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UPS pilots have opened a Strike Operations Center to serve as the union pilots nerve center in the event of a strike.
The Independent Pilots Association says that after five years of bargaining, including two years of intensive federal mediation it’s crunch time for pilots at UPS.
The pilots and UPS will present final bargaining positions the week of April 25. If an impasse is declared under the Railway Labor Act, the UPS pilots would be cleared for a possible strike.
The IPA says the Lousiville, Ky., strike center is a strategic tool for the union as it prepares to strike if necessary.
Detroit Chassis Workers Hope Solidarity Driven UAW Victory Inspires Other Workers
“It was really us sticking together and just showing our solidarity to the company and to each other. So we all had each other’s backs when it came down to it. And it’s pretty rare in America for a bunch of temporary workers to unionize. And so I feel like this was something special, and I hope that it inspires other workers,” said Gabe Luchkowsky talking about the amazing union victory of hundreds of temp workers at Detroit Chassis.
Luchkowsky says 100 percent of the workers there signed union cards and presented a demand for UAW recognition to the company. When the company refused to accept the demand letter 100 percent of the workers voted to authorize a strike.
Luchkowsky says workers learned of their victory after they held a strike solidarity rally Monday.
“We held a unanimous vote to authorize a strike. And then the plan was to hold a rally on Monday morning at 5 a.m. before first shift started work as just another show of solidarity to send a message to the company. And we had a great turnout at that rally. We had current Ford employees show up, we had retirees of the UAW show up. There’s a building just across the way from us that is a union building and so they came and showed their support as well. Late Monday after our rally the UAW came to us and informed us that the company had recognized our union and that we would start the bargaining process soon and that we would become permanent employees of Detroit Chassis.”
Port of Los Angeles Truckers Strike Chinese-Owned Company
Misclassified drivers at a Chinese owned subsidiary went on strike Wednesday at the port of Los Angeles/Long Beach.
It’s the third time these drivers have went on strike protesting misclassification and related retaliation at Intermodal Bridge Transport. It’s a subsidiary of Chinese-owned Cosco Logistics Americas, the biggest customer of the ports.
The drivers are alleging misclassification as independent contractors when they in fact function as employees. The drivers have filed lawsuits over misclassification and wage theft. They haul goods for companies like Michael Kors, Sony, Toyota, General Electric and Target.