Washington, DC – On July 1, the bargaining committee of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) announced that three major economic tentative agreements had been reached with UPS in their negotiations over the next contract at UPS. These agreements are the elimination of a two-tier driver system, ending forced overtime on worker’s scheduled days off, and receiving Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday.

Vernon, CA – At a UPS hub in Vernon, California, members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) union held their weekly Teamster Thursdays on June 29. The workers were loud and militant and demanded better pay and a fair contract.

Minneapolis, MN – 2500 grocery store workers who work at Lunds & Byerlys grocery stores in and around the metro area of Minneapolis are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663. They had built and authorized a strike at 22 grocery stores, which was set to begin on the morning of Thursday, June 29. Instead, late Monday, June 26, management blinked at the bargaining table and a tentative agreement was reached which the members will vote on for their next contract.

Lansing, MI – Teamsters in Lansing and Detroit conducted practice pickets at UPS centers on Friday, June 30. Members marched, held signs and chanted, putting pressure on the company to present a last, best and final offer. These pickets come days after the National Negotiating Committee issued a 48-hour deadline for UPS to issue such an offer. In a June 28 press release, General President Sean O’Brien said, “The largest single-employer strike in American history now appears inevitable.” Later that day, the company softened its bargaining stance and the deadline was extended to July 5.

Tampa, Fl – On Friday June 30, 100 Teamsters rallied outside the Tampa UPS building for the union’s national practice picketing call to action. UPS drivers rallied first before their start time with a second rally happening for-part timers after they left the early morning or preload shift. June 30 was the deadline the International Brotherhood of Teamsters gave UPS for their best and final economic proposal.

Minneapolis, MN – On June 29 and 30, over 80 members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 638 participated in a series of parking lot rallies and practice pickets at the Broadway Street UPS hub in Minneapolis. The actions were driven by the rank-and-file efforts of the hub’s Teamster Contract Action Team, and were organized for every shift.

Tampa, FL – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Parcel Service have reached agreements on multiple non-economic proposals, including more protections for transgender workers. If the Teamsters and UPS reach a tentative agreement by July 31, it will have updated language to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected identities under article 36, the non-discrimination section of the contract.

Los Angeles, CA – On Thursday, June 29, the Teamsters at UPS Olympic hub in downtown LA held coordinated pickets including both UPS drivers and part-time workers. The pickets occurred between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., allowing both the drivers and the part-time workers to participate before and after their shifts.

Minneapolis, MN – Starbucks workers in the Twin Cities area went on strike on Wednesday, June 28 as part of Strike With Pride, a national strike action this week by Starbucks Workers United involving over 150 stores across the country. More than 50 Starbucks workers and supporters turned out to the picket line at the store on Silver Lake Road in Saint Anthony, which borders northeast Minneapolis

On Thursday June 22, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) announced a nationwide call-to-arms. The IBT is calling on all locals to enact a “practice picket” at UPS distributions centers around the U.S., to be held as soon as possible. The aim is to show United Parcel Service (UPS) a strong hand as negotiations continue.