As committees for two supplemental contracts moved closer to resolution, bargaining between the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee and UPS continued in earnest on Tuesday.

Both chairs for the still outstanding regional agreements — the Local 89 Louisville Air Rider and the NorCal Supplement and Sort in California — strongly urged the Teamsters’ national committee to move forward in its exchange of proposals with UPS. Non-economic proposals were shared throughout the day, with early tentative language agreed to on many articles.

“Brian Hamm with Local 89 and Mark Hawkins with NorCal stood in front of our committee and urged national negotiations to get underway. Our regional teams feel confident their contracts are close to resolution and they will come to agreement with UPS during ongoing bargaining locally,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “As proposals were exchanged with the company, the Teamsters’ national committee warned UPS that national talks can and will be shut down if deals are not successfully reached in Louisville and Sacramento.”

The Teamsters made gains quickly by reaching tentative agreement on five issues, including:

• Securing unlimited time for UPS Teamsters stewards — on the clock and fully paid — to attend orientation meetings (Article 3)
• Guarantees that any discrepancy related to new equipment will automatically go before the national grievance committee, improving and streamlining the process for all members (Article 6)
• Winning more opportunities for job vacancies to be filled by existing Teamster members prior to UPS hiring external workers, while guaranteeing that UPS will honor our members’ length of service and pay for any member’s moving expenses to fill a job, if necessary (Article 38)
• Significant improvements to the trailer repair shop, leaving just two economic issues remaining for the article later in negotiations (Article 39)
• Protected and expanded member protections under the National Master Agreement’s non-discrimination clause, ensuring it is inclusive of gender identity and all other classes protected by federal or state law

“What’s most critical about these early hours of national negotiations is that big gains are already being made and the Teamsters have made zero concessions to get them,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “The progress made since yesterday at the national table has been hugely consequential for the rest of the bargaining process. It sets a tone that the Teamsters are here to work for our members and walk away with the best contract ever achieved at UPS.”

The Local 89 and NorCal supplemental contract committees continued negotiations as well, with virtual and in-person talks expected to continue at least to May 10. UPS will return to the bargaining table with the Teamsters’ national committee at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

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