James Brant, President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 651, appeared on the AWF Union Podcast and spoke about a 5-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that recently ended between the Teamsters and UPS, and the current status of negotiations on a new deal.
Brant said one of the goals the Local has identified for the new CBA is to reduce an assortment of hardships such as warehouse injuries and the need to endure extreme heat. He credited recently elected Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien, who is fighting for the safety of his members. In doing so, he has earned the membership’s respect.
Brant also touched on the need to organize and grow the Local, as companies can move or go out of business. To properly organize, he believes it requires constant growth from workers and a desire to continue in their line of work when problems arise.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: