UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement on an ‘industry-leading’ labour contract for 1,200 UPS aircraft mechanics after four years of
negotiations.The tentative agreement’s key components include an industry-best top rate, continued freehealthcare benefits, significant retroactive pay and other lump sum payments for past years andnumerous work rule improvements, including company concessions that will bring vendor work inhouse, the union announced.
No details of the pay rise were released. Most UPS mechanics earn $43 an hour, according to theLouisville Courier-Journal newspaper. Many of the company’s 1,200 aircraft mechanics work at thecompany’s main air hub at Louisville.
“This is an excellent offer and a win for airline labour,” said Capt. David Bourne, Director,Teamsters Airline Division. “We are proud to present such a strong package to our brothers andsisters, particularly in such an uncertain economy.”
The proposed contract would run through Nov. 1, 2013, when it would again become amendable andwill go immediately go into effect upon ratification by the membership. The contract will be put toa vote by UPS aircraft mechanics in the near future.
The deal ends a long period of negotiations that at one stage last year appeared to be headingfor a strike after unsuccessful talks and mediation. In September 2009, UPS aircraft mechanics hadvoted heavily in favour of a strike if necessary to press their claims. The former collectiveagreement expired in 2006.
