LOCAL 804 IBT history

Despite the no-strike pledge, Local 804 members struck UPS in June 1942, stopping the deliveries of 100,000 packages at 375 stores in the New York metropolitan area.

In 1947, Local members were arrested for leafleting outside of Bloomingdales while appealing to customers to have goods delivered.

An April 1948 joint organizing campaign between Teamsters Locals 138, 177, 478 and 804 for UPS warehouse workers resulted in a 2832 to 16 vote in favor of Teamster representation.

Geiger went on to be elected President of the Local in 1949.

In the spring of 1950 Local 804 obtained strike authorizations from both Joint Council 16 and the IBT for actions at JC Penny, UPS, Macy’s warehouse, Peck & Peck and Winston Television.

Inspecting the 1951 polio poster are (L to R) Thomas Beaton, UPS Personnel Manager,Robert Weinberg, March of Dimes and Local 804 Secretary-Treasurer Edward Conway.

1954 UPS Contract Highlights

Congress approved the Federal-Aid Highway Act in 1956, which created the Interstate Highway System.

The death of Teamster Local 804 President Leonard Geiger in August 1957 opened up a period of strife within the local and throughout the Teamsters.

In 1962, Local 804 helped found Teamsters Center Services, which still provides confidential services to Local 804 members.

Numerous wildcat strikes would occur throughout the 60’s. For example, in 1963 the union mobilized members to oppose Mayor Wagner’s proposed sales tax increase.

In 1964, the first National Master Freight Agreement was signed.

In 1965, a UPS contract was reached without a strike “for the first time 12 years,” according to Local 804 President Simcox.

Despite leaderships pledge to resist striking, Local 804 UPS members went on strike in May 1968.

In its eight-decade history, Local 804 often struck over working conditions, but the cause of the 11-day strike in 1970 was unusual.

For the first time, a national UPS contract was negotiated in 1979.

Into the early 1980’s, department stores were still a major UPS customer.

Though the verdict was later overturned, Long was permanently banned from holding Teamster membership, under the authority of the Independent Review Board (IRB). The IRB was established by the Consent Decree between the IBT and United States government in 1989.

Though not a majority, 66,000 UPS shares were held by Teamster members, who were fist permitted to buy company stock in 1995.