UPS is massive. Here’s a visual breakdown of how a strike could impact delivery globally.

  • UPS is massive. Here’s a visual breakdown of how a strike could impact delivery globally.

    UPS is massive. Here’s a visual breakdown of how a strike could impact delivery globally.

    UPS and Teamsters, the union representing nearly 340,000 UPS workers are trying to reach a new five-year labor contract before the current contract expires at midnight July 31.

    Earlier this month, the two sides departed the bargaining table without coming to a consensus on a new contract. Teamsters have repeatedly said they will strike starting Aug. 1 if a new contract is not agreed upon. In June, Teamsters passed a strike authorization vote, giving the union the ability to strike if and when they deem necessary.

    In Louisville and nationwide, Teamsters union barns have been hosting practice pickets ahead of what is anticipated to be the largest single employer strike in U.S. history.

    As of July 5, no additional negotiations between the union and the company have been scheduled.

    UPS employs about 25,000 people in Louisville, one of the metro’s largest employers, and close to 500,000 nationwide. Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, the largest sorting and logistics facility in America, and the UPS Airlines headquarters.

    UPS supports the national and global economy, and the company estimates it “transports more than 3% of global (gross domestic product) and about 6% of U.S. GDP daily,” including everything from home-ordered Amazon packages to business shipments and medical necessities. Employees at UPS Worldport play a major role in the company’s economic impact, sorting more than 400,000 packages hourly.

    Teamsters Local 89, represents roughly 10,000 UPS employees in Louisville. Stephen Piercey, the communications director for Teamsters Local 89, previously said a UPS strike would be a 24/7 operation at Worldport with union members rotating picket line shifts.

    The more than 3,000 UPS Airlines pilots who are members of the Independent Pilots Association would support the picket line, just like it did in 1997, the last time UPS experienced a strike.

    Domestically, UPS has five total airport hubs, including Worldport and excluding the company’s Miami location which primarily serves Central and South America. UPS operates roughly 1,200 domestic and 780 international flight segments daily.

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