Insurance and the costs related to it are the hot topic. I expect everyone will get the same letter that the retirees received a while back. The company is going to force this issue. While I think it's a strike issue others may not. We definitely won't have public opinion on our side this time which is why UPS settled last time.
There really isn't a reason to force the issue until the health law is set to kick in, in 2018. UPS wouldn't be doing their due diligence if they didn't kick the tires, see if something happens, but more than enough would strike if current employees health care was attacked, public opinion wouldn't matter. The risk is too great (raising the cost on retirees is different; they have no leverage directly, and while many are sympathetic, they aren't going to risk their livelihood to strike over it).
A simpler way to cut costs without so great a risk of strike is the two-tiered wage system: it doesn't affect anyone directly, so while many oppose on philosophical grounds, it probably wouldn't derail the contract.
I suspect UPS will put more effort than a "kick of the tires" on getting language in to use electronic data for discipline, but the possibility for backlash would be too strong to go after it too hard.
I am not sure how, but I suspect 9.5 language will be toughnes; the cry is great, and while a strike may not happen, I think the union may get some type of backlash; I don't find the excessive hours a problem (yet, although I worked well over 2600 hrs last year), but too many here and who I see in person in my center are frustrated.