Coming into the holiday season....leverage, I suppose.



UPS is preparing for what could be the second-biggest employee strike to hit the delivery company since 1997.

According to a report, Opens a New Window. the Georgia-based parcel service is clearing all of its freight shipments this week to ensure its network is completely empty by Friday, days before a massive strike could potentially start.

Up to 11,000 drivers, who are represented by the Teamsters union, may be on strike as early as Monday morning, as contract negotiations remain at a standstill.

All week, Teamster members across the country have been voting on UPS’ “last, best, and final offer” contract with final votes expected to be tallied on Sunday. If a majority of members do not approve the contract, UPS Freight drivers will not go to work on Monday.

The two parties have been going back and forth on wage increases, better pay for drivers who perform dock work, benefits and restrictions on subcontractors.

While a UPS spokesperson did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment, they did tell tell Business Insider that the company is preparing for a possible strike.

"The company has now begun discussions with UPS Freight customers to inform them of the potential for service disruption and the need to arrange alternative carriers," UPS said.

What’s more, while UPS has responded to certain demands from union members like keeping the threshold for workers to qualify for a year of pension credit at 1,500 hours instead of increasing it to 1,800, it has not conceded on all their demands.

If the strike happens, it will be the first UPS strike since 185,000 employees held a 16-day walkout in 1997.

A representative for Teamsters did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.



https://www.foxbusiness.com/fe...assive-driver-strike

quote:

All week, Teamster members across the country have been voting on UPS’ “last, best, and final offer” contract with final votes expected to be tallied on Sunday. If a majority of members do not approve the contract, UPS Freight drivers will not go to work on Monday.

If it's truly the “last, best, and final offer” and they don't show up on Monday, UPS should fire them on Monday. There's no point in dragging it out before hiring replacements.

On Tuesday, they could de-certify the union and offer better pay to non-union drivers.

Hopefully Amazon bought all of those Mercedes cargo vans for their own delivery service.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Hopefully Amazon bought all of those Mercedes cargo vans for their own delivery service.

They haven't taken delivery yet. I work for U-Haul & they are renting plenty of them from me in the meantime.

It is my understanding that this is only affecting UPS "Freight" which is a less than truckload carrier (LTL). UPS small package division is not going to be affected.

Simply more incentive for UPS to invest in self-driving tech R&D.

Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever...
- Kyle Reese, The Terminator

Of course they are. I just shipped the karma glasses of to archerman via UPS.

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Hopefully Amazon bought all of those Mercedes cargo vans for their own delivery service.

They haven't taken delivery yet. I work for U-Haul & they are renting plenty of them from me in the meantime.

I'm seeing the Mercedes cargo vans delivering exlusively for Amazon. Before it was personal vehicles in their Uber-like delivery model.

Mercedes is shipping out their Sprinters as fast as they can. See them logo’d up and on flatbeds all the time here as they’re made just up the interstate from me.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
If it's truly the “last, best, and final offer” and they don't show up on Monday, UPS should fire them on Monday. There's no point in dragging it out before hiring replacements.

I agree. Fire them and find replacements rather than negotiate if it is UPS's final best offer.

Striking right before the holidays could be a double edged sword, if you were to end up unemployed.

UPS has a website for updating people on the status of the union negotiations:

UPS Freight Members Vote On Offer; UPS Begins Notifying Customers
November 1, 2018

UPS and the Teamsters Freight National Bargaining Committee concluded the current round of discussions on Thursday, October 25. The IBT has conducted two-person committees with each local and a conference call for its members to review changes Thursday, November 1. A union-hall vote, in which employees will go to their local union hall to cast ballots, is expected to take place November 7 – 11.

UPS made an offer that rewards our employees with wages and benefits at the top of the industry and compensates them for their contributions to the company’s success.

We are disappointed that Freight Teamsters union leaders have chosen to announce the potential for a work stoppage. The company must now begin discussions with UPS Freight customers to inform them of the potential for service disruption and the need to consider alternative arrangements prior to November 9. This is to ensure we maintain service to our customers.

Because we do not have a guarantee against a work stoppage, we cannot afford to put our customers’ volume at risk. The last days for pickup will be as follows:

Thursday, November 1 for 5-day shipping commitments
Friday, November 2 for 4- day shipping commitments
Monday, November 5 for 3-day shipping commitments
Tuesday, November 6 for 2-day shipping commitments
Wednesday, November 7 for 1-day shipping commitments

The UPS Small Package National Master Agreement (NMA) has been ratified. Customers can remain confident UPS is ready to continue to serve its small package customers throughout the holiday season and beyond.

https://unionnegotiations.ups....ight_Contract_Update

Also note this is only UPS Freight, not the people who normally deliver your goodie boxes.

I learned the hard way that they are very different entities.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
Simply more incentive for UPS to invest in self-driving tech R&D.

Or drones...

Is this a situation like the 1981 air traffic controller strike where POTUS could step in, order them to return to work in 48 hours, and if they fail then fire them?

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Is this a situation like the 1981 air traffic controller strike where POTUS could step in, order them to return to work in 48 hours, and if they fail then fire them?

UPS workers are not federal employees.

A union cannot simply strike; a strike requires approval and any job action must meet a series of legal thresholds before a strike can be conducted. It's not like the teamsters can simply strike.

By the time a strike has occurred, numerous events have occurred involving mediation and arbitration and failed negotiations. A union doesn't want a strike any more than the employer; strikes are bad all around and only occur when everything else has failed.

Bring in the scabs!

According to my nephew who works for UPS loading and unloading freight, this is much ado about nothing as the new contract is all but a done deal at this point. I hope he's right because I'd hate to see him impacted by a strike.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Hopefully Amazon bought all of those Mercedes cargo vans for their own delivery service.

This isn't the UPS division that delivers packages to your door. UPS Freight is an LTL carrier that competes with other freight haulers. Now your local store may not get their shipment of TV's, chairs or any number of other products that ship LTL with UPS.

A friend who is a manager with FedEx is stating they cannot manage the additional load.

EasyFire