In Latest Victories, About 100 Drivers, Dockworkers Will Join Teamsters

An overwhelming majority of about 100 workers at UPS Freight terminals in Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada and Virginia have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters, bringing the total number of drivers and dockworkers who have signed cards to nearly 11,200 since January 16, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced.

The workers will be joining Local 371 in Rock Island, Illinois; Local 270 in New Orleans which covers the Baton Rouge terminal; Local 533 in Reno, Nevada and; Local 22 in Collinsville, Virginia, which covers the Danville terminal.

"We are closer to our goal of organizing 12,600 UPS Freight workers," said Teamsters Package Division Director Ken Hall. "These workers deserve to be protected by a strong union that will make certain they have a secure future."

"We would not have gotten our victory without the help of Local 391 in North Carolina and Local 175 in West Virginia, who sent us valuable material to share with UPS Freight workers," said Local 22 Secretary-Treasurer Michael Hughes. "Organizers in both of those Locals were instrumental in our victory."

"We're proud to welcome these UPS Freight workers to the Teamsters," said Local 371 President Howard Spoon. "We look forward to representing this strong, dedicated group of UPS Freight workers."

"The card-check agreement made this victory possible and if the Employee Free Choice Act gets passed by Congress, the Teamsters could see victories like at UPS Freight at numerous companies," said Local 270 President David Negrotto.

"This victory has been a long time coming, and we are happy to be part of the largest organizing campaign in the freight industry in decades," said Local 533 Secretary-Treasurer Mark Tracy.

In April, more than 89 percent of UPS Freight workers who are already Teamster members ratified a new contract, which improves wages, benefits and working conditions.