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Meyerson on TAP: Will the Teamsters’ Gains at UPS Help Them Unionize Amazon?
Summary
The article examines the wage increases that UPS has agreed to for its unionized employees, and the potential impact that it may have on Amazon's decision to unionize its own workforce. It argues that the wage increases are notable but not as significant as the provision in the contract that eliminates surveillance cameras, which could be particularly attractive to Amazon's warehouse workers. It also suggests that the Teamsters' success in getting UPS to install air conditioning in its trucks could be a selling point in their unionization efforts.
Q&As
What were the twofold goals of the Teamsters in their bargaining with UPS?
The twofold goals of the Teamsters in their bargaining with UPS were to win sizable gains for their members and to make those gains so significant that they’d bolster the union’s prospects for its next venture: unionizing Amazon.
What did the UPS agreement with the Teamsters include?
The UPS agreement with the Teamsters included wage increases for part-time employees, air-conditioning for trucks, and the elimination of surveillance cameras trained on the drivers.
How will the wage differential between UPS and Amazon employees affect unionizing Amazon?
The wage differential between UPS and Amazon employees working equivalent jobs will have some impact, but Amazon has shown a willingness to raise wages when it needs to.
What provisions of the UPS contract will be especially compelling to Amazon employees?
The provisions of the UPS contract that will be especially compelling to Amazon employees are the agreement to air-condition its trucks and the elimination of the company’s surveillance cameras trained on the drivers.
What does the Teamsters' success in eliminating surveillance cameras from UPS mean for Amazon's workers?
The Teamsters' success in eliminating surveillance cameras from UPS means that Amazon's workers will be freed from the dystopian surveillance that official America decries when China’s government inflicts it on its citizenry.
AI Comments
👍 This article effectively highlights the important provisions of the proposed UPS contract that could be very appealing to Amazon employees.
👎 The article fails to mention any of the wage gains that UPS was ultimately forced to agree to, which could be a major selling point for Amazon employees.
AI Discussion
Me: It discusses how the Teamsters union was able to win some wage increases and other benefits from UPS and how this could be used to help them unionize Amazon.
Friend: Interesting. What implications does the article have?
Me: The article suggests that the wage increases are important, but it's really the other provisions, such as banning constant surveillance of workers, that could really resonate with Amazon employees. If the Teamsters are successful in unionizing Amazon, this could lead to better wages and working conditions for these workers. It could also have a ripple effect, setting a precedent that could lead to other companies being unionized.
Action items
- Reach out to Amazon employees to discuss the potential benefits of unionizing with the Teamsters.
- Educate Amazon employees on the importance of eliminating surveillance cameras in the workplace.
- Advocate for similar legislation in other states that bans companies from using metrics based on surveillance to punish workers.
Technical terms
- Teamsters
- A labor union representing workers in the transportation industry, including truck drivers, warehouse workers, and public employees.
- UPS
- United Parcel Service, a package delivery company.
- Incumbent regime
- The current leadership of an organization.
- Herculean
- A task of great difficulty.
- Yeatsian
- Refers to the Irish poet William Butler Yeats.
- Taylorism
- A system of scientific management developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the early 20th century.
- Dystopian
- A society characterized by oppressive social control and the illusion of a perfect society.
- Taylorism
- A system of scientific management developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the early 20th century.
- Air-conditioning
- A system that cools and dehumidifies air.
- Metrics
- A set of measurements used to evaluate performance.
- Coalition
- A group of people or organizations working together to achieve a common goal.