(Photo via Flickr / zyphbear / Creative Commons license)
Apr 04, 2014
This week, one of the largest shipping companies in the world fired 250 unionized drivers for protesting what workers say is the unjust dismissal of one of their co-workers.
In February, hundreds of United Parcel Service workers from Teamsters Local 804 in Queens, New York staged a 90-minute walk-out to protest the firing of co-worker Jairo Reyes.
This Monday, 20 of the workers who participated were fired and 230 others were told they will be next.
"UPS's actions this week were a heartless attack on drivers and their families," stated Local 804 on its website. "Local 804 will continue to work with political leaders and the public to bring UPS management to the table to reach a fair settlement."
According to Annie-Rose Strasser writing for ThinkProgress, "UPS has previously come under fire for its treatment of workers. In one instance, a pregnant employee was put on unpaid leave with no medical coverage after her doctor instructed her not to lift anything weighing more than 20 pounds."
______________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
This week, one of the largest shipping companies in the world fired 250 unionized drivers for protesting what workers say is the unjust dismissal of one of their co-workers.
In February, hundreds of United Parcel Service workers from Teamsters Local 804 in Queens, New York staged a 90-minute walk-out to protest the firing of co-worker Jairo Reyes.
This Monday, 20 of the workers who participated were fired and 230 others were told they will be next.
"UPS's actions this week were a heartless attack on drivers and their families," stated Local 804 on its website. "Local 804 will continue to work with political leaders and the public to bring UPS management to the table to reach a fair settlement."
According to Annie-Rose Strasser writing for ThinkProgress, "UPS has previously come under fire for its treatment of workers. In one instance, a pregnant employee was put on unpaid leave with no medical coverage after her doctor instructed her not to lift anything weighing more than 20 pounds."
______________________
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
This week, one of the largest shipping companies in the world fired 250 unionized drivers for protesting what workers say is the unjust dismissal of one of their co-workers.
In February, hundreds of United Parcel Service workers from Teamsters Local 804 in Queens, New York staged a 90-minute walk-out to protest the firing of co-worker Jairo Reyes.
This Monday, 20 of the workers who participated were fired and 230 others were told they will be next.
"UPS's actions this week were a heartless attack on drivers and their families," stated Local 804 on its website. "Local 804 will continue to work with political leaders and the public to bring UPS management to the table to reach a fair settlement."
According to Annie-Rose Strasser writing for ThinkProgress, "UPS has previously come under fire for its treatment of workers. In one instance, a pregnant employee was put on unpaid leave with no medical coverage after her doctor instructed her not to lift anything weighing more than 20 pounds."
______________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.