Each week UNITE Committee members keep our Teamster sisters and brothers informed by distributing regular UNION UPDATE bulletins. These info sheets have news about negotiations, changes at UPS and more. The weekly updates are handed directly to members at various shifts. Click through to see this week's update.
MORE LAYOFFS AT UPS
MAY 16, 2023 — On May 11, UPS Local 623 received a “Change of Operations” notice from UPS that indicated they would be laying off more Teamsters.
Per Article 38 of the Teamsters agreement with UPS, the company is entitled to change workplace operations to meet business needs, so long as those changes do not violate other terms of the agreement. According to UPS, package volume is down 30% and as a result the company is seeking to shut down multiple shifts. These include the night shift at the Oregon Avenue facility and the day shift (ground and air sorts) at the PHL Air Hub.
The Union is currently investigating how to best protect our members from these changes. Union officials have filed for information requests and plan to pursue whatever legal means necessary to ensure members remain working and compensated.
More information will be posted as it is available at TeamstersLocal623.org
UNION MEETING TIME CHANGE
MAY 16, 2023 — Due to a scheduling conflict the May General Membership Meeting will now take place at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 21 at the Union Hall. The Steward’s Meeting will begin at 2:00 PM.
UPS NATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS MOVE FORWARD
MAY 9, 2023 — The Teamsters report gains in national negotiations by reaching tentative agreement on five issues, including:
- Securing unlimited time for UPS Teamsters stewards — on the clock and fully paid — to attend orientation meetings (Article 3)
- Guarantees that any discrepancy related to new equipment will automatically go before the national grievance committee, improving and streamlining the process for all members (Article 6)
- Winning more opportunities for job vacancies to be filled by existing Teamster members prior to UPS hiring external workers, while guaranteeing that UPS will honor our members’ length of service and pay for any member’s moving expenses to fill a job, if necessary (Article 38)
- Significant improvements to the trailer repair shop, leaving just two economic issues remaining for the article later in negotiations (Article 39)
- Protected and expanded member protections under the National Master Agreement’s non-discrimination clause, ensuring it is inclusive of gender identity and all other classes protected by federal or state law.