United Parcel Service (UPS) has agreed to reinstate about 35 specialist and administrative workers at its package sortation hub in Louisville, Kentucky. This decision came after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing the workers, threatened to strike during the peak season if the layoffs were not reversed.
The layoffs initially occurred after UPS classified the jobs at its Centennial hub as management roles, leading to the termination of these employees. The union promptly sought the reversal of this decision, as outlined in a statement dated December 8.
Following negotiations, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman engaged directly with UPS labor management to find a resolution. The agreement reached ensures that the specialist and administrative workers, including members of Local 89 in Louisville and Teamsters Local 705 in Chicago, are recognized as part of the union.
As part of the settlement, all affected workers will receive full back pay and will resume their duties on their next scheduled workdays, according to the Teamsters.
UPS expressed satisfaction with the agreement reached with the Teamsters, emphasizing its continued focus on maintaining service levels during the peak season. The company communicated this stance in an email to Supply Chain Dive.
General President Sean O’Brien commented on the resolution, stating, “The union achieved a great result for our UPS members in Louisville, and we couldn’t be happier to see them clock back in as Teamsters.” He highlighted the swift and cooperative efforts from both sides to resolve the issue, emphasizing the readiness of the workers to return to their roles.