BrownCafe

The Teamsters union has said that proposed changes to a tentative contract from UPS Freight, UPS Inc.’s (NYSE:UPS) less-than-truckload unit, fails to address the grievances raised by the rank-and-file, and that the union’s negotiating committee will call a nationwide strike sometime after Nov. 12 if workers reject the company’s offer.

UPS Freight employees will vote Nov. 9-11 on the contract, less than a month after more than 60 percent of eligible voters decisively rejected the first proffer. The contract rejection triggered a 30-day extension period that expires Nov. 12. After that time, the union’s negotiating committee can—and now appears it will—call a strike if an agreement isn’t reached within the 30-day period.

The memo said a strike would be a “last resort,” but that the negotiating committee would have no choice should members reject the offer. The rank-and-file are taking a second vote on the initial contract, and are not voting on a revised proposal.

More than a century ago, the company now known as UPS started as a simple courier service in Seattle. A handful of messengers would deliver packages by bicycle and by foot. Today, the United Parcel Service returns to its roots.

UPS has partnered with the Seattle Department of Transportation and University of Washington to make deliveries using electric-assist cargo bikes in downtown Seattle. During the year-long pilot, UPS will deliver packages in Pike Place Market and the surrounding neighborhood using the bikes. If the pilot is successful, UPS will expand its cargo e-bike delivery service to other parts of Seattle.

United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) reported a 20 percent rise in quarterly profit on Wednesday, but shares dropped 3.5 percent after it said the U.S. trade war with China contributed to disappointing international results.

Investors consider UPS a bellwether for the U.S. economy and they seized on news that President Donald Trump’s shift to more protectionist trade policies weighed on its results.

UPS shares were down $4.04 at $110.20 in late morning trade after the company attributed an 11.6 percent decline in international package operating profit to unhedged currency in emerging markets, higher fuel costs and slowing economic activity resulting from changing trade policies.