Negotiations between UPS and its workers have reached a stalemate, raising fears of a strike.

In June 2023, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters voted to authorize a strike if an agreement cannot be reached with United Parcel Service (UPS). This would make it the most prominent work stoppage in United States history, as the union represents 340,000 UPS employees.

The Teamsters and UPS have been in disagreement over wages, benefits, and compensation for workers. The union has been pushing for better working conditions, and has made some progress in July 2023 with a tentative agreement regarding two-tier wages, holiday pay for Martin Luther King Day, and overtime pay. However, talks have since stalled.

Sean O'Brien, president of the Teamsters, made it clear to The Hill: “We will not be working beyond the expiration date without the contract our members have demanded, and more importantly without the contract our members deserve.” The Teamsters Union has been actively posting to Twitter, indicating that a complete work stoppage is possible if a deal is not reached by July 31.

To prepare for a possible strike, FedEx has asked companies to start working with them to avoid disruption to the global supply chain. The last time a work stoppage occurred was in 1997, resulting in a 15-day strike. The United States Postal Service has also created a two- to five-day shipping service, dubbed 'USPS Ground Advantage.'

Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, told Vox, “They’re fighting for the little guy. It’s the lower levels is what they’re really fighting for.” UPS workers have been staging practice pickets across the country in case they go through with the strike on August 1, 2023.

The potential strike would be disastrous for UPS and its customers alike. UPS' deliveries to businesses make up about 40% of its business, which gives the Teamsters additional leverage in the negotiations. It remains to be seen if the two sides will come to an agreement, but the union is making it clear that they are prepared to strike if their demands are not met.

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