Shipping Giant on the Verge of Halting Operations

Labor Union Warns of Potential Strike by 340,000 UPS Drivers

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a labor union with 1.2 million members, has issued a warning that a strike could be imminent if negotiations with the United Parcel Service (UPS) do not result in a new contract. The current contract is set to expire on July 31.

In a press release, the Teamsters demanded that UPS meet their demands for better pay, more full-time jobs, and improved safety considerations. If these demands are not met, the union has hinted that a strike could occur as early as July 5. This would be the largest strike since the 1959 steelworkers strike, according to CBS News.

“Both sides have made commitments to get a historic deal done no later than July 5. If UPS fails on this pledge, they know what’s waiting for them. UPS will put itself on strike and force the supply chain in this country to come crashing down,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a press conference on Saturday.

UPS has stated that it is working diligently to reach a deal with the Teamsters and is fully committed to cooperation. The shipping company currently holds 52.73 percent of the market share within the U.S. transport and logistics industry, with FedEx as its closest competitor, according to CSI Market.

This is not the first time UPS has faced the threat of a nationwide strike. In 1997, 187,000 UPS workers went on strike for 15 days, resulting in a cost of $780 million for the company, as reported by Parcel.

The Teamsters have given UPS an ultimatum, demanding a better deal within one week. The union has made it clear that they are not afraid to use their leverage and take action if necessary.

“This is why there’s new leadership at the Teamsters. UPS isn’t working with the union’s prior administration, dragging out the bargaining process and submitting to extensions until finally agreeing to a watered-down deal months after the expiration of the contract,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman in the press release. “This is what hard bargaining looks like. This is labor’s leverage, and the Teamsters are not afraid to use it.”

The potential strike comes at a time when the Biden administration has been vocal about its support for unions. President Joe Biden has expressed his commitment to being a pro-union president and has taken actions to investigate ways to increase union membership.

As of now, the outcome of the negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS remains uncertain. The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to the Teamsters for comment but did not receive a response.

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