Chicago Local 705 Teamsters raise possibility of strike

Chicago, IL – Over 1000 Teamster Local 705 members packed their union hall, October 21, on the eve of serious negotiations with UPS. Support was widespread for the bargaining team, who are ready to end their contract extension should the company refuse to address some key issues.

Secretary-Treasurer Juan Campos stated Local 705 isn’t interested in the current language proposed for 22.4 combo jobs, he wants $15 for part-timers, catch-up raises for existing part-timers, and increases for retiree health care and pensions, among other issues.

Negotiations resume October 25 and 26. Should Local 705 end the contract extension, a strike vote will follow in early November, raising the possibility of a strike.

After attending the meeting, Adrian Hernandez, a Local 705 Package Driver, commented, “I saw a lot of unity and believe we’re headed in the right direction, fighting for what we deserve in this next contract.”

Many of the 10,000 Teamsters affected by the Local 705 contract were vocally supportive of the national ‘Vote No’ movement against Hoffa’s concessionary national master UPS agreement that covers every UPS worker in the U.S. other than Local 705. Nationally, UPS Teamsters voted down their contract by 54% only to have Hoffa ratify the agreement anyway. Secretary-Treasurer Juan Campos said that won’t happen in Local 705.