Negotiations have been stalled for some time, however under Federal regulations, while the NMB has invoked a recess, no strike is possible until the Board determines that no agreement may be reached. Five articles remain to be resolved. The IPA has threatened to gather the highlights of UPS’s offers on those articles and send them to its pilots for a vote while asking for authorization to call a strike and request release from federal mediation.
For its part, UPS notes that it has worked with the IPA to address such contract issues as work rules, quality of life, safety and job security. “UPS pilots are already among the highest paid in the industry,” claims Bob Lekites, vice president of UPS airlines and international operations. “While the company and the union still have differences to address, UPS remains committed continue negotiations until an agreement can be reached.”
The union notes the five remaining open articles – Scope, Scheduling, Pension, Compensation and Healthcare – and calls on UPS to make its last, best and final offer. “These talks are in a logjam,” says IPA president, Captain Tom Nicholson. “We need for our pilots to weigh in with a vote to let UPS know that what they’re offering won’t fly with our crewmembers.”