LOUISVILLE, KY (April 11, 2018) – UPS pilots, represented by the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), are concerned that UPS’s management has been caught flat-footed by surging e-commerce volume and is now failing to take steps necessary to meet customer demand.

“Our pilots see evidence of UPS failing to meet its customer service commitments on a daily basis,” said Capt. Robert Travis, President of the IPA.  The IPA announced today that it has commissioned a professional survey of major shippers to examine UPS service reliability, both domestic and international.

“UPS has turned to costly and less reliable aircraft subcontracting with outside carriers in a desperation move to improve service.  From our perspective, it is not working,” said Travis.

While an industry arbitrator will hear the Association’s claim that the outsourcing violates its labor agreement with UPS, Travis said customer unrest will likely be the driver in moving the company to add aircraft more quickly.

“While UPS acknowledges the immediate need for more airplanes, they have so far been unable to make it happen leaving the airline capacity-hobbled.” Travis added that previously announced aircraft orders, while a step in the right direction, do not address pressing short or medium-term UPS needs.

“How is the UPS airplane shortage impacting UPS customers? That is the key question our survey will seek to answer,” Travis added.

The IPA commissioned survey will be conducted by the professional polling firm AmericanPublic. The survey will reach out to contract transportation decision-makers at companies that ship large volumes.  In addition to looking at UPS’s on time performance it will also compare and contrast UPS to FDX.  The survey will also consider the impact of emerging transportation competitors such as Amazon.  American Public.us, Inc. is a Washington, DC-based, public opinion research firm with a strong background in reputation assessment and a communications expertise in public policy and political campaign environments.

The IPA represents the 2,800 pilots who fly for UPS worldwide.

LOUISVILLE, KY June 30, 2016 – The Independent Pilots Association (IPA) and UPS Airlines

(NYSE:UPS) today announced a tentative agreement on a new five-year labor contract. The comprehensive agreement provides for improvements across all sections of the contract. Specific details of the agreement will not be disclosed before the IPA presents the proposed contract to all UPS pilots.

The contract must be ratified by a majority of UPS’s 2,600 pilots. The vote by the pilots will be completed on Aug. 31.  If ratified, the new contract will become effective on Sep. 1, 2016, and become amendable on Sep. 1, 2021.

“This tentative agreement has been unanimously approved and endorsed by both the IPA Executive Board and our Negotiating Committee.  Over the next month we will present it to our members with an unqualified recommendation for ratification,” said IPA President Captain Robert Travis. “This is an excellent offer and we are pleased to have reached this agreement,” said Brendan Canavan, UPS Airlines president. “This contract rewards our crewmembers for their outstanding contributions and contains provisions that protect UPS’s ability to deliver competitive service to our global customers.”

The tentative agreement was signed yesterday by the IPA and UPS in the presence of Nicholas Geale, Chairman of the National Mediation Board (NMB). The parties entered mediation in March 2014. Both Travis and Canavan said they “commend the NMB for its guidance and resources over the last 27 months and thank our mediator, Gerry McGuckin, for his oversight and efforts.”

About UPS

UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

About the Independent Pilots Association

The IPA is the collective bargaining unit representing the more than 2,600 professional pilots who fly for United Parcel Service, the world’s largest transportation company. The IPA is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville – Tuesday, April 19, 2016: With negotiations for a new pilot contract nearing a critical juncture, the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), representing the pilots who fly for United Parcel Service (UPS), is opening a Strike Operations Center (SOC) at its Louisville headquarters. The Strike Center will serve as the pilots’ nerve
center in the event of a UPS pilot strike.

“After nearly five years of bargaining, which includes two years of concentrated federal mediation, it is now crunch time,” said Captain Robert Travis, President of the IPA.

At the mediator’s direction, the Union presented its closing positions earlier this month. UPS is expected to do the same at the next bargaining session, scheduled for the week of April 25.

“Should the parties remain apart, the National Mediation Board (NMB) will have an evaluation to make,” said Travis.  “For five years, UPS has thumbed its nose at the negotiation process. The law, even the Railway Labor Act, does not allow a party to indefinitely evade the law’s requirement to make and maintain labor agreements.”

Overseeing the talks, the NMB makes the determination when negotiations have reached an impasse. Once that determination is made, the federal agency has the authority to release the parties from mediation, which can result in a 30-day countdown to either a pilot strike or lockout.

“The IPA believes we are nearing the point where the mediation services of the NMB will be exhausted, and the possibility of an impasse, as defined by law, becomes a reality,” said Travis.

Travis stressed that opening the strike center is not a rash decision by the Association or its pilots. “In October, our pilots deliberated and gave careful consideration to all options. Virtually every UPS pilot participated in a strike vote and 99% voted to give the Association’s five-pilot Executive Board the authority to request release from mediation and, if necessary, to conduct a strike against UPS.”

“It’s pretty simple. UPS is engaged in an unnecessary and reckless game of chicken with its pilots, shareholders, and customers. We are not playing games. While we prefer a negotiated agreement, our pilots are preparing for a strike at UPS.”

The IPA strike center is a strategic tool that gives the UPS pilots state-of-the-art technology to track flights, picket, keep in contact with crewmembers, dispel rumors, support its families and stay in touch with the media and the investment community.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2015 – UPS pilots voted 2,252 to 8 to authorize a strike against United Parcel Service. With just under 97 percent member participation.

“UPS promises its customers on-time delivery, but after four years of labor negotiations, the Company has failed to deliver a contract for its own pilots,” said IPA President Captain Robert Travis. “In a clear voice, UPS pilots have said they are willing to strike if necessary to finish the job,” he added.

The five-pilot IPA Executive Board now has the authority to formally request a release from federally mediated negotiations with UPS, and the discretion to conduct a strike once mediation is concluded.

Should the 2,500 UPS pilots go on strike, they will not be alone. International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James Hoffa pledged the support of 250,000 UPS Teamster co-workers.  In a letter to the pilots, Hoffa wrote, “…if a strike is necessary, we will not cross your lines, but will stand with you on them.”

Captain Travis said his group welcomes the Teamster’s support. “The employees of UPS make our Company strong and productive. Management is playing a risky game using ‘stall and delay’ tactics against its own people. Meanwhile, FedEx is delivering on-time,” he added.

UPS archrival FedEx ratified a six-year contract with its pilots earlier this week.  “Given that the pilots are the only major employee group at FedEx covered by a collective bargaining agreement, this deal brings labor peace to our main competitor,” said Captain Travis.

UPS and IPA are scheduled to return to the bargaining table in early November with the federal mediator retaining the right to cancel scheduled sessions.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Wednesday, September 9, 2015 –
Today, the leadership of the Independent Pilots Association called on its members to authorize a pilot strike against United Parcel Service. If approved, the five-pilot Executive Board of the Independent Pilots Association would have the authority to request a release from federally mediated negotiations with UPS.

“A strike is the least desirable outcome of labor negotiations, but after four years of contract talks with UPS we’ve reached a point where UPS needs to hear loud and clear from our membership that they are willing to do whatever it takes to secure an industry leading contract,” said IPA President, Captain Robert Travis.

“UPS has stalled and delayed, unnecessarily prolonging our negotiations,” said Travis.  “UPS management has created a bitter standoff with its pilot employees. In sharp contrast, UPS archrival Federal Express recently announced a tentative agreement with its pilots. If ratified, the FedEx pilot deal will bring labor peace to our main competitor, given that the pilots are the only major employee group at FedEx covered by a collective bargaining agreement.”

The IPA will announce the result of its UPS strike vote on October 23.  The FedEx pilot contract ratification vote is also slated to conclude in late-October.