As the Teamsters Union prepares to guide hundreds of UPS drivers off the highway subsequent month, UPS introduced this week that it'll prepare nonunion workers to choose up the slack.

The firm mentioned the brand new coaching measures are in place to make sure that clients will nonetheless obtain their packages within the occasion of a strike.

“While we have made great progress and are close to reaching an agreement, we have a responsibility as an essential service provider to take steps to help ensure we can deliver our customers’ packages if the Teamsters choose to strike,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.

According to UPS, the coaching is not going to have an effect on every day enterprise operations or contract negotiations.

The announcement doesn't bode properly for union/firm relations.

Last week, the Teamsters and UPS launched dueling statements, every blaming the opposite for the breakdown in contract negotiations.

“UPS should stop wasting time and money on training strikebreakers and get back to the negotiating table with a real economic offer,” the Teamsters mentioned final week.

The two have till July 31 to keep away from a large strike. Earlier this month, 97% of Teamsters UPS drivers voted in favor of a strike authorization if a deal is just not reached by the top of the month.

If a deal is just not reached, round 340,000 employees could be on the picket traces, making it one of many largest single-employer labor strikes in U.S. historical past.

Workers are demanding higher pay for part- and full-time employees in addition to elevated office safety and extra full-time positions.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com