Posted on 01/24/2018 5:32:53 AM PST by reaganaut1
The Teamsters union wants to prohibit United Parcel Service Inc. from using drones or driverless vehicles to deliver packages.
That was one of the labor union’s initial demands as it kicked off high-stakes contract talks with UPS this week. The Teamsters also want the parcel giant to eliminate late-night deliveries and add another 10,000 workers to the ranks, among other things.
The two sides are starting to negotiate one of the largest collective bargaining agreements in the U.S., which covers around 260,000 UPS employees and expires in July. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ National Negotiating Committee this week submitted to UPS an 83-page document updating the prior agreement.
Both sides declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal.
UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said the company is focused on negotiating a contract that provides the company the flexibility required “to remain a highly competitive provider of reliable service,” especially as smaller and new delivery companies encroach on its turf.
The talks are starting amid a changed landscape in the delivery world since the two sides last hammered out an agreement. Over the past five years, online sales have surged, adding extra business for parcel-delivery companies like UPS, FedEx Corp. and the U.S. Postal Service as they deliver billions of packages to homes.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
It upsets me to find myself on the same side of an issue with the “teemsters” union - albeit for different reasons.
I am fundamentally opposed to “self-driving” vehicles being used on our public roads - for reasons of safety and personal freedom, though, not because I am worried about some greedy union members losing their jobs.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a UPS driver going less than about 40 mph - usually much faster - even in areas where the speed limit is 25.
In my part of the country, they drive like there is no tomorrow. I suspect it is because they are paid to make all required deliveries along a specific route each day as opposed to working a set number of hours each day.
That’s like demanding to stick with horses when the automobile industry is coming in.
The Union can only hold off for so long.
exactly - and the dirty little secret of unions is over the long term, the reduced productivity equals lower wages. That’s why every company with powerful unions declines over time.
Without the union UPS might be a good fit for Walmart in marginalizing Amazon. Walmart does a lot of empty backhauls AFAIK.
I’d rather hear “Dad, what’s a Muslim?” but I’m only speaking for myself.
Use the U.S. Postal Service for the “last mile.”
It works for Amazon because the USPS is losing money on every delivery.
Teamsters can go pound sand and devote their energy to finding Jimmy Hoffa.
FedEx isn’t union. They’re doing just fine. What you’ll see, is shippers passing on shipping via UPS and going FedEx or some other shipper.
“Does your pharmacy get shipments via UPS? Mine does.”
And your pharmacy’s supplier does not know how to switch shippers if there is a UPS strike, or even do an extra shipment via another shipper if there is a strike? Somehow I think the people involved not only can but will make adjustments if there is a strike.
Final delivery—they will have drones of all shapes and sizes for that....
Once ago, Teamsters were Mule Skinner’s. They were a hard working, hard drinking, hard fighting, hard mule cussing, all American group of men, were that, they were so, again.
If driverless trucks and drones can be made to be workable and economical, then this demand by the Teamsters will only mean the end of UPS. If UPS cannot use them, then a new startup will and drive UPS out of business.
I’ve always held that when approaching a stoplight with a Corvette in one lane and a UPS truck in the other, get behind the UPS truck, he’s coming off at the green faster ;-)
And you’re correct at least 80% of the time, aren’t you?
If my memory serves me correctly, the last UPS strike cost their workers thousands in income that would take years for them to recover. But the union “won” their demands.
Actually I think this may be a first—I agree with them!
The whole driverless, connected-vehicle movement is one of statist control.
Yup!
Luddites.
BFL
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