UPS Pilots (Independent Pilots Association) call strike vote
The leadership of the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) has called on its members to authorise a pilot strike against UPS. If approved by the membership, the IPA’s five-pilot Executive Board would have the authority to request a release from federally-mediated negotiations with UPS.
In an official statement issued by the IPA today (9 September), IPA President, Captain Robert Travis, commented: “A strike is the least desirable outcome of labor negotiations, but after four years of contract talks with UPS we’ve reached a point where UPS needs to hear loud and clear from our membership that they are willing to do whatever it takes to secure an industry leading contract.”
Capt. Travis continued: “UPS has stalled and delayed, unnecessarily prolonging our negotiations.
“UPS management has created a bitter standoff with its pilot employees. In sharp contrast, UPS archrival Federal Express recently announced a tentative agreement with its pilots. If ratified, the FedEx pilot deal will bring labor peace to our main competitor, given that the pilots are the only major employee group at FedEx covered by a collective bargaining agreement.”
The IPA will announce the result of its UPS strike vote on 23 October.
As previously reported, FedEx and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached their tentative agreement at the start of this month. The FedEx pilots are now reviewing the proposals with a view to ratifying by late October.
