Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Hundreds of UPS Freight Workers in Texas Sign Cards to Become Teamsters

In Latest Victories, About 720 Workers Will Join Locals 745 And 657

An overwhelming majority of about 720 workers at 10 UPS Freight terminals in Texas have signed authorization cards to become Teamsters, bringing the total number of drivers and dockworkers seeking to join the union to more than 7,000 since January 16, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced.

The workers at terminals in Irving, Fort Worth, Garland, Tyler, Waco and El Paso are seeking to join Local 745 in Dallas, and workers in San Antonio, Pflugerville, Harlingen and Laredo are seeking to join Local 657 in San Antonio.

“The workers have waited a long time for this day,” said Rod Cuevas, a Local 745 organizer. “They are very excited to become part of Local 745 and we’re excited to have them. We look forward to helping them improve their working conditions.”

“The employee-organizers at each terminal did a great job keeping their coworkers together,” said Frank Perkins, Local 657 President. “All the workers were very patient throughout the process and soon they will have a winning contract.”

“The Lone Star state has put us over the 7,000-worker mark,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Package Division. “Throughout Texas and across the United States, UPS Freight workers are standing up and taking action to improve their lives.”

In addition to the Texas workers, a majority of UPS Freight workers in West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Indiana, California, Florida, Arkansas, Arizona, New York, Kentucky and New England, including the large cities of Chicago, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, San Diego, St. Louis, Orlando, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Oakland, Seattle, Memphis and Detroit, have submitted cards to become Teamsters.

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