The union representing 2,500 pilots at United Parcel Service Inc. has called for a vote to authorize a strike that could severely cripple the nation’s largest carrier.
UPS handles an average 13.6 million packages a day.
According to the Wall Street Journal, results of the strike vote are expected in mid-May. UPS pilots have been without a contract for two years.
Even if a strike is authorized, it would be unlikely in the near term. For one thing, eight months ago, the union invited federal mediation. It can’t legally strike as long as mediation continues. For another, President Bush could step in to block a strike temporarily.
Arguably the most compelling reason to keep working is that UPS pilots earn top dollar – though exactly how much depends on who you ask. According to Aviation Information Resources Inc., a consulting company and pilot employment service, a UPS pilot with 10 years of service makes $200,508 a year based on 91 hours of work a month, By comparison, a FedEx Corp. pilot with 10 years of service makes $167,352 a year based on 87 hours of work a month. But UPS says their pilots average at $178,000; the pilot’s union says they earn $120,000 a year.
A strike by Teamsters on the ground shut UPS down entirely for 15 days in 1997. That strike was a boon to the giant package carrier’s non-union competitors, most notably Fedex.
Fedex signed a five-year contract with its pilots in 1998. A strike threat then was withdrawn after the company contracted with other air carriers.