Big Chicago Teamsters Local Ready To Strike UPS If Necessary - 07/22/08

Workers Independent News

By Doug Cunningham

Teamsters Local 705 in Chicago – second largest in the nation - has authorized a strike against UPS with a deadline of midnight July 31st. Job security and working conditions are among the issues. Joe Balkis is a Teamsters Local 705 worker.

[Balkis]: “The companies keep on getting’ richer and the working classes keep on getting’ poorer. Enough is enough! It’s time we draw a line in the sand. We can’t take it anymore. The starting pay alone has only been increased once since I’ve been workin’ here for twenty years. We deserve better. Payin’ people $8.50 - $9.50 an hour to start is immoral.”

Juan Campos is Recording Secretary for Local 705.

[Campos]: “This is a company that’s made – since 1997 ‘til today over twenty billion dollars profit. This is not a company that’s crying for money or needs money or needs flexibility or needs concessions. This is a company that needs to get back to the membership.”

Campos says Local 705 doesn’t want to strike but his guts tells him the union may have to.

[Campos]: “I am very hopeful. I’m looking forward to settle this. But my gut tells me their arrogance won’t allow them to address the issues that we need to be addressed.”

Not only is it immoral its stupid.At $8.50 Im sure they have a large turnover even for partimers .Hell in my shop no matter how Messed up Coca Cola is they pay there seasonal warehouse 3 dollars on the hour more then that.

UPS is not going to pay their part-timers. Their claim is they've " dumbed down" the job with technology. They don't want people to stay 20 years or even 10 years. They think they can plug anyone in and not miss a beat.
UPS continues to underpay the most important job in the company. The best pre-loaders in our bldg. were the 10-15 year employees who were under old contracts making $5.00- $7.00 more an hour. Get rid of the thousands of useless part-time supes. Most are just lazy former hourly who couldn't or wouldn't do the job. They can't train because they don't know how to do the job themselves. Pay the hourly more then you can be selective. What's all the extra miles from everyday misloads costing UPS? How about increased sort time because of the rushed shotgunned loads? The Feeders still arive at the same time they have for the last 25 years. The bldg. isn't wrapped as early as it used to be and drivers pull 15 minutes later than we used to when there were charts to load by. BRILLIANT !!!!!! I.E. is dead set on micro managing and can't fix the problems with pas. They are trying to recoup the costs of their blunder by not paying part-timers and cutting routes. They could save a lot by cutting full-time mngmnt. below ctr. mngr.

Thousands Of Drivers Could Vote To Strike August 1st

(WGN - AM) - If you are sending a package to someone in the Chicago area, you'd better do it sooner, rather than later. About 11,000 United Parcel Service truck drivers and package handlers in the Chicago area have voted to authorize a strike on August 1st.

Teamsters Local 705 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Pocztowski says the Union sent UPS a detailed proposal on June 9th, in trying to reach a new contract deal, but he says the two sides are still far apart on many issues, including pay.

"It's about a lack of dignity and respect," Pocztowski said.

"This area is one of the biggest money making areas in the country."

Pocztowski says UPS hubs in New York, New Jersey, Boston, and Los Angeles could join the strike. There are talks between the two sides scheduled before the August 1st deadline

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