Teamsters vote for UPS strike, paving the way for a historic showdown.

Teamsters Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize Strike Against UPS

United Parcel Service workers represented by the Teamsters voted Friday by a 97% margin to authorize a strike, setting the stage for potentially the biggest strike in United States history by a single employer.

The union vote now initiates a seven-week countdown until worker contracts expire on July 31. If an agreement between the union and the company isn’t reached by then, the workers could begin striking the following day, a move that would have enormous economic consequences.

Union Determined to Secure Historic Contract

“This vote shows that hundreds of thousands of Teamsters are united and determined to get the best contract in our history at UPS,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said. “If this multibillion-dollar corporation fails to deliver on the contract that our hardworking members deserve, UPS will be striking itself.”

The union, which represents more than 340,000 workers, is touting the 97% vote as giving it “maximum leverage” to negotiate with UPS in the coming weeks.

In a Friday statement following the vote, UPS stressed that the move was expected and said the two sides continue to make progress on key matters at the bargaining table.

“The results do not mean a strike is imminent and do not impact our current business operations in any way. Authorization votes and approvals are normal steps in labor union negotiations,” the company said.

Negotiations between the union and the company began in April. The union is seeking a new five-year agreement that includes higher wages, more full-time jobs, an end to forced overtime, and bolstered workplace hazard protections.

Clear Message to UPS

“This strike authorization vote sends a clear message to UPS that our members are damned and determined to take necessary action to secure a historic contract that respects their dedication and sacrifice,” union General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman said.

UPS is the largest private-sector unionized employer in the U.S., and a strike could send shock waves through the economy, especially if it drags out. Approximately 6% of the country’s GDP moves through UPS.

O’Brien, the union president, replaced James Hoffa as the head of the Teamsters. He campaigned, in part, on being more aggressive in negotiations with UPS, as well as organizing Amazon workers, who have become more active in the labor movement since then.

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A strike would also put President Joe Biden, who has described himself as the most pro-union president in history, in a difficult position politically.

Biden, who already has low economic approval ratings, would be pressured to intervene to prevent further damage to the economy and supply chains, but doing so could threaten crucial blue-collar union support heading into what is expected to be a tight 2024 presidential election.