๐ Why the Tesla Semi is the Future of Trucking
Plus, FedEx and UPS harness AI in logistics, South America's trade scene challenges Panama Canal's constraints, and Estes navigates a disruptive cyberattack.
340,000 UPS workers could strike from August 1, disrupting US supply chains. Key issues include higher wages, more full-time positions, and improved working conditions
The Teamsters Union, representing 340,000 UPS workers, has authorized a potential nationwide strike beginning August 1, if a contract deal isn't reached by the end of July. This move could result in the largest work stoppage in the US for decades, impacting the transportation of goods and commodities nationwide. Issues under negotiation include higher pay, more full-time positions, and improved working conditions. The strike threat arises amidst the growing significance of delivery infrastructure in the US economy, with 6% of the countryโs GDP passing through UPS each year.
In a positive development, UPS and the Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement on several contract issues, including the inclusion of air conditioning in new UPS vans starting next year, and an increase in penalties for payroll errors. Yet, substantial issues like better wages, particularly for part-time employees and a newly created lower-paid class of delivery driver, remain contentious. A potential UPS strike could significantly disrupt the US supply chain, which is still recovering from pandemic-induced backlogs.
Source: The Washington Post
Subscribe to our free tri-weekly newsletter for the latest in freight news and entertainment.