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Teamsters President Sean O’Brien speaks at a rally with UPS workers ahead of their statewide contract negotiations April 2, 2023 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
New York CNN –
Ahead of a looming UPS nationwide strike, Teamsters union chairman Sean O’Brien said during a rally speech Saturday in Atlanta, “We’ve organized and strategized, now it’s time to pulverize.”
Speaking to CNN’s Isabel Rosales, O’Brien said that 95% of the contract is in place and “now the economy matters and UPS knows they have to pay our members, especially the part-timers.”
A UPS spokesman said part-time employees receive the same benefits as full-time employees. However, they earn less than full-time employees, who earn an average of $95,000 a year, CNN previously reported. Part-time workers initially earn $16.20 per hour and are eligible for a higher hourly rate after 30 days. On average, part-time workers earn $20 an hour, the spokesman said.
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UPS employees hold placards at a Teamsters Union rally July 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
When asked what happens if no agreement is reached by July 31, O’Brien said they would be holding their work at 12:01 AM on August 1
“UPS represents our members who provide goods and services that make up 7% of GDP,” added O’Brien. “So, that [UPS] Supply chain solutions will take a big hit.”
According to O’Brien, a strike would be felt both domestically and internationally. He claims “because the pilots’ union, which represents UPS’s pilots, has made a commitment to us not to spin a wheel when the drivers go on strike.”
Part-time parcel handler Elizabeth Laster told CNN on Saturday she was willing to forego her pay if there was a strike. After working at UPS for seven years, she said she felt the company was making millions of dollars while she struggled to survive and support her three sons.
“The packages don’t move unless we move them… We’re the ones making all the money and we don’t realize it. How is that fair?”
Laster said the company “already got our blood, sweat and tears … just give us what we’ve worked for.”
Correction: A previous version of this story misquoted Teamsters Union President Sean O’Brien. He said: “We’ve organized and strategized, now it’s time to pulverize.”