Ep 303: UPS-Teamsters negotiations

Dean Maciuba, Managing Partner (USA) for Crossroads Parcel Consulting, shares some insights into the negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters - the union representing UPS employees. UPS driver employment model - including a lower-paid class of driver Why are these negotiations attracting so much media attention? Change in Teamsters leadership and implications for negotiations with UPS The relationship between UPS management and UPS employees UPS communicating with drivers and ramifications for contract negotiations Key issues: Wage stagnation, health-related issues in UPS trucks, and second-tier drivers What happened during the 1997 UPS strike - including how customers tried to get parcels into the FedEx network What's different: More regional carriers, more forward stocking fulfilment centres, the presence of Amazon with its own last mile capability Retailers potentially losing sales to Amazon if UPS can't deliver Importance to carriers of controlling intake of packages US industrial relations and the role of the US President Could UPS drivers be compelled to return to work if they strike? The role of Roadie in all this UPS has an advantage over FedEx thanks to Roadie Other employees in the UPS network, e.g. aircraft operations support and handlers at hubs UPS leveraging its poor Q1 earnings as part of negotiations