Teamsters' strike gathers strength
James Vassilopoulos
Some 185,000 members of the Teamsters Union in the United States began a nationwide strike from midnight on August 4. This is the first ever national strike against the United Parcel Service. Earlier, a member of UPS management's negotiating committee had claimed, "Those little nobodies don't have the guts to strike".
The drivers, loaders and sorters of UPS are demanding not only protection of current conditions, but also their extension.
One of the key demands is for a large increase in the number of full-time jobs. Like many other corporations, UPS has been creating many more part-time jobs over the last few years.
Before negotiations over contracts, the union surveyed its membership to find out its key concerns. The main demands include real wage increases and pension rights, more full-time job opportunities, increased job security and stronger safety and health protection.
UPS has offered a pay rise of US$1.50 over five years (the last contract offered US$2.25 over four years) and a five-year freeze on part-time wages (part-time workers have had their wages frozen for 15 years). It also wants to increase the number of jobs it subcontracts and eliminate the right to strike.
President of the Teamsters Union Ron Carey stated, "We're fighting not just for Teamster members but for every working family in America.
"We can't just win a good contract at the bargaining table. We have to win it by uniting our part-time and full-time members and getting them involved. We need parking lot meetings. We need leafleting in break rooms."
The Teamsters campaign against UPS involves explaining the issues to the general public and explaining to workers why they shouldn't scab.
As of August 5, the strike had shut UPS down. Hundreds of reports from picketers have been received by the union. For example in Rochester, New York, 450 workers are picketing; no-one is scabbing. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, local 7 reported that only two people crossed the picket line. From Washington, D.C., reports indicated that 25 to 30 cars crossed the picket line; the normal traffic is 300.
To date, the strike has received a lot of support. At Auburn, Maine, shipyard workers have taken half-days off to join the picket line. Postal workers have also rejected a request from UPS to scab. The Independent Pilots' Association has also refused to cross the picket line.