Talks between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Parcel Service broke down twice in just over a week—once as June drew to an end and the union left the table while demanding that the shipping company present its “last, best, and final offer,” and again on July 5 with both parties shifting the blame.
Contracts for the 330,000-plus UPS delivery drivers and warehouse logistics workers expire at the end of the month, and the Teamsters are applying pressure on UPS—and Amazon. Workers contracted to deliver goods for Amazon began picketing two weeks ago and have, in the past week, coinciding with UPS negotiations’ breaking down, brought these protests onto the East Coast to increase their visibility.
