Teamsters.
“We’re the ones doing the work, moving the packages and moving the world”
Rockford, Illinois UPS workers outraged by sellout Teamsters contract
By George Marlowe, 21 January 2019
UPS workers in the economically depressed midwestern city of Rockford, Illinois, have spoken out against the UPS-Teamsters contract.
“The Teamsters won’t fight for us. It’s not a good contract”
Chicago UPS workers speak out against sellout contract
By George Marlowe and Jessica Goldstein, 11 January 2019
UPS workers in the Chicago area spoke out against the local contract, which mirrors the contract proposal rejected by tens of thousands of UPS workers nationwide.
Teamsters union releases new sellout contracts for 15,000 Midwest UPS workers
By George Marlowe, 28 December 2018
The planned sellouts in Chicago and across three US states are all the more significant because of the central role played by the Teamsters for a Democratic Union.
UPS worker dies of heart attack; UPS Freight lays off part-timers over holidays
Workplace nightmare after Teamsters sellout
By Will Morrow, 22 December 2018
Peak season is the most profitable of the year and UPS earns billions in profits on the back of countless workers’ broken bones, ripped fingers and deaths.
UPS workers describe company reign of terror in wake of Teamsters sellout
By Will Morrow, 19 December 2018
It is more than two months since the Teamsters union illegitimately ratified a sellout, five-year national labor contract covering a quarter of a million UPS workers.
After campaign of threats and intimidation, Teamsters announces “yes” vote on sellout UPS Freight contract
By Will Morrow, 12 November 2018
The vote is in effect a declaration of no confidence in the union by workers, who know it would not wage any struggle for their interests.
Break the isolation of UPS Freight workers! Form rank-and-file committees to unite workers against the company!
By the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 10 November 2018
If approved, the contract would create a new tier of lower-paid drivers, maintain poverty-level wages of part-time warehouse dockworkers, and continue the undermining of full-time positions.
“The Teamsters union is with the company”
UPS workers oppose Teamsters isolation of freight division, call for united struggle
By Will Morrow, 9 November 2018
The union is seeking to reduce the voter turnout to below 50 percent in order to use a constitutional loophole to declare the contract ratified.
UPS Freight, Teamsters to workers: Vote “yes” or face lockout and lose your health care
By Will Morrow, 7 November 2018
The Teamsters union has already declared it will refuse to call out UPS small package workers in the event of a strike or lockout in the freight division.
As workers’ opposition grows to Teamsters contract, UPS Freight prepares for strike
By Will Morrow, 3 November 2018
Workers voted by more than 62 percent to reject the UPS Freight contract on October 5.
Chicago Teamsters local announces end to UPS contract extension
By George Marlowe, 2 November 2018
The union is seeking to reach a concessions contract with management while preventing a rebellion among rank-and-file workers.
Teamsters forces UPS Freight workers to vote again on rejected sellout contract
By Will Morrow, 30 October 2018
The union is threatening workers if they vote “no” again it will isolate them and refuse to conduct any struggle for a better contract.
Funeral to be held today for UPS worker Andy Schanding, killed on the job in Lexington, Kentucky
By Will Morrow, 27 October 2018
Andy, 43, leaves behind a loving family, including his wife of 21 years, Sarah Dixon Schanding, a son Elliot and daughter Emilee.
“We should all be fighting together”
Teamsters union isolates 8,500 Chicago UPS workers
By George Marlowe, 26 October 2018
After defying the UPS workers’ “no” vote, the Teamsters is isolating thousands of Chicago-area workers.
After Teamsters overrule “no” vote on contract, UPS earnings up 20 percent
By Will Morrow, 25 October 2018
The continuous growth in profits is facilitated by the Teamsters union, which functions as an instrument of UPS management and cheap labor contractor.
“The union rammed all these things down our throats”
UPS prepares to impose contract after Teamsters defy workers ‘no’ vote
By Will Morrow, 22 October 2018
Workers have reported that management has already begun to implement the terms of the illegitimate contract.
Teamsters for a Democratic Union to UPS workers: “Whatever you do, don’t fight!”
By Will Morrow, 18 October 2018
If the Teamsters leadership has so far been able to suppress opposition to its defiance of workers’ “no” vote, it is thanks only to its loyal opposition in the TDU.
Widespread opposition to Teamsters’ override of UPS workers’ contract rejection
By our reporters, 15 October 2018
A worker from southern California reported that during balloting on the contract, UPS management asked workers how they voted and whether they wanted to change their vote.
Ongoing opposition to Teamsters ramming through UPS contract despite workers’ vote
By our reporters, 11 October 2018
In order to push through the contract, Teamsters officials have dredged up a never-used obscure clause in the union constitution, stuck in 30 years ago.
“It proves they aren’t fighting for us but against us”
UPS workers speak out against Teamsters’ defiance of their vote
By Will Morrow, 10 October 2018
Yesterday we spoke with Irene, an ex-homeless UPS worker who has been at UPS for 10 years.
TDU, Teamsters United capitulate to Hoffa’s override of UPS workers’ “no” vote
By Jerry White, 10 October 2018
The Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) and Teamsters United (TU) oppose preparations for a national strike, which would bring workers into direct conflict with the entire Teamsters apparatus.
UPS workers’ opposition grows to Teamsters’ defiance of contract vote
By our reporters, 9 October 2018
There is widespread and growing distrust and skepticism among workers about the officially reported figures for both the vote and the turnout.
After “no” vote by UPS workers, Teamsters bureaucracy declares contract ratified
By Jerry White, 8 October 2018
The naked fact is that the rank and file voted down the contract and the Teamsters union is despotically ignoring their vote and imposing it anyway.
Teamsters union defies “no” vote, declares UPS contract ratified
By Will Morrow, 6 October 2018
Workers voted by 54.7 percent to reject the sellout contract backed by UPS management and the Teamsters union, as other UPS workers also rejected sellout contracts.
UPS workers denounce Teamsters effort to impose sellout contract, despite “no” vote
By our reporters, 6 October 2018
The Teamsters has declared that it considers its sellout contract ratified despite the fact that more than 54 percent of workers voted “no.”
Teamsters union defies “no” vote, declares UPS contract ratified
Organize independent rank-and-file committees to prepare strike action!
By WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 6 October 2018
The WSWS calls on workers to establish independent organizations to break the conspiracy of the Teamsters and UPS to ram through the agreement despite the “no” vote.
Teamsters head threatens to impose UPS contract even if workers reject it
By Will Morrow, 5 October 2018
As far as the union is concerned, workers have the right to vote, as long as they vote the right way.
As voting for drivers, warehouse workers concludes
UPS aircraft mechanics reject Teamsters contract proposal
By Jerry White, 4 October 2018
In a blow to the Teamsters, aircraft mechanics and other UPS Airlines workers in Louisville, Kentucky, defeated a sellout deal pushed by the union and a federal mediator.
Widespread opposition to sellout UPS contract in run-up to Friday vote deadline
By our reporters, 3 October 2018
The Teamsters’ strategy of lies has been developed in collaboration with BerlinRosen, the Democratic Party-aligned public relations firm.
As Teamsters pushes for “yes” vote on concessions contract
UPS unveils $1 billion cost-cutting “transformation plan”
By Will Morrow, 15 September 2018
At a conference for Wall Street investors on Thursday, UPS management unveiled the details of their plans to slash more than $1 billion in global annual spending.
What is the Teamsters for a Democratic Union?
By Tom Mackaman, 8 September 2018
Since 1976 the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), long a faction in the union bureaucracy, has been trying to replace IBT officials with those it claims will be more accountable to the rank and file.
Teamsters announces October 5 vote deadline
Vote “no” on the UPS-Teamsters sellout contract! Form rank-and-file committees to organize opposition!
By the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 6 September 2018
On Tuesday, the Teamsters union announced that the contract vote will be counted on October 5, more than two months after the expiration of the current agreement.
Teamsters head to UPS workers: Don’t complain, creating new tiers is “what we’ve always done”
By Will Morrow, 1 September 2018
Teamsters lead “negotiator” Denis Taylor gave a full-throated defense of the pro-company contract in an online statement last weekend.
“The Teamsters is not a voice for us”
UPS workers respond to Teamsters campaign of blackmail
By our reporters, 25 August 2018
UPS workers throughout the US continue to express opposition to the sellout deal that Teamsters officials and corporate management are trying to strong-arm them into ratifying.
“We need a united front of auto and UPS workers”
Autoworkers warn UPS workers: Don’t trust the union
By Will Morrow, 24 August 2018
An autoworker from Toledo, Ohio told us that “if UPS workers could find a way to break away from their union, the autoworkers would follow them.”
The Teamsters/UPS conspiracy to slash workers’ health care
By Kayla Costa, 23 August 2018
The current effort of the Teamsters to push through a concessions contract follows a series of attacks on UPS workers, including a scheme adopted in 2013 to cut health care benefits.
Teamsters blackmails UPS workers: Strike and you will lose your health insurance
By Will Morrow, 22 August 2018
The Teamsters is threatening workers that they will lose their health benefits if they strike, and that the concessions contract backed by the union is the “best we could get.”
“The whole world is watching us”
Teamsters local meeting erupts in anger as union official calls UPS workers’ poverty wages “subjective”
By Norisa Diaz, 21 August 2018
Teamsters official Andy Marshall told the room of 100 UPS workers that “in a perfect world” workers would get what they wanted, but “when I was a kid, I wanted a pony.”
“A new organization would be able to unite us all”
UPS workers oppose isolation by Teamsters, call for united struggle with Amazon workers
By Evan Blake, 20 August 2018
The Teamsters union is opposed to any effort to connect the struggles of workers at UPS, Amazon and other logistics companies.
Opposition mounts to UPS-Teamsters conspiracy as union announces contract for airline mechanics
By Will Morrow, 16 August 2018
There is growing support for the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter’s call for the election of rank-and-file committees in every warehouse and hub to coordinate opposition.
Notes from the campaign trail
Socialist Equality Party candidate campaigns among UPS workers in Michigan
By Niles Niemuth, 15 August 2018
I spoke with UPS workers who expressed deep anger over their conditions and the sellout contract that the Teamsters union is seeking to impose.
Break the UPS-Teamsters conspiracy! Mobilize opposition to the sellout contract!
By the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 14 August 2018
The Teamsters union is keeping workers totally in the dark, five days after its endorsement of the cost-cutting contract.
UPS pays out $700 million to stockholders: An object lesson in the operation of capitalism
By Will Morrow, 13 August 2018
UPS announced its corporate handout the same day that the Teamsters national conference voted to endorse contracts for UPS workers that enforce poverty-level wages and introduce major new concessions.
“We need joint strike action, nationwide!”
Autoworkers call for united struggle with UPS workers against low-pay and part-time jobs
By Tim Rivers, 13 August 2018
Autoworkers expressed their support for the widespread opposition among UPS workers to the sellout contracts agreed to last Thursday by a national meeting of Teamsters officials.
“We are underpaid slaves”
Growing opposition among UPS workers as Teamsters conference endorses sellout contracts
By Kayla Costa, 11 August 2018
UPS management responded to the Teamsters executives vote by gloating that the contract will provide “greater flexibility” and help “address challenges from competitors.”
Amazon worker Shannon Allen opposes censorship of her video statement by Teamsters-linked Facebook page
By Will Morrow, 11 August 2018
Shannon said the censorship of her video showed that the Teamsters union is fearful of workers from Amazon and UPS forming rank-and-file committees and linking up their struggles.
Teamsters for a Democratic Union-linked Facebook page censors Amazon worker’s video calling for a united struggle with UPS workers
By Will Morrow, 10 August 2018
The Teamsters for a Democratic Union, a dissident faction of the union apparatus, is terrified of Amazon and UPS workers linking up in a common struggle.
UPS workers: Build rank-and-file committees to organize opposition to the contract!
By the WSWS UPS Worker Newsletter, 9 August 2018
The Teamsters must not be allowed to retain the initiative and continue its conspiracy with the company against the workers unopposed.
Amid growing outrage from workers, Teamsters release sellout UPS Freight contract agreement
By Evan Blake, 7 August 2018
Contrary to the claims of the Teamsters, the proposed UPS Freight contract makes deep inroads into workers’ living standards and working conditions.
Construction workers building UPS super-hub in Indianapolis walk off job
By Adam Mclean, 6 August 2018
The video of a wildcat walkout by construction workers in Indiana has been shared almost 100,000 times on Facebook.
“The union is essentially a puppet for the company”
What is life like for a permanent part-time UPS worker?
By Will Morrow, 3 August 2018
The WSWS spoke with Sean, a 32-year-old part-time UPS warehouse worker, who described the conditions for UPS workers, the abuse of workers by management, and the complicity of the Teamsters.
Teamsters union keeps 240,000 UPS workers on the job as contract expires
By Will Morrow, 2 August 2018
The union is aware that there is widespread opposition to the deal and is seeking to buy time to wear down the workers and impose a contract demanded by the company.
Teamsters union blames opposition to sellout contract on “internet trolls”
By Will Morrow, 30 July 2018
The union’s campaign recalls the United Auto Workers’ denunciations of exposures of its 2015 sellout contract as “fake news.”
Teamsters union blackmails UPS workers: Approve contract or your wages will be cut
By Will Morrow, 23 July 2018
Teamsters Local 647 president Brian Hammond sent a letter to UPS workers that wage increases will be diverted to their pensions if they fail to ratify the contract.
“We should be governing ourselves in this fight”
UPS workers’ opposition grows to Teamsters sellout
By Will Morrow, 19 July 2018
The proposed deal maintains poverty level wages for part-time workers, introduces a new lower-paid “hybrid” worker, and does nothing to address unsafe working conditions.
Wall Street celebrates Teamsters deal with UPS
By Kayla Costa, 17 July 2018
UPS workers are in a direct fight with the Teamsters union, which is seeking to impose management’s dictates and defend the financial interests of the union executives.
“Now we’re all slaves, no matter what color you are”
UPS workers oppose sellout contract, warn of union fraud to pass agreement
By Kayla Costa, 14 July 2018
The union and company are seeking to impose a major new concession on workers after UPS posted $7.5 billion in profits in 2017.
As workers’ opposition grows
Teamsters union extends UPS contract deadline to impose sell-out deal
By Will Morrow, 13 July 2018
The union is seeking to delay any vote on the contract after more than 93 percent of UPS workers voted to authorize strike action last month.
The way forward for UPS workers
By Tom Hall, 10 July 2018
The World Socialist Web Site calls on UPS workers to form rank and file committees to mobilize all UPS workers, part-time and full-time, along with Amazon, FedEx, USPS and other sections of workers.
Teamsters resort to lies and intimidation to push sellout deal at UPS
By Hector Cordon, 29 June 2018
Teamsters officials are slandering opponents of the deal, which will introduce a new lower-paid tier of “hybrid drivers”
“The rank and file was absolutely not involved in these contract discussions”
UPS workers denounce sellout deal “in principle” between company, Teamsters
By our reporters, 25 June 2018
The Teamsters are seeking to impose historic givebacks on UPS workers, who voted by 93 percent to authorize a strike against the giant corporation.
Support for strike action at UPS as Teamsters union prepares sell-out contract
By Tom Hall, 29 May 2018
The Teamsters’ offer to create a new tier of low-paid “hybrid” drivers demonstrates that it is not a workers’ organization, but an agency of management.
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