Teamsters Say UPS Freight Workers Sign Cards in New England

The Teamsters union said workers at seven UPS Freight terminals in New England signed cards to join the union, although the cards must now be sent to a neutral arbitrator.

A majority of workers at the sites signed authorization cards to become union members, the union said late Wednesday. The cards were signed at terminals in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

UPS Freight, a unit of UPS Inc., is the successor to Overnite Transportation, which waged a substantial, bitter fight with the union from 1999-2002.

The Teamsters and UPS Freight set a special agreement in October to cover 125 drivers and dockworkers at the company’s Indianapolis terminal.

UPS Inc. is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.