UPS FREIGHT TEAMSTER FIGHTS FOR EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

If anyone knows how bad the Employee Free Choice Act is needed, it’s Fred Hargrove. He’s worked for UPS Freight for more than 20 years and for most of that time he didn’t have a union. Back when UPS Freight was Overnite Transportation, the company fought demands for a union with a vengeance.

However, when UPS purchased Overnight and subsequently negotiated a card-check agreement with the Teamsters Union, all those years of struggle finally paid off.

“My brothers and sisters wanted to be in a union,” Hargove said. “Overnite did everything they could to keep us from organizing, but UPS Freight was the exact opposite. With a card-check agreement and no management standing in our way, we quickly joined the Teamsters in a matter of weeks.”

Hargrove’s remarks were shared at a press conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Teamsters Local 391 and other labor, religious and community groups held the event to show support for the Employee Free Choice Act. The press conference was held in response to an event put on by a big business and anti-labor coalition that is fighting the pro-worker legislation.

“Let us be clear,” said Jack Cipriani, International Vice President and Local 391 President. “These big business groups that are fighting the Employee Free Choice Act don’t care about workers. All they care about is their ability to line their own pockets. We’re going to keep on sharing the truth about the legislation.”

Since joining the Teamsters, Hargrove and his brothers and sisters at UPS Freight have won a strong national contract.

“Our wages, benefits and work rules are all improved because we could finally join the union,” said Hargrove. “Now I want other workers to have the same opportunity, without having to wait 20 years to do it. The Employee Free Choice Act will provide that opportunity.”