TOLEDO, Ohio — A potential nationwide strike by UPS workers could have impacts in northwest Ohio if the package carrier fails to finalize a new contract by July 31.
The Teamsters union has been negotiating a new contract with UPS since April 17, discussing items like pay, benefits, work rules and grievance procedures for nearly 330,000 employees in the U.S., including those at the Toledo UPS Hub in Maumee.
If the nationwide strike comes to be, UPS deliveries could cease within a matter of weeks.
William Sawaya, an associate professor of supply chain management at Bowling Green State University, said the impacts will be felt on multiple fronts.
"Consumers will feel it, small businesses will feel it as they can't deliver their goods and packages to consumers. They will also feel it if they can't get raw materials or supplies they need," Sawaya said.
While small local businesses and consumers will likely be the first to feel the impact, larger companies may only see a difference if the strike is prolonged, Sawaya said.
"For very large companies, the bulk of their raw materials and supplies are delivered through railroads and big trucks that aren't run by UPS," he said. "However even really big organizations have small items -- drill bits or lubricants or soaps -- that they may order in small amounts."
Negotiations began in late April and came to a standstill earlier this week.
UPS spokesperson Mechelle Stanchfield provided WTOL 11 with the following statement:
"The Teamsters have stopped negotiating despite historic proposals that build on our industry-leading pay. We have nearly a month left to negotiate. We have not walked away, and the union has a responsibility to remain at the table.
Refusing to negotiate, especially when the finish line is in sight, creates significant unease among employees and customers and threatens to disrupt the U.S. economy. Only our non-union competitors benefit from the Teamsters’ actions.
We’re proud of what we’ve put forward in these negotiations, which deliver wins for our people. The Teamsters should return to the table to finalize this deal."
Sawaya said the prospect of a strike is something to prepare for.
"They may not be able to get their parts or the different things that they use in a production process that keeps their businesses running, so it would probably not be the worst thing to have a small stockpile of things that you use just in case," he said.