Jacobin Radio: Update on the UPS Contract Fight

Barry Eidlin returns to guest host, talking to San Diego Teamster Justin Alo, Detroit Teamster Emily Butt, and San Francisco Teamster John Elward about the tentative agreement reached on July 25 between the Teamsters Union and the shipping giant UPS, one week before the contract covering 340,000 workers across the US was set to expire on July 31. Talks broke down on July 5, and practice pickets were building towards what would have been one of the largest strikes in U.S. history.

Teamsters leadership has hailed the UPS tentative agreement as “historic” and “game changing,” noting that it immediately eliminates a hated second-tier driver category, creates more full-time jobs, raises wages, limits surveillance, and ends forced overtime among other gains. But some Teamster members are concerned that the proposed agreement doesn't go far enough to address key demands, particularly around part-time pay. Many are also wondering what they left on the table by not going on strike.

Rank and file UPS Teamsters Justin Alo, Emily Butt, and John Elward, all deeply involved in the contract fight, join Barry Eidlin to discuss the tentative agreement with UPS, and what comes next.

Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.