With hundreds of thousands of UPS workers preparing to strike as soon as August 1, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined other New York lawmakers at a rally with members of the Teamsters union on Saturday to push the ultra-profitable shipping giant to agree to a just contract.
"This is about making sure that we not just demand better wages, equal wages for our part-timers, making sure that we're getting the dignified conditions, A/C in trucks. But this is also about demanding respect," Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said during the rally at Teamsters Local 282 union hall in New Hyde Park.
"This shouldn't even be a fight," Ocasio-Cortez added, noting that UPS raked in record profits last year and could easily afford to meet the union's demands.
UPS CEO Carol Tomé, a donor to anti-union Republicans, took home close to $19 million in total compensation in 2022.
"Let's remind them who's actually the boss in this, and that's the workers," said Ocasio-Cortez.
Saturday's rally came days after negotiations between UPS management and Teamsters leaders fell apart for the second time in recent weeks, with the Teamsters accusing the company of presenting an "unacceptable offer" that "did not address members' needs."
UPS has since announced that it will be training nonunion delivery drivers in preparation for a strike. If the work stoppage moves forward, it would mark the largest single-employer strike in U.S. history.
Last month, 97% of UPS workers represented by the Teamsters voted to authorize a strike if there's no acceptable deal with management by July 31, when the current contract expires.
If the working class doesn’t stand up for itself, no one else will.
UPS has made record profits during the pandemic. That’s because of UPS workers, who are prepared to strike Aug 1st without a fair contract.
This morning we rallied in support w/ @TeamsterSOB & @UAW Shawn Fein💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/U11ZqTxcZ3
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 15, 2023
The Teamsters have won significant tentative victories in recent negotiations, including an agreement from UPS to add in-cab air conditioning systems to newly purchased delivery vehicles and end the two-tiered wage system under which part-time workers earn significantly less per hour than full-time employees.
But the union said earlier this month that the company's contract offers haven't gone far enough to justly compensate employees, a message that Teamsters leaders echoed during Saturday's rally.
"Our members bust their ass every day for this greedy company, keeping supply chains moving and generating historic, multibillion-dollar profits for UPS," said Teamsters Local 804 President Vinnie Perrone. "Those record profits are unpaid wages. UPS Teamsters are done with the company's disrespect."
Sean O'Brien, general president of the Teamsters, said Saturday that the union "will take on this corporate bully for as long as it takes to get what we've earned."
"UPS has a choice," said O'Brien. "They can respect and do right by working people, they can pay the wages that part-time and full-time workers deserve, and they can agree to terms on a strong new contract. Or UPS can wait until August 1 and regret turning its back on the hardworking people who make it a success. We are not backing down."
figmaxwell on July 16th, 2023 at 14:22 UTC »
As a UPS driver, I'm really glad to see this finally making it to the top of a popular sub. We're fed up with UPS' bullshit, abuse, and penny pinching when it comes to paying its workers. Don't believe their propaganda when they say they want what's best for everyone, they only care about their top management and shareholders. This company cries poor when it comes time to pay the workers, yet they're set to give away $8.4 BILLION this year to shareholders in the form of stock buybacks and dividend payments. They don't make this company what it's worth, WE DO.
Don't believe them when they say our Part Timers average $20 an hour. They pay new hires a higher wage to attract workers, and then let them go before they get into the union so they don't have to pay benefits, meanwhile our veteran part timers are getting paid the contractual rate $15.50. They tell you our drivers make $93k a year, but they don't tell you we work 12 hour days, and 6 day weeks in a package car that hits 130+ degrees in the cargo box in the summer.
We've had workers die of covid during the pandemic, we've had workers die in the heat while they work forced overtime, what is our "industry leading pay" worth for them?
If you live near one of our centers and see us practice picketing, or picketing for real after 7/31, please give us a honk, or stop by and ask a worker what it's really like to work for UPS, we'd love to have your support. And when you can't get a package for a week or two at the beginning of August, remember that we're on strike because UPS decided we don't matter. They're causing this strike, not us.
--R2-D2 on July 16th, 2023 at 13:53 UTC »
All these strikes are happening around the world because the cost of living has gone up significantly. At the same time, wages for workers have remained stagnant while executives and shareholders enjoy record profits, bonuses and salaries. Management is lying to you when they claim there is no money for wage increases, additional benefits or workers safety equipment. The money is there, it's just being handed out to the executives and shareholders who are already rich beyond your wildest dreams.
Critical_Half_3712 on July 16th, 2023 at 13:23 UTC »
Was talking to my neighbor who is a driver and he was saying 2 of the big hang ups are loader pay and cost of living raises for drivers. Ups doesn’t want to give cost of living raises