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UPS Pilots To Seek Release From Talks If No Pact Reached
November 17, 2005: 12:42 a.m. EST
ATLANTA (AP)--The union representing UPS Inc.'s (UPS) pilots said Thursday it will ask a federal mediator to release it from negotiations with the company if the two sides can't reach an agreement on a new contract by next month.
If released from mediation, a 30-day cooling off period would follow, after which the Independent Pilots Association believes it would be entitled to strike. Asked if the union would strike if given the opportunity, IPA president Tom Nicholson told The Association Press, "It's our full intention to conduct a strike at UPS."
Nicholson said the union will tell the company that it must offer a contract that it can bring to its members for ratification by the end of the next mediated session on Dec. 23. If that doesn't happen, Nicholson said the union will ask to be released from the talks.
UPS spokesman Norm Black said the Atlanta-based company still hopes to reach an agreement with its pilots. He also noted that under the Railway Labor Act, the pilots can't strike while under the direction of the National Mediation Board.
Black said the board has given no indication it would release the sides from mediation if asked.
"We don't respond to ultimatums," Black said. "These talks are under the direct control of the federal mediator. We respond to the direction of the mediator. We're prepared to keep negotiating to get a good contract for our pilots no matter how long it takes. Period."
The company and its pilot union are grappling over pay, pensions, work rules and health benefits, among other things. According to UPS, its pilots make an average annual salary of more than $175,000.
The union argues that unlike the passenger airlines awash in red ink, UPS - the world's largest shipping carrier - is highly profitable and therefore has the means to further reward its pilots. UPS says it plans to give more to its 2, 483 pilots, but needs to make sure the contract it agrees to keeps it competitive.
UPS and its pilots have been in federal mediated talks since June 2004. Its pilots contract became amendable on Dec. 31, 2003, and has remained unchanged since then.
November 17, 2005: 12:42 a.m. EST
ATLANTA (AP)--The union representing UPS Inc.'s (UPS) pilots said Thursday it will ask a federal mediator to release it from negotiations with the company if the two sides can't reach an agreement on a new contract by next month.
If released from mediation, a 30-day cooling off period would follow, after which the Independent Pilots Association believes it would be entitled to strike. Asked if the union would strike if given the opportunity, IPA president Tom Nicholson told The Association Press, "It's our full intention to conduct a strike at UPS."
Nicholson said the union will tell the company that it must offer a contract that it can bring to its members for ratification by the end of the next mediated session on Dec. 23. If that doesn't happen, Nicholson said the union will ask to be released from the talks.
UPS spokesman Norm Black said the Atlanta-based company still hopes to reach an agreement with its pilots. He also noted that under the Railway Labor Act, the pilots can't strike while under the direction of the National Mediation Board.
Black said the board has given no indication it would release the sides from mediation if asked.
"We don't respond to ultimatums," Black said. "These talks are under the direct control of the federal mediator. We respond to the direction of the mediator. We're prepared to keep negotiating to get a good contract for our pilots no matter how long it takes. Period."
The company and its pilot union are grappling over pay, pensions, work rules and health benefits, among other things. According to UPS, its pilots make an average annual salary of more than $175,000.
The union argues that unlike the passenger airlines awash in red ink, UPS - the world's largest shipping carrier - is highly profitable and therefore has the means to further reward its pilots. UPS says it plans to give more to its 2, 483 pilots, but needs to make sure the contract it agrees to keeps it competitive.
UPS and its pilots have been in federal mediated talks since June 2004. Its pilots contract became amendable on Dec. 31, 2003, and has remained unchanged since then.
With a global economy comes more risk. Right now we are putting alot of investment in China. What happens when the Chinese economy faulters. Don't say that it won't. These things come in cycles. Since you can't drive a feeder to Bejing who will fly it, the IPA. If the economy suffers who will be the first to start losing jobs, the IPA. Capt. Nicholson stated in the Press Conference today the first issue was job security. If that is truly the case then help the company and look at the big picture. Tom stated that UPS wanted to raise healthcare premiums 1000%. It isn't the company that is raising healthcare. Look at how much healthcare has gone up. The IPA and UPS should share those costs. There isn't very many companies out there that have not raised their healthcare premiums since 1998. Why can't the IPA break it up to where the senior Capt that makes more than 175k a year pay more in healthcosts and the junior new hire pay less since they make maybe 50 k a year. That way every IPA pilot pays the same percentage to wage instead of every IPA pilot paying the same amount when their wages differ greatly. He also said UPS has been dragging their feet. This was a wait and see to what Fed Ex was going to do. I think both sides are guilty of this. This is so UPS can try to save some money and the IPA can try to get some money after Fed Ex signs their deal. Tell me the IPA doesn't want to see what the purple people eaters are going to make. He said quality of life issues are complex but almost completed. So if it is money and job security then what kind of balance does the IPA want. Labor is the number one expense with a company. When labor gets too high people start losing jobs. UPS has offered an increase right?
