Ocasio-Cortez Rallies With Teamsters and Rips UPS Greed as Historic Strike Looms
By: Common Dreams
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
With hundreds of thousands of UPS workers preparing to strike as soon as August 1, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined other New York lawmakers at a rally with members of the Teamsters union on Saturday to push the ultra-profitable shipping giant to agree to a just contract.
"This is about making sure that we not just demand better wages, equal wages for our part-timers, making sure that we're getting the dignified conditions, A/C in trucks. But this is also about demanding respect," Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said during the rally at Teamsters Local 282 union hall in New Hyde Park.
"This shouldn't even be a fight," Ocasio-Cortez added, noting that UPS raked in record profits last year and could easily afford to meet the union's demands.
UPS CEO Carol Tome, a donor to anti-union Republicans, took home close to $19 million in total compensation in 2022.
"Let's remind them who's actually the boss in this, and that's the workers," said Ocasio-Cortez.
Saturday's rally came days after negotiations between UPS management and Teamsters leaders fell apart for the second time in recent weeks, with the Teamsters accusing the company of presenting an "unacceptable offer" that "did not address members' needs."
UPS has since announced that it will be training nonunion delivery drivers in preparation for a strike. If the work stoppage moves forward, it would mark the largest single-employer strike in U.S. history.
Last month, 97% of UPS workers represented by the Teamsters voted to authorize a strike if there's no acceptable deal with management by July 31, when the current contract expires.
If the working class doesn't stand up for itself, no one else will.
UPS has made record profits during the pandemic. That's because of UPS workers, who are prepared to strike Aug 1st without a fair contract.
This morning we rallied in support w/ @TeamsterSOB & @UAW Shawn Fein pic.twitter.com/U11ZqTxcZ3 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 15, 2023
The Teamsters have won significant tentative victories in recent negotiations, including an agreement from UPS to add in-cab air conditioning systems to newly purchased delivery vehicles and end the two-tiered wage system under which part-time workers earn significantly less per hour than full-time employees.
But the union said earlier this month that the company's contract offers haven't gone far enough to justly compensate employees, a message that Teamsters leaders echoed during Saturday's rally.
"Our members bust their ass every day for this greedy company, keeping supply chains moving and generating historic, multibillion-dollar profits for UPS," said Teamsters Local 804 President Vinnie Perrone. "Those record profits are unpaid wages. UPS Teamsters are done with the company's disrespect."
Sean O'Brien, general president of the Teamsters, said Saturday that the union "will take on this corporate bully for as long as it takes to get what we've earned."
"UPS has a choice," said O'Brien. "They can respect and do right by working people, they can pay the wages that part-time and full-time workers deserve, and they can agree to terms on a strong new contract. Or UPS can wait until August 1 and regret turning its back on the hardworking people who make it a success. We are not backing down."
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Supply Side Economics is an anathema to Labor enjoying the fruits of their labor. SSE is a wealth concentrator.
Cortez has the right idea but little can change until Supply Side is ended with extreme prejudice and the US economy gets back to simple basic structured capitalism.
Why has Clinton, Obama, and Biden failed to to that?
I can not answer that. Maybe to much wealth in the control of so few is a frightful thing to take on and the controllers of the wealth have the ability to wreck economies if their positions are threatened?
In 1980 GHWBush referred to Reagan's Supply Side Economics (aka trickledown) as VooDoo Economics. He was quickly brought in line. Wealth is power. Absolute wealth is absolute power.
Clinton and Obama did mention 'trickledown' several times but would not or could not get the support to change anything or even make it a dinner table conversation.
All I know is, Reagan brought it and it still lives.
So Obama was right about Reagan being a most consequential president.
Too busy buying multiple mansions, yachts and fancy cars on a politicians salary …..
Obama's money is from his book sales.
Obama's money came from an over inflated book deal. Really think he and Michelle warranted a $65 million dollar advance? Know how many books that the publisher has to sell just to break even?
Don't forget his two Super PACs which he also receives a salary from; his campaigning for Democrats (think he does that for free?); add in all of his paid speaking engagements; and jet setting with the very 1% he disparaged while he was president.
The Obamas are just like the Clintons. They sold their souls while they were in the White House; to make a shitload of money after they left.
I forgot- their stocks that out preformed the market while they were in office. No insider knowledge there./S
Yep, not bad for a Community Organizer ….
Yes. Especially as far as the direction and manner the US economy and eventually much of the World's economies would operate.
"I saved bin Sulman's ass." DJT. Kushner gets 2+billion from the Saudis.
And everybody's stocks did well under the Clinton Administration.
Amazingly Clinton, Obama and Biden haven’t been able to reverse it.
You are naive. You don't understand what it is. If you did you wouldn't have made such a senseless statement.
Guilty. You’ve sure got me and my Ellie’s chicken in a drop down riches estimate.
So, you give all that credit to the Clinton Admin do ya?
It was the internet boom.............that Al Gore invented........../s
Nope. Didn't say the Clinton Administration was responsible. But the Markets generally did well duirng his terms.
That for the clarification.
Your comment alluded otherwise.
No it didn't. You took the allusion the way you felt you had to.
Nah, your allusion was clear and had absolutely nothing to do with how anyone “felt” other than you.
Don't circle jerk me. Don't ever do that again.
You're the one with the allusion. You've got the Trump shit jammed up your ass.
First, I’m not “circle jerking” anyone. Perhaps you are projecting.
Next, let’s clear this up. I say what I want, to who I want, when I want. You’ve got absolutely nothing to say about it. Ever.
Trump ….. still living rent free in your head …… sad.
The Teamsters sure could use Jimmy Hoffa now.
UPS Teamsters hosted a big rally in Louisville today ahead of potential strike.
What are they doing in this hillbilly scab state?
Have a buddy in management there in the Louisville hub.
They are all dusting off their coveralls …..