UPS Inc. has made a contract offer to the Teamsters union that the union said Friday represents “significant movement” on wages, advantages and employee classification language.
The corporate has also pledged to have a deal done by Wednesday to cover 340,000 Teamster employees, the union said.
Despite the progress, it isn’t enough, the union said in an announcement. After UPS executives left the negotiating room, Teamster national committee members caucused and agreed to proceed to place pressure on the corporate. “One among two things goes to occur next-UPS will come to terms on a deal we will confidently recommend to our members, or UPS will fail and the corporate will put itself on the road,” said Fred Zuckerman, the Teamsters general secretary-treasurer.
“At every step, we’re forcing (UPS) to do what they don’t need to do, which is to provide our members more cash and higher protections at work,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien. “UPS didn’t have the desire to make progress on economics, but they conceded today that they may reach a deal by July 5 because they don’t have any selection.”
The news comes two days after the Teamsters demanded that UPS present its “last, best and final offer” on the economic language of the contract. Such a requirement will not be binding on either side or on the bargaining process. Typically, it’s a negotiating tactic utilized by one side to exercise leverage over the opposite.
The present contract expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 31. The Teamsters have warned repeatedly that they may strike Aug. 1 with out a contract in place.
“We’re encouraged the Teamsters are able to proceed negotiations and discuss our most up-to-date proposal,” UPS said in an announcement. “Productive discussions are critical at this stage of the method. We sit up for the union’s input so we will reach a timely agreement and supply certainty for our employees, our customers and the U.S. economy.”
The Teamsters will hold a press conference Saturday at noon ET outside Teamsters headquarters.