(BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS) - The Teamsters have marched into U.S. District Court in Boston, suing their biggest employer- UPS, over planned massive job cuts the Union contends violate key provisions of its contract with one of the Nation’s top two Package Delivery Firms.

The Union seeks a Federal injunction and Temporary Restraining Order to stop the cuts.

While the company calls the planned cuts the Driver Choice Program (DCP), the Union calls it a second “illegal buyout scam,” similar to a smaller UPS buyout try last Summer that flopped.

The key point, the Union told the Court on February 9th, is to enforce its contract.

“That’s why there are contracts,” said Joe Henry, a veteran Teamsters Organizer and Activist.

“Clearly, this is a big violation of the agreement,” which the current Teamsters leadership of President Sean O’Brien - a Bostonian Trucker - and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman reached with the firm in 2003, Henry added. “You can’t bargain outside the contract.”

One big violation the Teamsters listed is illegal direct dealing with Workers.

Another is curbing the access and the rights of Union Shop Stewards.

The conflict is important for several reasons.

The 338,000 Teamsters who work for UPS, including its Drivers, represent one-fourth of the Union’s Membership, and UPS plans to offer the buyouts to every Driver.

The number of Teamsters who are actual UPS Drivers was unavailable.

The Union also represents Package Handlers, Warehouse Workers and other Workers at UPS. 

The International Association of Machinists (IAM) represent UPS Conveyor and Automotive Mechanics while the Transport Workers represent UPS Flight Dispatchers.

The Independent Pilots Association represents the firm’s Pilots, who supported the Teamsters’ 2023 Strike plan by pledging to refuse to fly.

Teamsters Local 2722 represents UPS Aircraft Mechanics.

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