Truckers may be among the first to get Covid vaccine
Dec. 1, 2020  | Truck drivers and other workers in critical and essential jobs could be the earliest people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as several major pharmaceutical companies begin working with major transportation firms to deliver the vaccines. More at Transport Topics

Members, Teamster stories are needed!
Dec. 7, 2020  | A House Ways and Means Committee round table discussion is scheduled this Wednesday, Dec. 9th, to address the ways that frontline workers needs during the COVID pandemic. We want to make sure Teamster voices and Teamster stories are heard. How has the COVID public health crisis and recession impacted you and your work? What do you need to feel safer in you work environment? To upload your COVID stories, use this link for video (90 seconds or less), or this link for written response. It’s easy! Do it today! Note: If you have problems submitting your testimony, you may also email it to TDoyle@teamster.org

How UPS is preparing to ship, deliver COVID-19 vaccine
Dec. 9, 2020  | UPS will be the primary distributor of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Kate Gutmann, senior vice president of UPS’ health care and science unit describes how UPS is preparing for the rollout. Watch the interview at TODAY

Teamsters to play key role in distribution of COVID-19 vaccine 
Dec. 11, 2020  | In 1955, the Teamsters aided in rushing the new life-saving Polio vaccine (left) throughout the nation within days when it was made available. Today, Teamsters will again play an essential role in the delivery of a life-saving vaccine. Distribution giant UPS, the single largest employer in the Teamsters Union, and it’s rival, FedEx, are “ready and prepared” to deliver 660 million Covid-19 vaccine doses nationwide. (The vaccine requires two doses per person.) UPS is also shipping vaccine kits that include syringes, mixing vials and fluid, personal protective equipment, and instructions for administering the vaccine. Nationally, the Teamsters represent more than 260,000 package and freight workers. More than 3,500 of them are members of Local 355 in Baltimore, Local 453 in Cumberland, and Local 992 in Hagerstown. Additionally, Local 355 represents workers at dry ice manufacturer Capitol Carbonic in Baltimore. Members there are making and distributing dry ice pellets needed to keep the Pfizer vaccine at its required sub-zero temperature of -70 Celsius. Watch the video here.

Teamster Local 391 member makes UPS’ first delivery of COVID-19 vaccine 
Dec. 14, 2020  | When a Teamster Local 391 member headed to work today, he had no idea he was about to make history. The driver, Danny P., who has been a Teamster for nearly four years, delivered the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine at about 7:20 a.m. today to the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. NBC TV’s Today show reported that it was UPS’ first vaccine delivery in the nation. Continue reading here.

UPS, FedEx mobilize to deliver Moderna COVID vaccine 
Dec. 21, 2020  | In a repeat of last week’s schedule for the first release of Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine, UPS and FedEx trucks began rolling out of distribution centers on Sunday with boxes of vaccine packed in dry ice. Dosing sites began receiving vaccines on Monday. Most shipments will head to airports to be transferred to UPS and FedEx aircraft for carriage to their respective package hubs in Memphis, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky. The shipments will then be rerouted on trucks and cargo planes heading to locations across the country. After being sorted again at local terminals, package vans to deliver the vaccine to local dosing centers… Freightwaves  Left: On Wednesday morning, Dec. 22, 2020, Teamster Local 992 UPS package drivers (from left) Anthony Brechbill, Travis Hays, and Aaron Weber) loaded Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for delivery.