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New US labour legislation would help others win union rights, says UPS worker
26 February 2009
A UPS Freight worker in the US has said he is backing the new Employee Free Choice Act so that other workers are able to benefit from the same union rights as he. The act is due to be considered by the US Congress later this year.
Fred Hargrove, a Teamster member, who has worked for UPS Freight, formerly Overnite Transportation, for more than 20 years, mainly without union backing, shared his thoughts on the new act at a press conference in Raleigh, North Carolina last week. Teamsters Local 391 and other labour, religious and community groups held the meeting to express support for the EFCA and to challenge an event hosted by an anti-labour coalition, involving big business, which is fighting the pro-worker legislation.
“My brothers and sisters wanted to be in a union,” Hargove said. “Overnite did everything they could to keep us from organising, but UPS Freight was the exact opposite. With a card-check agreement and no management standing in our way, we quickly joined the Teamsters in a matter of weeks.”
“Our wages, benefits and work rules are all improved because we could finally join the union,” he said. “Now I want other workers to have the same opportunity, without having to wait 20 years to do it. The Employee Free Choice Act will provide that opportunity.”
“Let us be clear,” said Jack Cipriani, International Vice President and Local 391 President. “These big business groups that are fighting the Employee Free Choice Act don’t care about workers. All they care about is their ability to line their own pockets. We’re going to keep on sharing the truth about the legislation.”
The Employee Free Choice Act would: allow for stronger penalties against employers who violate workers’ rights when they attempt to form a union and during first contract negotiations; provide mediation and arbitration for first contract disputes and allow workers to form unions by signing cards authorising representation.
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