Over 9,000 UPS Teamsters in Canada will begin voting on a contract offer on Monday, August 18. Teamsters Canada is recommending that members vote No to reject the offer.
The Teamsters Canada contract with UPS expired on July 31. Members voted last month by more than 98% to authorize a strike if necessary.
Wages are a key issue. UPS is offering wage increases of just $6.19 over five years. UPS Teamsters in the U.S. won $7.50 in increases in the 2023 contract.
UPS’s contract offer would leave Teamsters in Canada making less in 2025 than they made before 2020 after adjusting for inflation.
The company’s offer falls short in other key areas, including pension, part-time wages, and 9.5 protections against excessive overtime.
Part-Time Pay
A four-year progression introduced in 2015 would remain in place for all classifications. The progression is especially steep for part-time preloaders and sorters whose pay starts at $18.50, only $0.75 higher than Canada’s federal minimum wage.
Part-time pay increases just $3 over the first three years of service, before finally hitting top rate in year four.
Excessive Overtime and 9.5
Management’s contract offer would reduce the number of 9.5 violations permitted per month from five to four, but the proposed contract would still leave UPS Teamsters with fewer protections against excessive overtime than other unionized logistics companies in Canada.
Organizing to Vote No
Beginning Monday, August 18, members will begin receiving access to vote electronically on the contract.
The union negotiating committee voted 11-1 to call on members to vote No. UPS management is pushing hard for members to ratify the substandard agreement.
Rank-and-file Teamsters are distributing leaflets and circulating infographics by text to support the union’s call for a No vote.
Members are using WhatsApp groups and Zoom meetings to coordinate their efforts across different locals.
TDU supports UPS Teamsters and Teamsters Canada in the fight for a fair contract.
Members who are looking to connect with other UPS Canada Teamsters can reach out at bit.ly/tucanada.