UPS pilots vote overwhelmingly to strike

But according to Gaudet, UPS is merely trying to calm its customers, especially in light of the upcoming holiday season and competitor FedEx just agreeing to a new six-year contract with its pilots.

Both sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table early next month.

UPS pilots voted 2,252 to 8 to authorize a strike against United Parcel Service. The Teamsters, representing UPS drivers and distribution center workers, has said it would honor the pilots’ action by walking off the job if a strike happened. “The Teamsters have not forgotten the solidarity that your members showed us in 1997, when not one single IPA member crossed our picket lines”, said Hoffa and Hall in reference to the IBT’s landmark 16-day strike of UPS. The parties have been negotiating for four years, and IPA in a statement said it would no longer tolerate inaction.

“UPS promises its customers on-time delivery, but after four years of labor negotiations, the company has failed to deliver a contract for its own pilots”, IPA President Capt. Robert Travis said in a press release.

The vote authorizes the union’s five-member executive board to request to be released from negotiations and conduct a strike upon conclusion of the mediation, the union said.

And as previously reported, UPS officials told LM that the company continues to negotiate in good faith for a win-win contract.

Today’s vote, added UPS, is a symbolic gesture in that under the RLA, the NMB controls negotiations, and a strike is not possible without the NMB’s permission, and then only after exhausting a lengthy series of safeguards.

“Don’t be surprised when the IPA’s vote comes back in the vicinity of that number”, the UPS spokesman said. “These votes are scripted and procedural in nature”.

UPS said that it takes excellent care of its pilots, with higher pay, better benefits and less flying time. If the UPS pilots do strike, shoppers will likely consider alternate shipping options for the busy holiday season, the Journal adds. Under the expiring contract, FedEx captains earn a guaranteed $230,379. Group said the NMB would not act for fear of crippling the UPS air network during the carrier’s busiest time of the year.

Earlier this week, the IPA got the full backing of the Teamsters in its push for improved labor terms.