- UPS and the Teamsters said they had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.
- The labor agreement is still subject to a ratification vote by more than 300,000 workers.
- The preliminary agreement includes wage increases for full-time and part-time employees.
A United Parcel Service (UPS) driver pushes dolly packages toward a delivery van on a street in New York.
Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Good pictures
On Tuesday, the union representing more than 300,000 workers at UPS and the package carrier said it had reached a preliminary labor agreement, narrowly avoiding a strike that was set to begin in the coming days.
“Together with Teamsters leadership, our employees, and UPS and our customers, we reached a win-win agreement on important issues,” UPS CEO Carol Dohm said. “This agreement continues to provide UPS’s full- and part-time employees with industry-leading wages and benefits, while maintaining the flexibility we need to remain competitive, serve our customers and keep our business strong.”
The tentative deal still faces a labor ratification vote.
The union had planned a general strike if the two sides did not reach an agreement after July 31.
The agreement includes pay raises for full-time and part-time workers, the Teamsters said.
“The union engaged in this fight to win for our members. We asked for the best contract in UPS history, and we got it,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “UPS has put $30 billion in new cash on the table as a direct result of these negotiations.”
