UPS Freight employees to join Teamsters

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/01/21/daily1.html

Monday, January 21, 2008 - 10:38 AM EST

A majority of UPS Freight's 411 Memphis, Tenn., employees will soon join the Teamsters, according to the union's general president Jim Hoffa.

"UPS Freight workers' quest for a strong voice on the job continues to roll -- first it was New England, and now the Memphis workers have spoken," Hoffa said in a statement.

The Memphis employees have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters, bringing the number of workers seeking union representation to more than 700. The cards will be sent to a neutral arbitrator, paving the way for the company to officially recognize the workers, a process that is expected to take place within a week. When the process is complete, the workers will join Local 667 in Memphis.

"The UPS Freight workers in Memphis have been long-time supporters of the Teamsters, and everyone is very excited that this day has come," said Henry Perry, Teamsters Local 667 president and international trustee, in a statement. "We will provide these workers with the best representation so that they finally have a strong voice on the job."

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Does FEDEX belong to the Teamsters? nt

[Omaha Steve]

2. No

Fedex has been fighting unionization vigorously. They lost a court case last month about drivers being classified as non-employees.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Damn. I hope they get to organize!!! They need to! And UPS needs them to. nt

[DainBramaged]

5. FedEx drivers don't give a shit about the customers on the route

My UPS guy will ALWAYS make a point of slipping off route when I have packages to get them here early because he usually hits my area last at night. The FedEx guy doesn't give a shit. On the truck 7:15, on my doorstep 5:15.

Trust Brown to Unionize. Trust FedEx to fuck up.

[DainBramaged]

4. Only Teamsters know how to haul freight!!!!

UPS wants to venture into heavy freight, they have to do so with the Teamsters as their partners. What is bad for the industry, however, will be the naked efficiency with which UPS carries freight and will put a whole lot of independents in jeopardy of their careers.


That WILL BE THE DOWNBSIDE TO THE VICTORIES.