Starting in 2024, part-time workers in the U.S. will have increased access to employer retirement plans under the SECURE Act. The legislation requires employers to extend eligibility for their company retirement plans to part-time employees who work at least 500 hours per year for three consecutive years. This requirement will be reduced to two years starting in 2025. The changes aim to improve retirement savings for part-time workers and encourage small businesses to re-evaluate their retirement benefits. Offering retirement benefits to part-time workers also opens up conversations about saving and investing for these employees.
UPS workers are voting on a tentative contract agreement with the company after local leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters endorsed the deal. The agreement, which covers 340,000 Teamsters-represented workers, includes wage increases, an additional paid holiday, the end of a two-tier wage system for drivers, and the addition of air conditioning to new UPS trucks. While analysts expect the deal to be ratified, some part-time workers are campaigning for a better deal, seeking a base pay of at least $25 per hour compared to the proposed increase to $21. The outcome of the vote remains uncertain, as part-timers have historically had low turnout in contract votes.
UPS and the Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement that has been hailed as "historic," but some part-time workers are calling for a "no" vote, arguing that the deal falls short of addressing decades of falling pay and physically exhausting conditions. The agreement includes higher starting pay for part-timers, the elimination of a two-tier wage system, and heat protections and air conditioning for new trucks. However, critics argue that the starting pay of $21 an hour is still insufficient and fails to close the gap of concessions made in the 1980s. The contract must still be ratified by UPS' 340,000 unionized workers, with voting scheduled between August 3 and August 22.
Teamsters union President Sean O'Brien has declared that it's time to "pulverize" as a nationwide strike at UPS looms. While 95% of the contract has been negotiated, the remaining issue is economics, with the union demanding fair pay for part-time workers. A UPS spokesperson claims that part-timers receive the same benefits as full-time employees, but they do earn less. If a deal is not reached by July 31, the union plans to withhold labor starting August 1. The strike would have a significant impact on UPS's supply chain solutions, as the pilots' union has pledged not to work if the Teamsters go on strike. Part-time workers, who feel they are not adequately compensated for their contributions, are prepared to go without pay during the strike.
Teamsters union President Sean O'Brien has declared that it's time to "pulverize" as negotiations for a new contract with UPS reach a critical stage. While 95% of the contract has been negotiated, the focus now is on economics, particularly the pay of part-time workers. O'Brien stated that if a deal is not reached by July 31, the union will go on strike starting August 1. The strike would have a significant impact on UPS's supply chain solutions, both domestically and internationally, as the pilots union has pledged not to work if the Teamsters go on strike. Part-time workers, who feel they are not adequately compensated for their contributions, are prepared to go without pay to fight for fair treatment.
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.
