With UPS strike averted, labor leader cites gains for Maine's 1,400 workers
Courtesy / UPS
Maine has 1,400 UPS employees who are affected by the labor agreement.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has secured pay raises for the United Parcel Service workers, averting a strike that would have caused a disruption in package deliveries for millions of businesses and households nationwide.
An agreement announced on Tuesday protects and rewards more than 340,000 UPS-employed Teamsters nationwide.
Maine has 1,400 UPS workers affected by the action.
“This is a historic victory for UPS workers and will raise standards for all working Americans,” said Brett Miller, president and business agent for Teamsters Local 340, which represents the Maine workers.
Miller said the agreement includes raises, an end to forced overtime, the installation of air conditioning to all delivery vehicles and an end to a two-tier wage system that he said "disadvantaged certain workers."
"I think this contract is going to provide a huge boost for union organizing because it shows how collective action is the most effective way to improve wages and working conditions. Once we ratify this contract we can use this as a template to show workers at Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and other big box chains and say, ‘you deserve this and you too can win these improvements if you get organized," Miller said.
Basic terms of the deal
Under the tentative agreement, which still needs union members' approval, full and part-time union workers will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more by the end of the five-year contract. New part-time hires will start at $21 per hour and advance to $23 per hour.
UPS agreed to equip new delivery vehicles with air conditioning, end forced overtime and eliminate a two-tier pay system for delivery drivers and more.
“I am hoping to add 200 or 300 jobs in Maine,” Miller added. “I believe to adequately address contractual language that allows workers to single days off and holidays; we need the staffing to do it. Our number one goal once this contract is ratified is to ensure the company fills every vacant position so our people can have the quality of life balance they deserve.”
Before the strike, part-time workers' pay started at $15.50 per hour.
During the pandemic, UPS made wage adjustments to adapt to the tight labor market and attract workers. As a result, some part-time workers earned $18, $21 or $23 per hour.
Voting on the new contract begins on Aug. 3 and concludes on Aug. 22.
In June and July, Local 340 members at nine UPS facilities around Maine, from Houlton to Wells, held “practice pickets," Miller said.
UPS's last major labor disruption was a 15-day strike in 1997.
How Mainebiz readers viewed a possible strike
A Mainebiz poll earlier this week asked readers, “Would a strike by UPS workers affect your business?"
Out of 149 votes, 1 in 4 respondents said the strike would affect both what they stock and what they ship out. But just over half of respondents said their business would only be minimally affected by a UPS strike.
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