Solidarity with UPS workers!
The contract deadline is August 1st and a strike has been authorized by 97% of union members. This means if the union cannot get an adequate contract with UPS by then, for things like air conditioning in all trucks, and fair wages for part time employees, they will strike. Part time employees make up about 60% of their workforce and preform backbreaking physical labor for a starting salary of $16 an hour. Starting pay in 1983 when adjusted for inflation was $25 an hour.
UPS handles about 28% of Americas shipping. UPS is already starting to train scabs. Package delivery will shut down across the nation and everyone will feel it. Are you and your community ready to stand in solidarity with them?
Things by mail will come slow if at all, who will this affect the most?
- Small businesses
- People who are housebound
- People who rely on specialty medication deliveries
If you rely on delivered medication, call your provider and check who does the deliveries; if it is UPS check how they are going to handle a possible strike. Even if your medication comes via other contracted delivery companies you need to be prepared for things to come slowly, if UPS is on strike that will put extra pressure on FedEx and USPS. Order as early as you can.
This strike will come on the heels of the joint WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Stand with the unions and put pressure on the companies to make sure writers, actors, and soon UPS workers are fairly compensated and protected on the job. Listen to the unions, don’t boycott unless they call for one. The UPS pilots union has stated that they will stand in solidarity with the UPS Teamsters.
UPS Teamsters United has strike resources
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Newsroom
The Teamsters Twitter updates regularly about the state of negotiations for UPS workers as well as other negotiating and striking workers.
Donate to strike funds if you can and don’t fucking scab.
