A resolution put forward by an ISG member in RWU
As the contract fight between 350,000 Teamsters union members and the UPS corporation heats up, unions, left groups, and other organizations are asking how they can help UPS workers win. All working people should see the UPS workers’ struggle as their own.
Real, effective solidarity needs to be organized by the Teamsters union, the rest of the labor movement, and any pro-union progressive and left groups supporting the contract negotiations and a potential strike on August 1st. A victory for UPS workers can be a victory for other unions and the entire working class. A victory for UPS Teamsters will help union organizing at Amazon, Starbucks, and boost the United Auto Workers (UAW) in contract negotiations with the three largest car manufacturers in September.
In a resolution adopted by its International Steering Committee, Railroad Workers United leads the way, publicly calling on the railroad unions to organize their members to refuse to handle any UPS freight in the case of a strike at the logistics giant. Every day UPS drivers drop off countless shipping containers and trailers at railroad terminals to be loaded onto intermodal trains and taken across the country.
If the railroad unions refuse to take real action to support a strike of UPS workers, then union workers will be transporting freight for a company where other union workers are on strike.
RWU states:
Whereas, the US labor movement, including the railroad unions, face many obstacles in the fight to reverse the long decline of low membership; and
Whereas, UPS workers represented by the Teamsters are the largest private-sector workforce in the country and are battling to reverse the last 30 years of concessionary contracts at UPS; and
Whereas, logistics industry workers have proven to have huge potential power in the fight against corporate greed throughout history with industrial actions including countless railroad strikes, postal workers strikes, and the 1997 UPS strike; and
Whereas, solidarity action by other workers and unions along the supply chain can be the decisive factor in any battle between transportation workers and employers; and
Whereas, a victory for UPS workers could embolden all workers to go on the offensive to win better contracts; and likewise, a victory for the new leadership of the Teamsters could embolden all union members looking to reform and democratize their own unions; and
Whereas, RWU recognizes the power that railroad workers have to assist UPS workers, as thousands UPS containers and trailers are moved long distance on intermodal freight trains daily throughout the U.S.; and
Therefore, Be it Resolved that RWU offers full solidarity in support of UPS workers in their fight for a fair contract; and
Be it Further Resolved that RWU calls on railroad workers and our unions, especially the leadership of the Teamster affiliates – BLET, BMWED and TCRC – to refuse to load, unload, or crew any train which carries UPS freight in the instance of a strike at UPS which is protected within the law of the Railway Labor Act; and
Be it Finally Resolved that RWU urges all of rail labor to likewise stand in solidarity with our Teamster fellow workers at UPS”
In addition to the recent resolution, RWU took an important step in continuing to develop as an organization by chartering a New England Chapter. This chapter will organize solidarity work with UPS Teamsters and the broader labor movement in the area while campaigning on all the issues RWU has raised over the years.
Independent Socialist Group 