UPS Inc. has made a contract offer to the Teamsters union that the union said Friday represents “significant movement” on wages, benefits and worker classification language.
The company has also pledged to have a deal done by Wednesday to cover 340,000 Teamster employees, the union said.
Despite the progress, it isn’t enough, the union said in a statement. After UPS executives left the negotiating room, Teamster national committee members caucused and agreed to continue to put pressure on the company. “One of two things is going to happen next-UPS will come to terms on a deal we can confidently recommend to our members, or UPS will fail and the company will put itself on the street,” said Fred Zuckerman, the Teamsters general secretary-treasurer.
“At every step, we are forcing (UPS) to do what they don’t want to do, which is to give our members more money and better protections at work,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien. “UPS didn’t want to make progress on economics, but they conceded today that they will reach a deal by July 5 because they have no choice.”
The news comes two days after the Teamsters demanded that UPS present its “last, best and final offer” on the economic language of the contract. Such a demand is not binding on either side or on the bargaining process. Typically, it is a negotiating tactic used by one side to exercise leverage over the other.
The current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 31. The Teamsters have warned repeatedly that they will strike Aug. 1 without a contract in place.
“We are encouraged the Teamsters are ready to continue negotiations and discuss our most recent proposal,” UPS said in a statement. “Productive discussions are critical at this stage of the process. We look forward to the union’s input so we can reach a timely agreement and provide certainty for our employees, our customers and the U.S. economy.”
The Teamsters will hold a press conference Saturday at noon ET outside Teamsters headquarters.
Carlos Montes
We will support or UPS workers in Los Angeles if they strike by walking the picket lines with them!
JimBob E
It’s true the company has been on a downturn since it went public. The costumer service is terrible when I started 32 years ago the customer was the most important thing you built a relationship with them and provided the best service. Know it’s all about the money and the numbers. I was always told that the driver was the face of the business when I started. This was how you retained business. It’s a shame that the trucks look like crap filthy on the outside and inside. I will take the old UPS over this version any day the pride is gone.
stevenmanor@bellsouth.net
@West Coast Feeder Driver, I remember the package cars were polished with furniture polish and a dust mop when important people were coming otherwise they would be washed everyday. Today the package cars aren’t washed at all, scratches and dents aren’t repaired. I’ve been there 34 years and noticed the decline. They have lowered their once very high standards. The concrete floors were shined and buffed everyday to the point they resembled marble, not a drop of oil anywhere. UPS’s high standards were almost like the military, everything was so clean. Today they don’t care, the drivers don’t care about their appearance. Carol Tome says express yourself however you want to. I’m ready for her to go or get fired! She has ruined this company with adopting DEI and ESG policies. She has out sourced our HR and customer service to a third party in Asia. Our customers have questions about lost packages and deliveries and they get someone who barely speaks English. Our company has lost its core values and sense of direction. The customers were always their main priority but sadly the stock holders and executive management now come first.
Central States
I’m a UPS driver going on 10 years now and making around $42 per hour, if they wanna give me more money Ill take it but I am actually ok with what Im making if I don’t get a raise, I rather they keep my health benefits intact and maybe add a little more to my pension. I would prefer they give a huge raise to the part-timers that load and unload, sort, and load our package cars and trailers, those poor bastards deserve it and quite frankly making $15-$16 per hour for back-breaking work is ridiculous. I think Obrien is doing a good job being tough with UPS but hopefully, the end result will be something everyone can be happy with.