Founded in 1907, the United Parcel Service (UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery service company, headquartered in Sand Springs, Georgia. On August 4, 1997, 185,000 UPS workers, who served as members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters or the Teamsters Union walked out on the company led by Teamster reformer Ron Carey, President of the labor union. The situation was centered on two main issues—increase the number of part-time workers and control over the UPS pension funds. In addition, workers stipulated higher wages. Prior to the strike, UPS offered a final contract, but it was rejected by the Teamster Union on August 2. The strike began on August 4 and went on for fifteen days. It was seen as the largest strike thus far in U.S. history. All of the UPS workers, who are members of the Teamster Union, were involved in the strike. During the strike, UPS suffered from over $650 million in losses (Krause, 1997). The company controlled over eighty percent of the package deliveries in the United States. For the duration of the strike, the company had to shut down its delivery service affecting many people in the community and businesses. After fifteen days, UPS and Teamster came to an agreement for a five-year contract accepting the grievances that were stated by the union. UPS upgraded the workers’ wages, healthcare benefits, and increased the number of part-time workers. In the end, the union may have won, but many
Founded in 1907, the United Parcel Service (UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery service company, headquartered in Sand Springs, Georgia. On August 4, 1997, 185,000 UPS workers, who served as members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters or the Teamsters Union walked out on the company led by Teamster reformer Ron Carey, President of the labor union. The situation was centered on two main issues—increase the number of part-time workers and control over the UPS pension funds. In addition, workers stipulated higher wages. Prior to the strike, UPS offered a final contract, but it was rejected by the Teamster Union on August 2. The strike began on August 4 and went on for fifteen days. It was seen as the largest strike thus far in U.S. history. All of the UPS workers, who are members of the Teamster Union, were involved in the strike. During the strike, UPS suffered from over $650 million in losses (Krause, 1997). The company controlled over eighty percent of the package deliveries in the United States. For the duration of the strike, the company had to shut down its delivery service affecting many people in the community and businesses. After fifteen days, UPS and Teamster came to an agreement for a five-year contract accepting the grievances that were stated by the union. UPS upgraded the workers’ wages, healthcare benefits, and increased the number of part-time workers. In the end, the union may have won, but many