UPS workers could go on strike for the first time since 1997 if they can’t reach a new contract deal by the end of the month.
With an Aug. 1 deadline approaching, 340,000 employees nationwide are preparing to picket when the five-year contract between the nation’s largest trucking company and the labor union comes to an end.
A strike could have major impacts on average Americans and businesses nationwide.
Local workers in Jacksonville are getting ready in case negotiations fail. About two dozen workers held a “practice picket” for about half an hour Wednesday outside the UPS center along Pritchard Road on the city’s Westside. They held signs, marched and chanted like workers in other cities have been doing in recent weeks.
“These employees stood firm and supported UPS during the pandemic, and they worked in the worst conditions for the last five years. They continue to keep our supply chain rolling and delivering. We are here to show support in that and stand in solidarity,” said Rebecca Cardona, vice president of Teamsters Local 512, the local union that represents workers in Northeast Florida. “They delivered for UPS. It is time for UPS to deliver for them and give them the contract that they deserve.”
The Teamsters Union, representing 340,000 full and part time workers across the country, wants a guarantee of better pay for all workers, more full-time job opportunities, a resolution to health and safety concerns, and stronger protections against any harassment from managers.
“Clearly, we hope that a strike is the last resort. We hope that the negotiating committee along with the members on the negotiating committee for UPS are actually able to reach a tentative agreement, but if they don’t, we are certainly going to utilize our authority to move forward with what we feel is necessary,” Cardona said. “Right now this is what solidarity is all about. It is the members, our bargaining unit, the employees of UPS, standing in solidarity to show their efforts and support to the national negotiating committee and IBT (International Brotherhood of Teamsters) to get the contract that they deserve.”
Another practice picket is planned in Jacksonville for next Tuesday morning outside the Baymeadows UPS Customer Center on Florida Mining Boulevard.
Teamsters leadership said disagreements over union demands like a pay raise for part-time workers stalled negotiations last week.
On its website, UPS says it was the Teamsters who halted talks, writing “We have encouraged the Teamsters to return to the table to continue building on the significant progress we have made.”
UPS delivered around 21 million packages a day across the country last year -- and moves about 6% of the United States’ gross domestic product.
For now, customers can still expect their package deliveries through July. But if a strike happens, the future of deliveries is unclear.
If workers do go on strike next month, consumers can expect:
- Slower delivery times because other companies like FedEx and the United States Postal Service would deal with a sudden influx of UPS packages
- Supply chain disruptions
- Higher shipping costs
Economics Professor Jadrian Wooten said a strike that ends up lasting a while could have a broader expect than what people think.
“Even if you’re not a UPS customer, if you are just purely FedEx, purely Post Office, you likely still will see an impact in your deliveries even though you’re not relying on UPS,” Wooten said.
For small-business owners, a strike could disrupt supply chains and impact their ability to fulfill orders on time. And their revenue and customer satisfaction could take a hit.
There are some things customers can do right now:
- Consider shopping and buying in bulk online
- Shop in person or order for pick-up at stores to avoid any delayed deliveries
Economists say transporting goods is a critical step of the supply chain and any disruption in delivery can create bottlenecks and increase costs for businesses, and all of that could lead to higher prices for consumers.