Supporters – I can’t quite believe I’m writing this: last night, the Teamsters announced that UPS tentatively agreed to equip their vehicles with air conditioning systems, new heat shields, and additional fans. Almost exactly 5 years after starting this petition, we can finally see the finish line.
After my husband nearly died of a heat stroke while delivering for UPS, I knew I had to do something. I had no idea just how many stories we’d uncover when I started this petition.
I’m absolutely certain that without those stories, your 1.3 million signatures, and all the pressure we’ve put on UPS over the years, this near victory would not be possible.
Here are just a few things we’ve done:
We took our petition signatures to Atlanta, held a press conference downtown, and went to UPS HQ to meet with execs. They told me they planned to change nothing. I left more fired up than ever.
The petition led to an NBC News investigation. Jim and I we’re on Nightly News with Lester Holt. NBC exposed over a hundred cases of heat stroke/llness – just the tip of the iceberg.
Petition signers flooded UPS Corporate Customer Care – hundreds of you called and demanded that the new UPS CEO address unsafe working conditions. Thanks to our persistence, they eventually shut down that phone line…
We sent personal fans and strongly worded notes to 20 UPS execs and board members, telling them to take action.
With your financial support, we had a massive truck that said “This truck has A/C. You’re UPS driver doesn’t.” driving around Atlanta for an entire month.
We even dressed up a puppy in a UPS costume and introduced him to some friendly local Brooklyn drivers who let him test out the cargo hold. You wouldn’t leave a dog in a hot truck…so what about your neighborhood UPS driver?
I’ve probably written 100+ updates to all of you over the years, but I’ve never been this excited or hopeful. While these changes can’t bring back the lives lost, they will make an incredible difference for drivers moving forward. I am so proud of the Teamsters for demanding safety, and of the public pressure we’ve built through this petition to support them.
Let’s not take our foot off the gas just yet. The contract must be finalized by July 31. We’ll save our big celebration for when this is all final. Until then, thank you for your years of support. You’ve truly made an incredible difference.
In Solidarity,
Theresa