COMP NEWS – After months of negotiation with UPS, Teamsters union members are prepared to launch the largest single-employee strike in American history on August 1.

“The largest single-employer strike in American history now appears inevitable.”

So said Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien late Wednesday after leaders of the union representing shipping giant UPS quit negotiating with company representatives after giving them a Friday deadline to “act responsibly and exchange a stronger economic proposal for more than 340,000 full- and part-time workers.”

The Teamsters had initially given the company a week to propose a better offer, but “UPS executives couldn’t make it one more day without insulting and ignoring union leaders and rank-and-filers as negotiations resumed on Wednesday,” the union said in a statement.

Common Dreams reported earlier this month that 97% of UPS workers represented by the Teamsters voted to authorize a nationwide strike if a deal wasn’t reached with management by July 31.

UPS claims they provided a significant proposal to the union.

In a statement, UPS said: “Last week, we provided our initial economic proposal. This week, we followed with a significantly amended proposal to address key demands from the Teamsters.”

“Reaching consensus requires time and serious, detailed discussion, but it also requires give-and-take from both sides,” the company added. “We’re working around the clock to reach an agreement that strengthens our industry-leading pay and benefits ahead of the current contract’s expiration on August 1. We remain at the table ready to negotiate.”

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