Prepare for what could be the most significant labor strike in the U.S. since the 1950s as UPS workers gear up for potential action.
Last Friday, members of the Teamsters union, representing around 340,000 workers at UPS, overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike if an agreement is not reached with the company by July 31, when the current contract expires according to the Teamsters website.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien stated, “If UPS fails to deliver on the contract our hardworking members deserve, UPS will be striking itself. The best leverage our members have is their labor, and they are ready to withhold it to ensure UPS acts appropriately.”
Nearly 97% of voting members supported the strike, although the exact voter turnout remains unknown.
The union is demanding higher wages, an end to the two-tier wages system, the removal of surveillance cameras from delivery trucks, and more full-time job opportunities.
Earlier this week, the Teamsters achieved a significant victory when UPS committed to installing air conditioning and two driver-facing fans in most trucks. This decision addresses concerns about heat safety for UPS workers, who have experienced numerous cases of heatstroke.
The current contract was met with disapproval from the majority of UPS employees, but the union’s former leadership pushed it through on a technicality. The backlash led to the removal of the old leadership and the appointment of President O’Brien, who has been vocal about the possibility of a strike and has been actively preparing union members for such an event.
A spokesperson for UPS acknowledged that strike votes are typical during contract negotiations and expressed confidence in reaching an agreement before the July 31 deadline. “We are making progress on key issues and remain confident that we will reach an agreement that benefits our employees, the Teamsters, our company, and our customers,” said spokesperson Glenn Zaccara.
Highlighting UPS’ record profits in 2022 and more than $8 billion in dividends paid to shareholders, the Teamsters union argues that this money should be better distributed among workers. However, despite increased profits during the pandemic due to a surge in online shopping, UPS experienced a decline in its most recent quarter due to ongoing inflation concerns.
“Significant Consequences”
A strike at UPS would be the most substantial work stoppage in the U.S. since the 1959 steelworkers’ strike, involving half a million workers who walked out for nearly four months. John Logan, the director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, sees this potential strike as having significant implications for the labor movement: “There is greater assertiveness and militancy among many young labor activists and certain labor sectors. Sean O’Brien represents that spirit,” stated Logan to the Associated Press.
The last UPS strike occurred in 1997 and lasted for 15 days, severely impacting the company. Ultimately, the strike ended in a victory for the union. Today, UPS has almost double the number of workers compared to back then and handles approximately 1 in 4 parcels shipped in the U.S., processing an average of 24 million packages daily.
If a strike were to occur, it would significantly disrupt the economy as millions of Americans depend on package deliveries for essential items, such as food, clothing, and furniture. Additionally, it would have implications for the broader labor movement, as the Teamsters aim to unionize Amazon workers and support high-profile union campaigns at companies like Apple, Starbucks, and Trader Joe’s.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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