Originally published on March 30, 2023
On Dan Arlin's second day back as a package car delivery driver at UPS, after a three-year stint driving tractor-trailer trucks, he was fired – without explanation – and walked off company property. The 23-year veteran of UPS is a pro at his job. He knew he had done nothing wrong, but the company didn't like one thing: his union activism.
Harassment and retaliation is a way of life at UPS. After he was fired in March 2022, Arlin was committed to getting his job back. And indeed, fighting tooth and nail for eleven months, Arlin was finally reinstated on Valentines day this year.
In this bonus episode of The Upsurge, we dug into Arlin's remarkable story, which is one of both pain and perseverance, struggle and solidarity.
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Hosted by Teddy Ostrow
Edited by Teddy Ostrow & Ruby Walsh
Produced by NYGP & Ruby Walsh
Music by Casey Gallagher
Cover art by Devlin Claro Resetar
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Support the show at Patreon.com/upsurgepod.
Follow us on Twitter @upsurgepod, Facebook, The Upsurge, and YouTube @upsurgepod.
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Show Notes
- Teddy Ostrow, "Is UPS Retaliating Against Union Activists?" The Nation, September 27, 2022.
- The "Bi-Weekly Grievance" Show, YouTube channel.
- Roswell Hub's interviews with Dan Arlin: Part One and Part Two.
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