BrownCafe

In mid-December, when the first vials of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Kentucky, workers with Teamsters Local 89 played a pivotal role in delivering them from airplanes to arms.

“The people who took the vaccines off the planes and put them on UPS trucks were Teamsters,” said Avral Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer for the union that represents more than 16,000 workers in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. “The UPS truck drivers were Teamsters. We played a big role.”

On Friday, the vaccines came to them. In partnership with UofL Health, the Teamsters Local 89 hall in Louisville held a vaccine clinic for members, their families, and anyone else in the neighborhood who hasn’t yet been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Imagine taking the time out of your busy day just to show appreciation for someone else. That’s what nearly two dozen people in Snoqualmie did on Thursday.

Snoqualmie residents came with signs and stories about a man they know as Nabou.

“I love to golf and he’ll ask me how my tournaments go,” said 12-year-old Carter Pass said.

“You see him coming and you’re like ‘Oh, he’s here,” Arlene Cormier said.

United Parcel Service drivers represented by the Teamsters union picketed Wednesday at a distribution hub to call attention to long hours and extra days being worked in the pandemic.

The 80 to 100 drivers based in Auburn are frustrated about being overworked during the pandemic, said Brett Miller, president of Local 340. The goal is to get the attention of management, he said.

“They are working Christmas hours and they’ve been doing this for 14 months straight. They’re wearing down,” he said.