Aircraft mechanics at UPS have voted for strike action following three years of talks over a newcontract. But the move is seen as symbolic and unlikely to go ahead.
About 90% of the 1,052 aircraft mechanics voting in the ballot supported giving the Teamstersleadership authority to call a strike if necessary over the dispute, the union’s local unit Local2727 announced.
Officials said they “are not hoping for a strike” but the vote puts the union, whichrepresents 1,200 aircraft mechanics, in a stronger position for the next round of negotiationslater this month. A strike could only be called one month after the arbitration body, the NationalMediation Board, declares the negotiations to have failed.
According to the union, the collective bargaining agreement for UPS aircraft mechanicsexpired in 2006 and the two sides have been negotiating unsuccessfully since then. The union wantsprotection against overseas job outsourcing, improved health benefit payments and higher pay.
A UPS spokesman was cited as saying UPS mechanics are amongst the highest paid in theaviation industry and described the amount of maintenance work carried out overseas as minor. Thecompany has reportedly laid off about 150 mechanics this year.
