Chicago Tribune Article Highlights Teamsters’ Refusal to Cross Teacher Picket Lines
Classes in public schools across Chicago were cancelled for an eighth day today as members of the Chicago Teachers Union continue their strike and fight to improve working conditions and schools.
In the days since the strike first began, members of Teamsters Local 705 who are employed as UPS drivers have refused to cross the teachers’ picket lines. The Teamsters’ solidarity with their fellow union members was highlighted today in a Chicago Tribune article.
According to the Chicago Tribune:
“When Teamsters Local 705 official Juan Campos heard that the Chicago Teachers Union was going on strike, his first reaction was to text union stewards, reminding them that Teamsters honor strike lines of other labor groups…
Campos, the secretary-treasurer of a local that represents about 17,000 workers including UPS drivers in Chicago, said that’s important to him because ‘today it’s them, tomorrow it’s us…’
Teamsters Local 705 has a provision in its contract allowing members to refuse to cross or work behind another union’s picket line. That’s not uncommon for a union contract, and case law shows that workers have the right to refuse to cross a picket line or work behind a picket line…”
To read the Tribune article in its entirety, click here.
“We applaud our Teamster Brothers and Sisters for exercising their contractual rights and bravely standing in solidarity with fellow union members,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “Teamsters Local 727 is proud to continue to stand with CTU teachers. When unions stand together, workers win.”
Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.
Category: Current Events
