Teamsters Say UPS Negotiations Collapse As Nationwide Strike Still Possible

Early Wednesday morning, the Teamsters Union, with hundreds of thousands of members who are United Parcel Service (UPS) drivers, said UPS “walked away from the bargaining table” after it presented an “unacceptable offer.”

“This multibillion-dollar corporation has plenty to give American workers — they just don’t want to,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.

O’Brien continued, “UPS had a choice to make, and they have clearly chosen to go down the wrong road.”

AFTER MARATHON SESSIONS, UPS NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSE

Around 4AM, UPS walked away from the bargaining table after presenting an unacceptable offer to the Teamsters that did not address members’ needs. The UPS Teamsters Nat’l Negotiating Committee unanimously rejected the package pic.twitter.com/LKtjz4jI9I

— Teamsters (@Teamsters) July 5, 2023

UPS Teamsters have 340,000 members. The union has been locked in negotiations with UPS since mid-April. Meanwhile, a strike was imminent last week when the union said UPS had until Friday to deliver its “last, best, and final offer.” UPS did so, but after several rounds of negotiations through the July 4 holiday, talks broke down around 0400 ET when “UPS walked away from the bargaining table after presenting an unacceptable offer to the Teamsters,” the union said. 

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.

— Teamsters (@Teamsters) July 5, 2023

There are still 26 days left in the month to reach a deal. On July 31, UPS Teamsters’ contract covering more than 340,000 full- and part-time workers is set to expire. The union has made it clear that union members will only work after that date if there’s a new contract. 

According to Bloomberg, the breakdown in talks came when both sides “couldn’t agree on larger issues surrounding pay and cost of living increases.” 

Bloomberg said UPS released a statement that is hopeful Teamsters would return to the negotiations table, saying it is proud of its offer and has not walked away. The shipping giant warned:

“Refusing to negotiate, especially when the finish line is in sight, creates significant unease among employees and customers and threatens to disrupt the US economy.” 

Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman wrote in a statement last week that thousands of union members have been practicing their picketing skills. 

More practice picketing actions have been deployed in Massachusetts, Iowa, Oklahoma, California, and more locations nationwide.

At the same time, our members at UPS have kept the supply chain moving and profits mounting for this company… pic.twitter.com/GU02Yqu7kT

— Teamsters (@Teamsters) July 4, 2023

Any strike by UPS Teamsters could cause devastating disruptions to the supply chain in the US and other parts of the world.