USA TODAY International Edition
UPS Teamsters OK strike as negotiations continue
Unionized UPS workers authorized a strike as they continue bargaining for a new contract at the package-delivery giant.
Teamsters union members voted Tuesday to give their negotiators the right to call for a strike if the two sides are not able to come to an agreement. The move is not uncommon in contract negotiations as unions seek bargaining leverage. So far, no strike has been called.
Still, if negotiations break down, a strike is possible and could potentially disrupt package delivery. The current master contract expires July 31.
UPS spokesman Glenn Zaccara declined to comment on how a strike would affect the company’s ability to deliver packages.
The Teamsters reported that more than nine out of 10 members voted to support a strike if necessary.
“It is very helpful to have the members’ backing as we work toward negotiating strong contracts at UPS and UPS Freight,” Denis Taylor, director of the Teamsters Package Division and cochairman of the Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee, said in a statement. Taylor said on May 25 that “the company’s initial economic proposals do not address our members’ needs.”
UPS expressed optimism that it will reach a deal amicably. “This does not mean a strike is imminent,” Zaccara said in an email. “The reality is that UPS and the Teamsters have already reached tentative agreements, subject to ratification, on a wide variety of non-economic issues.”
The two sides are eight weeks into negotiations over wages, benefits and work conditions. One potential sticking point is subcontracting deals.