Rep. Norcross Leads Bipartisan, Bipartisan Letter Affirming Support for Collective Bargaining Rights in UPS-Teamsters Negotiations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Labor Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and fellow co-chairs Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), led a bipartisan and bicameral group of more than 170 members of Congress supporting their constituents’ right to collectively bargain with their employer.

“I stand with the hardworking UPS Teamsters across the country and in South Jersey. These men and women worked through the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to move our economy every day,” Rep. Norcross said. “UPS workers and all workers deserve their fair share, safe working conditions, and a level playing field, and I was proud to lead this letter today.”

In modern history, Congress has not previously intervened to implement a collective bargaining agreement between workers and their employer under the National Labor Relations Act, and the letter sent today commits to upholding that precedent in the UPS-Teamsters negotiations.

A full copy of the letter can be found here, and excerpts are below:

“The Teamsters-UPS contract is the largest private collective bargaining agreement in North America, and given the recent increase in attacks on employees’ collective bargaining rights, it is critical that these rights are in no way undermined in the current contract negotiations between Teamsters and UPS. Furthermore, we support the principles of fair wages, safe working conditions, affordable health care, and dignified retirement,” the Members wrote in a letter to UPS CEO Carol Tomé and Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien.

“We understand that UPS Teamsters recently announced their overwhelming authorization of a strike—which would be the largest work stoppage at a single employer in American history—if the two parties cannot reach agreement on a contract by August 1st,” the Members continued. “We are hopeful that both sides can negotiate in good faith and reach a consensus agreement that addresses basic human needs and allows workers to do their jobs safely and with dignity. However, in the event a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement cannot be reached, we commit to respect our constituents’ statutory and constitutional rights to withhold their labor and initiate and participate in a strike.”