Clerks Take Action to Enforce Seniority Rights

UPS eliminated a few clerk positions in March—laying off six Local 804 clerks.

Now they’re fighting back—and taking grievance action to defend their seniority rights.

The company claims that the laid-off clerks are only entitled to part-time jobs even though they have been with the company for more than a decade and they all worked full-time before becoming clerks.

Local 804 has filed a grievance to take on this violation of seniority and basic fairness.

We’re also taking on the company’s use of preloaders to do clerk work.

We held a clerks meeting at the union hall and are launching a Clerks Committee to help win the grievance.

“The outcome of the seniority grievance is important for all clerks, not just the six who have been displaced so far,” says Eddie Oguchi, who has worked at Maspeth for 19 years, three as a clerk.

UPS may try to implement technology that lets them print label corrections right on the trucks.

“If that happens, more clerks jobs could be eliminated,” Oguchi said. “We’ve got to protect our seniority rights.”

If you are interested in participating on the Clerks Committee, contact your Business Agent or call Liam Russertt at 718-786-5700.

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“The outcome of the seniority grievance is important for all clerks—not just the six who have been displaced so far.”

Eddie Oguchi
Clerk, Maspeth