Last Updated on July 6, 2023, 2:00 PM | Published: July 6, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — As the July 5th deadline arrived Wednesday, national contract negotiations between United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters stalled after a counter-proposal by UPS.
Negotiations between the two organizations have ended with no clear resolution in sight. And, a strike at the end of July looks more likely now that talks have broken down.
UPS Teamsters have already authorized a strike on July 31 unless a tentative agreement can be reached.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 340,000 UPS workers, and 1,400 of them work in Oklahoma City as a part of Teamsters Local 886.
‘We know they can afford it’
Free Press spoke to Holly Baca, Package Handler and Oklahoma City Teamsters Local 886 member.
“It’s frustrating that the company refuses to present an acceptable proposal, especially now as we get down to the wire,“ said Baca. “The union’s intentions have been clear from the beginning, and UPS has done nothing but play with people’s lives.”
Asked about how the workers and UPS reacted to the news, Baca said, “There didn’t seem to be a huge reaction in the building. I think it’s gotten to a point where a lot of people are just ready for this to be over.”
“The most frustrating part is that the company knows what we want, and we know they can afford it – yet the two of them together cannot come to an agreement that is good enough for the membership,” said Bacca. “Part timers make up over half of the UPS work force, it’s time to make our voices heard!”
Neither UPS nor Teamsters have elaborated on what was in the counter-proposal or why it flopped.
Teamsters: “unacceptable offer”
The negotiations ended after UPS “presented an unacceptable offer to the Teamsters that did not address members’ needs”, according to a press release on the union’s website.
The statement continued, “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.”
“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 Teamsters are bargaining for over 340,000 full and part-time workers, and their contract with UPS ends on the 31st.
“The Teamsters have repeatedly made clear that UPS members will not work beyond the expiration of the current contract. In June, rank-and-file UPS Teamsters authorized a strike by an overwhelming 97 percent.”
UPS: “proud of what we have put forward”
UPS released their own statement after talks broke down:
“The Teamsters have stopped negotiating despite historic proposals that build 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. We’re proud of what we’ve put forward in these negotiations, which deliver wins for our people. The Teamsters should return to the table to finalize this deal.”
If a strike does happen, a large segment of the United States’ supply chain will be held up for an indeterminate time.
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
