Category: UPS News

• With low turnout, 54% ‘no’ vote wasn’t enough, Teamsters say
• Contract approval raises turmoil risk for Hoffa and courier

United Parcel Service Inc.’s union ratified a five-year labor agreement for employees — even though a majority of members who voted turned it down.

The 54 percent “no” vote wasn’t enough to block the deal under union rules since less than half the membership turned out to cast ballots, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said in an emailed statement. With such low participation, two thirds of workers would have had to oppose the deal for the rejection to be valid, the union said.

“Thus, the National Master Agreement has been ratified,” the Teamsters said.

Union says 54.3% of votes cast opposed the five-year deal

Teamsters members voted down a new contract with United Parcel Service Inc., sending both sides back to the negotiating table ahead of the holiday season.

Preliminary voting results showed that 54.3% of votes cast opposed the five-year deal, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters disclosed Friday evening.

Union leaders said they would reopen talks with the company. “We will be going back to the company to talk to them about some additional changes,” said Denis Taylor, co-chair of the Teamsters negotiating committee.

Responding to a medical aid call yesterday, Menlo Park Fire District personnel found a 41-year-old male next to a United Parcel Service (UPS) delivery vehicle. He identified himself as the driver and stated that he believed that he had been exposed to some type of chemical spill inside the back of the vehicle.

The UPS driver was transported by ambulance to the hospital with a primary complaint of respiratory difficulties, while firefighters and police officers cleared the immediate area. Battalion Chief Chris Pimentel requested a full-scale hazardous materials response bringing in specially trained San Mateo/Belmont Firefighters, expert in hazardous material identification and response.