For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 19, 1997
Statement by President Gerald W. McEntee, American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO on Settlement of the Teamster strike against UPS
The Teamsters strike has brought to the forefront a serious concern for all working Americans: the use of part-time workers to do full-time jobs. Every day we see employers replacing full-time workers with part-time workers. Why do they do this? To avoid costs like health care and pensions which ultimately affect their profit margin. In the case of UPS, the company posted profits of over $1 billion in 1996 while claiming it could not create more full-time jobs due to economic reasons.
I believe that the Teamsters strike was the first clear signal that American workers will not tolerate this practice anymore.
I can assure you that this practice is not limited to just a few big corporations in the private sector. AFSCME has seen state and local governments, health care organizations and others across this country try to eliminate full-time positions and replace them with part-time positions. AFSCME has fought this practice in the past, and we will continue to fight to stop this trend in the future.
I commend the unity displayed by our Teamster sisters and brothers. Their willingness and ability to stick together and present a united front was crucial in achieving victory with UPS. I also commend the efforts of my AFSCME sisters and brothers all across this country who supported the strike. Their efforts, and the unity displayed by not only the whole labor movement, but by the general public everywhere, have proven that unions are a powerful voice for not only their members, but for all working men and women.
