Teamsters See Possible Upside in UPS Purchase of Overnite

Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa expressed hope on Monday that the UPS purchase of LTL carrier Overnite will “create new opportunities for Overnite workers.”

The Teamsters led an abortive attempt to organize Overnite workers from 1994 to 2002.
The Teamster president also said the union will closely monitor the deal.
“The company has informed the union that Overnite will operate separately from UPS’ package-delivery operations and that the purchase will not affect any Teamster jobs, including feeder work performed by Teamster members,” Hoffa said. “However, we will carefully evaluate the deal and make sure that every Teamster job is protected.”
“If this purchase helps UPS to continue to successfully compete in the global marketplace in the long run, it will increase our members’ job security,” said Ken Hall, director of the Teamsters’ Parcel and Small Package Division. “We have been assured that this purchase will not affect bargaining unit work, but we will evaluate the purchase and work to ensure that it doesn’t. I will work closely with General President Hoffa and our local union leaders to make sure our members’ interests are protected.”
Overnite workers represented by the Teamsters led an unfair labor practices strike against the company from October 1999 until October 2002.
“We are hopeful that UPS' long history as a company with Teamster representation will create new opportunities for Overnite workers to achieve their goals in the workplace," said Hoffa.