BURR RIDGE, IL | Teamsters Local 710 has prevailed in an ongoing arbitration case against the wrongful termination of a high-seniority Feeder Driver at UPS out of the Chicago Area Consolidation Hub (CACH). The Arbitrator ruled that the Driver is to be reinstated and made whole – including full back pay and benefits owed to them since their termination in 2022.

While the actual award is still being calculated, the amount could be in the hundreds of thousands owed back to the member.

“This is a huge win not only for this member, but for all of our members at UPS,” said Secretary-Treasurer Mike Cales. “We’ve seen repeatedly that this employer sometimes has difficulty following what is clearly written in our contract, which was at the root of this particular case. Hopefully this decision opens up UPS’s eyes more to the fact that they need to do better by our members, and that 710 will back our members 1000% if they don’t.”

The member was discharged by UPS in October of 2022 for alleged dishonesty. The company claimed that the member improperly documented delay time in order to receive additional pay that was not owed to them, and therefore terminated them for “intending to defraud the Company.” Local 710 vehemently disagreed with this position, contesting that UPS didn’t properly train the member – even when the member asked for help – and that their alleged dishonesty was actually understandable confusion from conflicting instructions given by different members of management. The member was trying to comply with the rules and not trying to be paid more. The Arbitrator sided with the Union, ruling that the Company failed to meet its burden of proof.

“Patience and persistence were key to this total victory,” said Business Agent Craig Friedrich. “Arbitration is never an easy or quick path, but it was clearly the right one in this case. It works. I’d like to thank our legal counsel, Brendan Crowley, for all of his work in presenting this case, and to our member for entrusting our Local’s team.”

“UPS has been going hard on discipline, but our 710 team, stewards, and members never back down from the fight,” said President Del Schaefer. “We’re going to teach this company, one grievance at a time. UPS needs to think twice before trying to take on this Local. This win illustrates our strength, knowledge, and dedication to our members.”

Local 710 represents UPS Teamsters at 46 centers across the entire states of Illinois and Indiana, as well as Davenport, Iowa.