Impending UPS Strike Threatens Labor Movement and Delivery Services

Contract negotiations between United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are reaching a critical point as the contract expiration date of August 1 approaches. While progress has been made on various issues, including heat safety and forced overtime, the main sticking point remains pay for part-time workers. A strike, which could begin as soon as August 1, would have significant consequences for UPS, the e-commerce industry, and the supply chain. UPS handles about one-quarter of the daily packages shipped in the United States, and competitors lack the capacity to seamlessly replace that lost volume. The union argues that its members deserve large raises due to the risks they took during the pandemic, while UPS maintains that it has proposed significant wage increases. Negotiations are set to resume in the coming days, but time is running out to reach an agreement before the current contract expires.