Big Chicago Teamsters Local Ready To Strike UPS If Necessary

Omaha Steve

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Mon Jul-21-08 06:38 PM
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Big Chicago Teamsters Local Ready To Strike UPS If Necessary

http://www.laborradio.org/node/9032

By Doug Cunningham

Teamsters Local 705 in Chicago � second largest in the nation - has authorized a strike against UPS with a deadline of midnight July 31st. Job security and working conditions are among the issues. Joe Balkis is a Teamsters Local 705 worker.

: �The companies keep on getting� richer and the working classes keep on getting� poorer. Enough is enough! It�s time we draw a line in the sand. We can�t take it anymore. The starting pay alone has only been increased once since I�ve been workin� here for twenty years. We deserve better. Payin� people $8.50 - $9.50 an hour to start is immoral.�

Juan Campos is Recording Secretary for Local 705.

: �This is a company that�s made � since 1997 �til today over twenty billion dollars profit. This is not a company that�s crying for money or needs money or needs flexibility or needs concessions. This is a company that needs to get back to the membership.�

Campos says Local 705 doesn�t want to strike but his guts tells him the union may have to.

: �I am very hopeful. I�m looking forward to settle this. But my gut tells me their arrogance won�t allow them to address the issues that we need to be addressed.�

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