MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio — A nationwide strike is looming as union UPS workers are preparing to walk off the job. Their union contract officially expires July 31.
Union members are practicing picketing at multiple Northeast Ohio UPS locations over the next couple of days.
The Teamsters union covers 340,000 part-time and full-time UPS workers.
If a deal is not reached, officials say there could be far-reaching implications due to the workforce stoppage.
With signs in hand, Teamsters Union Local 407 practiced picketing at the Middleburg Heights UPS location.
Around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, more than three dozen members marched back and forth outside the Englewood Drive facility.
Their brown and yellow signs read, "Just practicing for a Just contract."
It all comes after contract talks broke down last week between UPS corporate and the Teamsters Union.
The Teamsters say they were not given a fair, best offer.
However, UPS claims the union's offer was not reasonable.
The Teamsters are asking for better pay for all workers, eliminating a two-tier wage system, adding more full-time jobs, fixing health and safety issues and more protections from managerial harassment.
Union members declined an on-camera interview on scene and referred News 5 to their national spokesperson.
Local union representatives told News 5 it all boils down to getting a fair contract, and this is just the beginning of the process.
Another practice picket is set for Wednesday morning at the Middleburg Heights location.
Practice pickets are also happening Thursday in Highland Heights and Friday on East 68th Street.
The last time UPS Teamsters went on strike was back in 1997. It lasted for 15 days.
Some experts say this potential strike could lay the groundwork for Amazon employees to possibly unionize.
News 5 will continue to monitor the contract negotiations and bring you updates as they become available.
On Wednesday afternoon, a representative for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters provided this statement from July 5 about the recent breakdown in negotiations:
Around 4 a.m., UPS walked away from the bargaining table after presenting an unacceptable offer to the Teamsters that did not address members’ needs. The UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee unanimously rejected the package.
Following marathon negotiations, UPS refused to give the Teamsters a last, best, and final offer, telling the union the company had nothing more to give.
'This multibillion-dollar corporation has plenty to give American workers — they just don’t want to,' said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. 'UPS had a choice to make, and they have clearly chosen to go down the wrong road.'
The UPS Teamsters contract covering more than 340,000 full- and part-time workers expires July 31. No additional negotiations are scheduled.
The Teamsters have repeatedly made clear that UPS members will not work beyond the expiration of the current contract. In June, rank-and-file UPS Teamsters authorized a strike by an overwhelming 97 percent.
