Major layoffs at UPS Swan Island Hub in Portland Oregon

[TheMilitantTeamster]

UPS is cutting the entire day shift at Swan Island. The announcement came this Sunday. Initially the shift end date was set for March 28th but will now be the first week in April. Instead of addressing these massive layoffs of Teamsters, devastating loss of healthcare, precarious conditions, automation taking jobs, the contract is rather “silent” on these matters—aside from some milquetoast mealy-mouth requirements for the company to “inform” the union. Thing is, volume isn’t down that much at our facility as it’s the major hub for everything between San Francisco and Seattle—and Anchorage. We connect the Pacific Northwest with the rest of the world. Where are statement from the IBT? Where are protests from the local? Instead of addressing these massive layoffs—meaning that the “full time job creation” will be zero with UPS expecting to cut its human workforce dramatically in the next 5 years (some estimates from HR insiders are 80% reduction of manual jobs). The IBT knew this was coming but wouldn’t make protections in the contract that could’ve included a slightly reduced working week, 30 hours if chosen, and negotiations regarding any closing of shift. The ILWU dealt with automation and containerization in shipping in a much more comprehensive manner. Not perfectly but comprehensively. https://www.ilwu.org/history/the-ilwu-story/

[TheMilitantTeamster]

The ILWU union made these guarantees to industry in exchange for an unprecedented series of benefits for the workers, designed to protect them against the negative impact of machines on their daily work and job security. The agreement provided that:

• The current workforce would not be laid off. If the unhindered introduction of new machinery and methods of work resulted in the loss of work opportunity so that the work force had to be reduced, it would shrink from the top, with an innovative voluntary early retirement program instead of layoffs. If employers later needed to cut the workforce further, they could invoke a compulsory retirement provision with a higher pension benefit.
• Increased profits would be shared with the workers in the form of increased wages and benefits.
• Machines and labor-saving devices would be introduced wherever possible to lighten the burden of hard and hazardous work.

[TheMilitantTeamster]

IBT knew this was coming but didn’t address it when they could have—2023. Now we’re stuck with this nonsense because O’Brien and co rushed through a sub-par deal.

[Thisischange?]

IBT knew this was coming but didn’t address it when they could have—2023. Now we’re stuck with this nonsense because O’Brien and co rushed through a sub-par deal.

Have you not heard? It's the greatest contract ever. what a screw job.

[David Brad Bishop]

It's not just the greatest. It's historic.

[TheMilitantTeamster]

Have you not heard? It's the greatest contract ever. what a screw job.

So I’ve been told. They even had the courtesy of shouting it at me when I asked critical questions.

[Faust]

So I’ve been told. They even had the courtesy of shouting it at me when I asked critical questions.

Where did you steal the name "militant" from?

[OT+]

[DanaCos]

They walked people out Saturday. The PHL hub is also without a Day Hub. Peak season was very bleak. The building is quiet at night. I ask drivers from other buildings and it's the same. Probably the worst I've ever seen it.

[TheMilitantTeamster]

Where did you steal the name "militant" from?

I didn’t steal it. It’s something I thought up myself.

[Faust]

I didn’t steal it. It’s something I thought up myself.

Good for you.

O'Brien hates militant Teamsters.

[TheMilitantTeamster]

Yes, he’s no fan of real shop-floor action. O’Brien would rather have dinner with “Don” than come to my hub to fight these layoffs

[OT+]

Its been happening for about a month and a half in different parts of the country.

[percap2high]

The ILWU union made these guarantees to industry in exchange for an unprecedented series of benefits for the workers, designed to protect them against the negative impact of machines on their daily work and job security. The agreement provided that:

• The current workforce would not be laid off. If the unhindered introduction of new machinery and methods of work resulted in the loss of work opportunity so that the work force had to be reduced, it would shrink from the top, with an innovative voluntary early retirement program instead of layoffs. If employers later needed to cut the workforce further, they could invoke a compulsory retirement provision with a higher pension benefit.
• Increased profits would be shared with the workers in the form of increased wages and benefits.
• Machines and labor-saving devices would be introduced wherever possible to lighten the burden of hard and hazardous work.

This is something we are sorely missing, a set of principles to protect teamster jobs and make sure members benefit from improved efficiancy etc. Right now automation is taking teamster jobs in material handling and we don't have meaningful model language to deal with it. The ILWU stuff may not fit exactly, but it does make for a good place to start.

[Mr. Teamster]

UPS is going to automate the shit out of their business. After the price tag on this contract did you expect anything else?

[TheMilitantTeamster]

UPS is going to automate the shit out of their business. After the price tag on this contract did you expect anything else?

They made 2.4 billion in profit in the last quarter alone. But crying poverty they are. The contract clearly isn’t expensive enough! Non-union Amazon and FedEX are doing the same—we need a mitigation model and strategy like the ILWU had for containerization and automation.