Реферат: PostPatco Era Vs Ups And The Teamsters

lost an average of 40,000 members for each year since 1979? (The Teamster,

March/April 1997).

Today, the Teamsters are one of the most well known union representations

next to the AFL-CIO. The Union is made up of working men and women who

comprise 1.4 million throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Jimmy R. Hoffa, the leader of the Teamsters in 1957-1967, generated a goal

before his sudden disappearance, of taking over all transportation unions. In 1964,

the National Master Freight Agreement, heralded his efforts as one of the greatest

accomplishments in U.S. labor history. Hoffa, Sr. brought attention to the

Teamsters, but he was also the person who set the tone for the future UPS

strike. Wilson and Witt (1999) noted that, in 1962 Hoffa, Sr. started the shift for

lower-wage and part-time jobs for UPS. Then, in 1982, Hoffa?s old-colleagues

agreed to freeze the starting part-time wage at $8 per hour (The Teamster,

November/December 1996). Now, Jimmy P. Hoffa, the General President of the

Teamsters and the son of the Teamster?s legend, is now undoing his father?s era

and continuing to follow-up on the issues that won the UPS strike.

August 4,1997 at 12:01 a.m. was the period when the Teamsters announced

the strike against UPS. This strike changed the ?faith? in the labor movement

(Wilson and Witt, 1999). The change not only affected UPS but also it affected the

confidence in the Teamsters over the AFL-CIO. The Teamsters selection in the

UPS laborers? representation was an excellent choice, despite the factors that set

the tone in 1962 (lower wages and part-time work). Wilson and Witt (1999, p.58)

noted that, ?at a time when the American labor movement is struggling to reverse

its decline in membership and strength, the Teamsters? nine-month contract

campaign at UPS in 1997 demonstrated that the labor can rebuild its power by

involving its members, reaching out for public support, and challenging corporate

power on behalf of all working people.? This campaign not only empowered the

UPS laborers, but also other laborers from different companies who had an interest

in these issues. The no fear syndrome was contagious, then, to laborers because the