Special Delivery: Work and home are affected by the upcoming UPS strike

Every day, the for-profit United Parcel Service (U.P.S.) transportation firm brings around 24 million parcels to doorsteps. Families have changed their weekly routines to rely on delivery requested with a few clicks, and many people no longer purchase household goods, groceries, or other necessities in stores as online purchasing has become the new standard during COVID-19. During the pandemic, U.P.S. saw an increase in annual profits: in the most recent two years, profits were nearly three times more than they were in 2019. The employees of U.P.S. were essential to this development, but they claim that the business has not given them the proper credit. 350,000 unionised U.P.S. employees are on strike to protest inadequate part-time pay, excessive overtime, driver safety, and other issues. They are being represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters trade union. Speaking on behalf of the Teamsters, Kara Deniz remarked, "Our members worked really hard during the pandemic." They must receive their just compensation. The strike has been anticipated for a while. Due to the idea of designating a different class of drivers who would be paid less, thousands of Teamsters members rejected a proposed U.P.S. contract agreement in 2018. The deal was nonetheless approved by the union leadership. Workers felt angry and devastated.

According to Sean Mason, a U.P.S. driver in Florida, "this kills unions." "They disregarded the vote despite receiving a no vote from 54% of the population." That resentment is still quite present. Workers chose Sean O'Brien over the previously-favored union leader James Hoffa in the Teamsters election of the previous year because he was more ambitious. The union has another chance to utilise the strike as a tool to effect change because it is the first workers' strike the company has experienced in 25 years. However, given the increased reliance on internet shopping, a significant U.P.S. strike could exacerbate the worldwide supply chain problems that millions of people had to deal with while the world adjusted to COVID-19. Due to the overwhelming volume of orders and the resulting inventory shortages, businesses had to significantly increase their pricing and wait times. These problems have persisted into 2023 and could become worse if U.P.S. and the Teamsters take too long to come to an agreement. Americans may need to allocate extra time to in-store shopping in their weekly schedules depending on the outcome of this contract agreement. Carol Tomé, CEO of U.P.S., is upbeat, telling the public that the corporation and the Teamsters' positions on important topics are more similar than they appear to be. Tomé said: "While we anticipate hearing a lot of noise during the discussion, I am sure that a win-win-win contract is extremely feasible and that U.P.S. and the Teamsters will come to an agreement by the end of July. When U.P.S. members met with Teamsters leadership earlier this year, O'Brien likewise conveyed a strong, unequivocal sense of urgency in his remarks. We're sending the U.P.S. a strong message that these talks won't last until August 1st, he said. The effects of the strike extend beyond U.P.S. Other significant labour organisations will be looking to see how the corporation handles this problem in addition to the implications on the supply chain. If the workers' discussions are successful, it may have an impact on how other businesses, such as Apple, Starbucks, and Trader Joe's, conduct their own labour conflicts. Tomé will be more likely to succeed in ensuring that U.P.S. workers are treated humanely and paid fairly if it places this priority. By doing this, Tomé will prevent additional backlash. According to John Logan, director of the Labour and Employment Studies programme at San Francisco State University, "this has just huge implications for the entire labour movement in the United States." Many young labour activists and some parts of the labour bureaucracy are acting with more assertiveness and militancy. In this regard, Sean O'Brien is illustrative.