UPS: One of the biggest strikes in American history is brewing

“We want a contract that delivers wins for our workers and that presents UPS the adaptability to keep competitive in a fast shifting marketplace,” the corporation explained in a statement this thirty day period. “UPS and the Teamsters have worked cooperatively for nearly 100 several years to meet up with the needs of UPS personnel, consumers, and the communities the place we dwell and function. We consider we’ll continue to uncover prevalent floor with the Teamsters and achieve an settlement that’s excellent for everyone involved.”

Anger in excess of current agreement

There are unquestionably indicators of strain in relations amongst the firm and the union — both equally its management and its rank-and-file users.

“Do our users wake up just about every working day wanting a strike. I’d say no. But are they fed up? Certainly they are fed up,” O’Brien informed CNN Enterprise past week. “No matter if or not there is a strike, that’s fully up to the enterprise. We are going to utilize as significantly leverage as we can to get our associates the agreement they are worthy of.”

UPS reported the ordinary shell out for its delivery drivers is $95,000 a calendar year, with benefits these kinds of as a regular pension system, really worth an additional $50,000 a 12 months. UPS’ semi-tractor drivers are paid even much more. Which is much better than most wages at FedEx and Amazon, wherever quite a few drivers do the job for tiny unbiased contractors.

The current agreement expires at 12:01 am August 1. O’Brien vows the union will not grant any sort of deal extension previous that deadline.

And he extra that on leading of improved pay back and benefits, the union will need improved performing problems, which includes including air conditioning in the panel vans applied for UPS deliveries which the union claims poses a health and fitness danger for drivers.

Record profits at UPS

The organization usually speaks about how significantly it values its Teamster-represented workforce.

And in a single essential way — employment quantities — UPS is just one of the ideal buddies labor has in the ranks of US corporate management, regardless of the evident tensions. UPS is one particular of the couple of unionized businesses that is drastically including payrolls, and to union membership. At other enterprises, union membership figures have been steadily declining or a long time.

“Absolutely everyone keeps receiving richer except for our members,” stated O’Brien.

She also is seeking to assure both equally traders and UPS consumers that the organization will be well prepared in case the union does go on strike. She declined to remark on what people preparations are.

“Our target with the Teamsters is win-gain-win,” she told traders in July. But she extra that UPS is “creating contingency strategies.”