97% of UPS Employees Vote to Authorize Nationwide Strike if Agreement is Not Reached by July 31

UPS Employees Vote to Authorize Nationwide Strike

UPS employees have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a nationwide strike if a satisfactory agreement is not reached by July 31, when the current contracts expire. The Teamsters, the union that represents the 340,000 delivery drivers and package handlers at the nation’s largest carrier, announced on Friday that 97% of workers who cast ballots voted in favor of the move.

UPS acknowledged the vote outcome and noted that the company is “committed to continuing negotiations in good faith.” The union and UPS began negotiating a new five-year agreement in May that would set pay and working conditions for more than 300,000 UPS drivers, warehouse workers and other employees.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said in a statement that the vote showed workers “are united and determined to get the best contract in our history at UPS.” He added that the union is “prepared to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract.”

The vote does not guarantee there will be a work stoppage, but it gives Teamsters leadership the green light to declare one if they see fit. If a strike is declared, it could have far-reaching implications for workers and the economy.

UPS and the Teamsters have been negotiating for weeks and have yet to reach an agreement on a new contract. The two sides have until July 31 to reach a deal or face the possibility of a nationwide strike.