Teamsters union, which represents about 340,000 UPS workers, secured a preliminary labor deal with UPS on July 25. The contract is reportedly worth $30 Billion and lasts five years, resulting in the largest deal between UPS and the Teamsters union in the company’s history.
The tentative deal includes a host of pay raises, mandatory overtime protections, scheduling freedom and more. “This contract sets a new standard in the labor movement and raises the bar for all workers," said Sean O’Brien, the General President for Teamsters union.
Due to the recent boom in E-commerce, the shipped package industry has continued to grow. Many UPS workers say this rise in business has directly affected their well-being and economic safety.
Around 50% of the UPS workforce is made up of people of color, many of whom are Black and Latinx. “A fair contract is key to combating intimidation and helping communities of color achieve economic stability,” says Richard Hooker, a union leader who is the first Black man to lead his local.
The proposed UPS labor deal hasn’t made it across the finish line just yet. The preliminary deal still needs to be voted up by the workers. The voting period begins on August 3rd and ends on August 22nd. If it isn’t ratified, new negotiations will commence.