UPS, Teamsters open contract negotiations for hourly U.S. workers

<p>The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and UPS Inc. opened negotiations Tuesday on a new contract for drivers and package sorters in the United States to replace a six-year agreement that expires in 2008.</p><p>The Teamsters represent roughly 238,000 UPS hourly workers in the U.S., consisting of full-time drivers and part-time package sorters, company spokesman Norm Black said.</p><p>The world's largest shipping carrier has 407,200 employees globally. UPS, also known as United Parcel Service, recently reached a new contract deal with its pilots, who are represented by a different union.</p><p>John McDevitt, UPS' senior vice president for Global Transportation Services, said in a statement regarding the Teamsters talks that "it is unusual to start this early," but he said the negotiators face complex issues that will take time to solve.</p><p>The current contract is set to expire July 31, 2008.</p>

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