UPS returned to the bargaining table with the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee on Tuesday morning — without a revised or respectful economic proposal in-hand. With the full committee behind him, General President Sean M. O’Brien took UPS to task, harshly reiterating that the Teamsters will not work beyond July 31 without a new contract.

O’Brien walked UPS through the bitter reality the company now faces over its ongoing inaction. The Teamsters want a powerful tentative agreement within the next week — or the union will demand UPS present its last, best, and final offer.

“When we say the current contract expires July 31, that means we want a new contract in place starting August 1. Not in six months. Not next spring. We demand a historic new contract August 1, with more money in our members’ pockets immediately,” O’Brien said. “UPS has wasted enough time and hoarded these record profits. Our members want what they have earned.”

Any tentative agreement would need to be endorsed by the Teamsters’ national committee before being properly disseminated and voted on by the membership by the end of the current agreement. Before caucusing to review economic proposals, the Teamsters told UPS they are committed to working seven days a week and through the upcoming holiday weekend — punctuating the fact that UPS executives have very little time left to make significant movement on its financial proposal.

“This is why there’s new leadership at the Teamsters. UPS isn’t working with the union’s prior administration, dragging out the bargaining process and submitting to extensions until finally agreeing to a watered-down deal months after the expiration of the contract,” said General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “This is what hard bargaining looks like. This is labor’s leverage, and the Teamsters are not afraid to use it.”

Bargaining continues throughout Tuesday. Check the UPS Teamsters app for regular updates.

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