UPS Drivers, at City Hall, Protest Firings of 250

Large Crowd of Union Members and Polticians Demands Reinstatement of Fired UPS Workers
Large Crowd of Union Members and Polticians Demands Reinstatement of Fired UPS Workers

APRIL 3 -- Members of Teamsters Local 804 working for UPS joined political leaders and supporters from other unions including TWU Local 100 in a rally at City Hall protesting the firing of up to 250 workers after a walk-out staged by workers in solidarity with a fired brother. One of those who has already been fired is Ronald Sauray, husband of TWU Local 100 Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray. He was also at the rally to support his union. After 250 workers walked off the job for 90 minutes on February 26, to protest the firing of Jairo Reyes for allegedly changing his reporting time, management called all 250 into their offices and announced that they would be fired for walking off the job -- on a timetable to be decided by management.

IB ImageLocal 804 President Tim Sylvester said that management, alerted to the union's attempt to bring public pressure to bear on the company, fired 20 of the 250 last Monday, March 31. Among the public officials expressing outrage at this conduct were numerous City Concil members, Assemblyman Tony Avella, and two citywide officials, Public Advocate Tish James and Comptroller Scott Stringer. Ms. James said that when she went to UPS headquarters to discuss the matter, she was "shown the door." She noted that UPS benefits from a lucrative discount program that exempts the company from paying for most of the parking tickets it incurs. Councilmembers noted the City's $43 million in contracts with UPS, saying that these contracts should be re-considered if UPS does not reinstate the fired workers.