Contract negotiations between UPS Inc. and the Teamsters union collapsed early Wednesday morning, with each side blaming the other for its demise.
The Teamsters issued a statement saying that UPS (NYSE: UPS) walked away from the bargaining table at 4 a.m. after presenting an unacceptable offer to the Teamsters that did not address members’ needs. The UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee unanimously rejected the package.
Following marathon negotiations, UPS refused to give the Teamsters a last, best and final offer, telling the union the company had nothing more to give, the Teamsters’ statement said.
“This multibillion-dollar corporation has plenty to give American workers — they just don’t want to,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “UPS had a choice to make, and they have clearly chosen to go down the wrong road.”
The five-year UPS Teamsters contract covering more than 340,000 full- and part-time workers expires July 31. No additional negotiations are scheduled, the Teamsters said. The union has threatened to strike Aug. 1 without a contract in-hand. The rank-and-file has overwhelmingly authorized a strike should talks break off.
In its statement, UPS said the Teamsters have “stopped negotiating despite UPS’ historic offer that builds on our industry-leading pay. We have nearly a month left to negotiate. We have not walked away, and the union has a responsibility to remain at the table.
“Refusing to negotiate, especially when the finish line is in sight, creates significant unease among employees and customers and threatens to disrupt the U.S. economy. Only our non-union competitors benefit from the Teamsters’ actions,” UPS said.
The company said that “we’re proud of our offer. It delivers wins for our people. The Teamsters should return to the table to finalize this deal.”
Over the weekend, UPS agreed to end a two-tier driver pay system and convert all junior drivers into regular package car drivers with the same pay as their senior counterparts. UPS also agreed to establish Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday.
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Arthur Elks Jr
The employees should vote to leave the union and let UPS Yellow and others be a straight up company. The CEOs know what it takes to keep employees happy and keep there company moving forward.
Midwest Teamster
As I walked out of my hub and to the guard shack Monday night (yes, we worked even though none of our customers did), a contractor was parked there in the parking area reserved for our tractors. And no, he wasn’t just tidying up before leaving the property as he is required to do. He was taking his 10 hours sleeping. The contractor language touted in this “new” agreement is not new. They are currently required to “drop and go.”
You ask, “Why didn’t you report it?” The response should tell it all: this company is full of liars who have ZERO intention of ever enforcing their agreements. Local managers have no idea what the contract says because they don’t need to.
Don’t bother going to the table. This company proves every single day that they don’t believe in honoring their agreements. Whatever contract is “agreed” to will not pass. We have prepared for this all year. We will walk, and all of the union busters can keep spewing their hot air while the stock tanks.
John John
All this going on while 22,000 Teamsters at Yellow wait for the company to realize Sean O’Brien and the Teamster negotiations committee is not going to negotiate with them and is just waiting for them to give up and shut the doors. How sad not one mention about the families who will be affected at Yellow. Not one mention about the households this will bankrupt!!! Only UPS. Why? Because they can pay to play. If your company is broke and can’t pay into the pension funds there is no profit in allowing you to survive. Good bye Yellow and good bye to the 22,000 Teamsters who’s lives and families mean nothing to Sean O’Brien……
Charlestown
The teamsters top brass has to be realizing that UPS is their cash cow. 25% of all the teamsters being employed at buster brown and they’re gonna kill the golden goose? Give me a break. It’s all talk. Unfortunately the rank and file drank too much kool aid provided by the union fat cats.
Roland
UPS probably thinks they’ll cripple Amazon by hiring all their delivery slaves to replace the Teamsters.
TJ
Once again it goes to show why I would never work for a union company. I agree with what MD said. The union heads could care less about the workers. They get paid to stir the pot. I can guarantee that their jobs are safe regardless of the outcome and they are making bank. The more they can bleed the companies and the more workers they can unionize, the more they make. Used to be American workers took pride in their work but now it’s greed only. Shotty work (we used to be #1 but we become lazy and entitled) and they keep wanting more and more money for doing the poor work. And their going off the seniority system allows lazy workers to keep employed while the hardest workers have to struggle. O’Brien’s a thug.
Jeron Brown
Once again hard working Americans stuck between greed and corruption. Thanks UPS/Teamsters Local 63
Kione G
Some people really don’t understand how much 12 billion dollars profit is and how a wage increase would do so little damage said profit. It doesn’t matter if the average Joe *thinks* the job is easy; they don’t *know* the job. Maybe the average Joe should stop accepting abuse as a way of life and learn that time is money. You’re job is not your life, just your contribution to society. You’re allowed to make a livable wage.