UPS Inc. and the Teamsters union have commenced the national, or master, phase of contract negotiations even though two main supplemental agreements remain unresolved.
One of those supplements is the Local 89 Air Rider in Louisville, Kentucky, home of UPS’ Worldport air hub, and the other is located in Northern California. The Teamsters national negotiation committee directed supplemental committee chairmen to return to their bargaining tables to resume negotiations, according to a Teamsters statement Monday.
In the first national meeting on Monday, which was largely ceremonial, the Teamsters shared a handful of non-economic proposals to the UPS National Master Agreement. UPS executives shared a few pages briefly summarizing some of the company’s own proposed contract changes.
According to the statement, Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien told UPS (NYSE:UPS) across the table to act fast to quickly abolish the 22.4 two-tier job classification for package car drivers and eliminate its use of personal vehicle delivery drivers (PVDs). Known by the classification number in the contract, 22.4 drivers are full-time workers who the Teamsters said don’t receive the same employment status of senior workers even though they put in the same work.
“If UPS really wants to get serious and get national talks underway, they should get rid of these unequal 22.4 positions and watered-down gig economy PVDs right now. It’d be very easy,” O’Brien said. “We cannot allow movement on national negotiations to stagnate around UPS’ perpetual inaction. The Teamsters want UPS to start responding to some of our biggest issues or make final plans to wrap up supplemental negotiations. Let’s get this done.”
As recently as mid-April, the Teamsters warned that there would be no national negotiations until all of the 40 supplementals, which generally have a more specific impact on workers’ benefits in their geographic areas. The Teamsters accused UPS of foot dragging on negotiating 30 of the 40 original supplementals.
Based on where things stand, however, progress has been made. According to the Teamsters, UPS agreed that the company preferred to see supplements reach tentative agreement as quickly as possible.
“The proof is in the pudding,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “While we evaluate initial non-economic national proposals, we have asked our supplemental committees to work out final issues with UPS. If UPS isn’t playing games, we should all see these regional contracts agreed to by both sides very soon.”
In a statement Friday, UPS said the company and the union have made “good progress” in the past few weeks negotiating nearly all the supplementals.
The Local 89 supplemental committee returned to work at Teamsters headquarters. Teams bargaining the “NorCal” supplement continued to work remotely from Sacramento, California.
Elvis Ghost
I just really hope that by going back on the threat of no master talks until ALL supplements are finished doesn’t come back to haunt us!! I think yall should have stuck to your guns !!! Sound just like a typical UPS test to see how far yall will take it ! They would have caved in and done what was right had yall not gave in to them. I worry that the Aug 1st deadline will be pushed now and that is nothing to be playing around with!!! Hang tough up there and don’t give in to anymore games !!!!
Buster Brown
Profits are a good thing and so is corporate wealth. Without it, no $41 an hour and great benefits, (our benefits in the top 4%) no higher union dues ( dues are tax free cash flow). UPS makes you earn every dollar, the more you make the more BS. I was told when I started, if you don’t like the crap then go work at KMART. I’m retiring in 2024, so pay my (35 years) pension !
Angelina Barrientos
I feel sorry for the UPS drivers, especially in the summer heat. I know I am always offering our driver water or anything to drink to make him comfortable in hot weather. With no air in the trucks it has to be tough on the drivers. They work hard and only 1 driver who handles huge and heavy packages. I give them props and appreciate the work they do. If anything, UPS needs to treat and give a huge raise to these drivers because without them , we are screwed. No other company delivers the heavy freight these guys handle by themselves. UPS drivers have my respect.
in Jesus, we will serve the Lord
Dear God, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to expand your Wisdom into our UPS working culture
J R
16 billion dollars net profit is all anyone needs to know about how UPS manipulates it’s workers for corporate wealth. Would love to see any board members sit in a 120 degree truck for 12 hours and be told to hydrate properly!
Robet
Ups is a totally bad company when it comes to negotiations with the teamsters
Joe Sunday
“Everyone is an expert” on the issues.
And, “opinions are like as—–s; everybody has one and most of them stink”.
End of story.