Sean O'Brien said that the drivers will be ready to go on strike.
It has been a difficult four years for the 360,000 drivers and warehouse workers that the union represents, and not just because of the H1N1 flu. Drivers have been working under a contract that made them among the highest-paid in the last-mile business but also included unpopular provisions.
The contract was passed despite the fact that most of the drivers who voted were against it. Many members of the union were unhappy with the process.
Sean O'Brien was elected to take over the leadership of the union due to the complaints. He ran on a platform to grow the membership of the union.
The new tier of drivers the company created to handle Saturday deliveries, driver-facing cameras in trucks, and a new kind of seasonal hire using personal vehicles are disliked by many people. Part-time pay is something he wants to raise.
O'Brien has been talking about the strike for months.
O'Brien told Insider that it's simple to tell a great tale about how successful the company is and how great it is to work for. It'sUPS's fault if we hit them.
The union has amassed a $350 million strike fund and has been able to shorten the time it takes for members to get their money.
O'Brien said that there was some good leverage.
"UPS and the Teamsters have worked together for almost 100 years to meet the needs of our employees, customers, and the communities where we live and work," a spokesman for the company said in July. The two companies have built up the world's leading package delivery company together, which has strengthened the membership of the Teamsters over time. We believe we can reach an agreement that will benefit everyone.
O'Brien is starting negotiations later than past leaders have done, and he is bringing a different crew to the table.
The side of the table usually consists of about 80 people. The rank and file are going to be brought in by O'Brien.
Carol Tomé is taking a more cautious approach to her first union negotiation.
She said on the company's July 26 earnings call that they were leaving the negotiations at the bargaining table. There was a line between the rest of the workforce and the rest of the workforce.
There are a lot of workforces that are trying to be organized in the media. The way they are paid is different than the way our teamsters are paid. She said that these are jobs that we value a lot.
O'Brien has said in the past that he plans to use theUPS contract negotiations as an example for other workforces that have not unionized.