97% Strike Vote Announced

[OT+]

Teamsters Vote By 97 Percent to Strike If UPS Fails to Deliver Strong Contract


Press Contact: Kara Deniz Phone: (202) 497-6610 Email: [email protected]

(WASHINGTON) – UPS Teamsters have voted by an overwhelming 97 percent to authorize a strike, giving the union maximum leverage to win demands at the bargaining table.

The powerful vote allows the UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee to call a strike should UPS fail to come to terms on a strong new contract by July 31, when the union’s current National Master Agreement expires. The Teamsters represent more than 340,000 UPS package delivery drivers and warehouse logistics workers nationwide.

“This vote shows that hundreds of thousands of Teamsters are united and determined to get the best contract in our history at UPS. If this multibillion-dollar corporation fails to deliver on the contract that our hardworking members deserve, UPS will be striking itself,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The strongest leverage our members have is their labor and they are prepared to withhold it to ensure UPS acts accordingly.”

National negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS began April 17. Union representatives and rank-and-file members serve on the national negotiating committee.

The UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement is the largest private-sector contract in North America. Full- and part-time UPS Teamsters are working in lockstep for a new five-year agreement that guarantees higher wages for all workers, more full-time jobs, an end to forced overtime and harassment from management, elimination of a two-tier wage system, and protection from heat and other workplace hazards.

“This strike authorization vote sends a clear message to UPS that our members are damned and determined to take necessary action to secure a historic contract that respects their dedication and sacrifice,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “Our members are the backbone of UPS, and they are the reason this corporation hauled in more than $100 billion in revenue just last year. It’s time for UPS to pay up.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

[Magruder]

97% is pretty good but how many voted?

[Thisischange?]

97% is pretty good but how many voted?

97% of how many? I'll bet less than10% voted. The O'Brofficers will never disclose this.It would embarrass them and weaken their negotiating power.Loving the new transparency and membership involvement.

[ReadytoStrike]

I'm not sure. My local got roughly 10% turnout after one week of only in hall voting. We got up to just about 50% after one day of guard gate voting. I agree that turnout numbers are not likely to be released, but the participation isn't quite as dismal as I would have assumed when it was first announced.

[BurnedbyO'Brien]

Does anyone else notice the trend of "97%" in favor of whatever makes O'Lyin and the Teamsters look good? I keep seeing "the contract was ratified by a resounding 97%" or "the workers voted to strike in a 97% yes vote", no matter what workers are voting to strike. "We organized a cannibis shop with 3 workers and 97% voted to become Teamsters!" even though the math doesn't quite support that percentage.

And why has the IBT all of the sudden gone to in person voting when they have a state of the art electronic system that would allow people to vote without the intimidation or inconvenience?! That is rhetorical of course. We all know that people are more likely to vote the way their union officials and peers encourage them to if those people are standing there glaring or many just won't vote at all. The IBT can scream secret ballot all they want, but when it comes down to it, peer pressure is a bitch and everyone knows what box is checked because someone is always watching you vote. Just look at the picture posted on the Teamsters Facebook page. There is no privacy for voting and almost every picture that has someone putting a ballot in the box also has someone standing right next to them.

[nonstarter]

Zuckermans 89 always had their elections as walk-ins during peak. Is there a problem with that?

[percap2high]

Does anyone else notice the trend of "97%" in favor of whatever makes O'Lyin and the Teamsters look good? I keep seeing "the contract was ratified by a resounding 97%" or "the workers voted to strike in a 97% yes vote", no matter what workers are voting to strike. "We organized a cannibis shop with 3 workers and 97% voted to become Teamsters!" even though the math doesn't quite support that percentage.
And why has the IBT all of the sudden gone to in person voting when they have a state of the art electronic system that would allow people to vote without the intimidation or inconvenience?! That is rhetorical of course. We all know that people are more likely to vote the way their union officials and peers encourage them to if those people are standing there glaring or many just won't vote at all. The IBT can scream secret ballot all they want, but when it comes down to it, peer pressure is a bitch and everyone knows what box is checked because someone is always watching you vote. Just look at the picture posted on the Teamsters Facebook page. There is no privacy for voting and almost every picture that has someone putting a ballot in the box also has someone standing right next to them.

Avoiding corruption, intimidation and distrust are reasons why most Locals now do their elections by mail or with rules similar to the election officers rules. The turnout is much better and people aren't intimidated. I hope we're not headed backward in regard to walk-in elections where members were forced to walk a gauntlet in order to cast their vote.

This UPS strike vote was an obvious reaction to concern and criticism on platforms like this. As such it was put together at the last minute and assigned to the Locals. I'm sure contract offers will still be voted with the electronic system as they have been. At least they should be.