CHICAGO, IL—In an historic and long-awaited decision, an arbitrator has ruled in favor of Teamsters Local 710 in its 2017 protest against UPS’s use of Personal Vehicle Drivers (PVDs), without first bargaining over their wages and other terms and conditions of employment. Lead counsel for the union was John Bielski of Willig, Williams & Davidson.
In 2017, UPS informed Local 710 that it intended to use PVDs in the upcoming peak season. The Union immediately demanded bargaining, but UPS pushed ahead and unilaterally implemented PVDs, prompting Local 710 UPSers to file hundreds of grievances over the course of four peak seasons.
Business Agent Ron Dillon filed the original protest when UPS first began utilizing PVDs – a practice that has since invaded a majority of 710 UPS barns – citing the direct violation of the Local’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Local 710 negotiated clear language into the CBA covering new methods of performing bargaining unit work: when UPS implements “new types of equipment or operations” not classified in the CBA, they must negotiate with the Union. The arbitrator agreed that PVDs clearly fit this bill.
In addition to the requirement to bargain over PVDs, the arbitrator also ordered UPS to provide Local 710 with comprehensive information on PVD hires. The Local has stacks of grievances that will either need to be settled or go to arbitration as well in light of this ruling. 710 Business Agents are moving quickly to begin that process.
