UPS has put $30 billion in new money on the table as a direct result of these negotiations. We’ve changed the game, battling it out day and night to make sure our members won an agreement that pays strong wages, rewards their labor, and doesn’t require a single concession. This contract sets a new standard in the labor movement and raises the bar for all workers.
Highlights of the tentative 2023-2028 UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement include:
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Historic wage increases. Existing full- and part-time UPS Teamsters will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more per hour over the length of the contract.
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Existing part-timers will be raised up to no less than $21 per hour immediately, and part-time seniority workers earning more under a market rate adjustment would still receive all new general wage increases.
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General wage increases for part-time workers will be double the amount obtained in the previous UPS Teamsters contract — and existing part-time workers will receive a 48 percent average total wage increase over the next five years.
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Wage increases for full-timers will keep UPS Teamsters the highest paid delivery drivers in the nation, improving their average top rate to $49 per hour.
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Current UPS Teamsters working part-time would receive longevity wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour on top of new hourly raises, compounding their earnings.
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New part-time hires at UPS would start at $21 per hour and advance to $23 per hour.
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All UPS Teamster drivers classified as 22.4s would be reclassified immediately to Regular Package Car Drivers and placed into seniority, ending the unfair two-tier wage system at UPS.
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Safety and health protections, including vehicle air conditioning and cargo ventilation. UPS will equip in-cab A/C in all larger delivery vehicles, sprinter vans, and package cars purchased after Jan. 1, 2024. All cars get two fans and air induction vents in the cargo compartments.
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All UPS Teamsters would receive Martin Luther King Day as a full holiday for the first time.
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No more forced overtime on Teamster drivers’ days off. Drivers would keep one of two workweek schedules and could not be forced into overtime on scheduled off-days.
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UPS Teamster part-timers will have priority to perform all seasonal support work using their own vehicles with a locked-in eight-hour guarantee. For the first time, seasonal work will be contained to five weeks only from November-December.
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The creation of 7,500 new full-time Teamster jobs at UPS and the fulfillment of 22,500 open positions, establishing more opportunities through the life of the agreement for part-timers to transition to full-time work.
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More than 60 total changes and improvements to the National Master Agreement — more than any other time in Teamsters history — and zero concessions from the rank-and-file.
I'm sad they didn't go on strike because I love chaos, but this is awesome for the workers. They didn't even have to strike; the mere threat of shutting half the country down is enough for them to get anything they want. Continued proof that when we fight, we win. Hopefully other places take note.
Not having to fight is actually a good thing for other unions and labor as a whole. Most people don't love chaos and the fact that just a threat was enough to get them to roll over will give more people confidence to try this more often.
Eventually it will come to a head and a serious strike action will be needed, but until then winning contracts is the goal.
They put a lot into the threat. First TDU campaigned for 40 years to elect OBrien. Then reps and stewsrds spent 3 years coaching people to save up. Then they had to mobilize a strike pledge and an authorization vote. Then they had to practice picket.
This was a lot of work and a lot of money to pull off.
Slowly building solidarity and infrastructure instead of being doomer is actually good and needs to be implemented elsewhere
I'm in a union, so I'd say the Teamsters are "having to fight" even if they aren't going on strike. unionizing is a struggle. the rest of your post is right though