With UPS Teamsters strike looming, union workers hold 'practice picket' at Worldport

With a month left before their contract expires, the union representing more than 340,000 UPS workers is calling for "practice pickets" nationwide.

In Louisville, many of Teamsters Local 89 members began practicing a picket line Wednesday morning at Worldport, the largest sorting and logistics facility in America.

The UPS Teamsters held signs that read "Just practicing for a just contract," and as vehicles drove past the practice picket, many cars honked their horns to show support.

"Our members are fired up, they want a good contract," said Avral Thompson, the president of Teamsters Local 89.

The Louisville action comes days after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien called for practice pickets nationwide after claiming UPS presented an "appalling economic counterproposal" to the Teamsters during national negotiations for a new labor contract.

"These are being coordinated across the country; we wanted to do it as soon as we could," said Stephen Piercey, the communications director for Teamsters Local 89, which represents roughly 10,000 UPS employees in Louisville.

Piercey said if the Teamsters were to enact a legal strike, it would be a 24/7 operation at Worldport and the roughly 10,000 local union members would rotate picket line shifts.

"If we were forced to go on strike, because UPS didn't want to give these members what they deserve, it would cripple the company, this hub is crucial to UPS and the flow of their business," Thompson said.

Despite the nationwide practice pickets, UPS says it remains confident that a new contract will be reached.

"We are making steady progress in our negotiations with the Teamsters on a wide array of issues," said Laura Holmberg, a spokesperson for UPS. "Even so, we are not surprised to see some union members making their voices heard."

Present during the practice picket was the Independent Pilots Association, which represents the UPS Airlines Pilots.

In 1997, the last time UPS had a strike, the pilots did not cross the picket line and they will not cross the picket lines this year if a strike were to happen.

Other unions, including the Communications Workers of America Local 3310, JCAESP 411, UAW Local 862, and Greater Louisville Central Labor Council, showed up to support the Teamsters practice picket.

"A lot of people showed up today, we thought that we had a really great turnout, not only that, but on the shop floor, there's been a ton of interest in what we need to do, and I would say everybody's fairly positive going forward," said Joe Sexson, a union steward with Local 89.

More on the UPS negotiations: UPS Teamsters union employees pass strike action vote. What that means for you.

Is a 'practice picket' a strike?

It is not a strike.

"It's kind of a mock picket line," Piercey said. It serves as a training exercise and prepares members, many of whom have never been on a picket line. "It also kind of serves as a little bit of a rally," he said.

Union members also hope the practice picket moves UPS to meet some of their negotiating demands.

"A practice picket is one of the most powerful or aggressive job actions you can take, and it is typically ... the last thing you do prior to a potential legal strike," Piercey said. "It's meant to serve many functions, but one of the biggest is it's kind of meant to be a shot across the bow at the company saying, 'This is what's coming if you guys don't get serious and give our members what they want.'"

A strike, unlike a practice picket, is a legal action the union can choose to take only after the contract is expired.

Will the practice picket impact me as a consumer?

No.

Employees who are on the clock during the practice picket are expected to go to work and not participate. Piercey said one of the first things union members are told ahead of the practice picket is, "Do not be late to your shift ... this is a training exercise it's not an actual picket."

Teamsters are explicitly instructed to not interfere with or disturb working operations for employees on the clock, to not disparage the employer, to not tell the public to boycott the company, along with other items. The union members are expected to remain peaceful for the duration of the practice picket.

The practice picket, which started at 10 a.m., lasted roughly 45 minutes.

Why are local UPS workers practice picketing?

At midnight on July 31, the contract between UPS and the Teamsters will expire if an agreement is not reached between the two sides.

The two entities have been negotiating for a few months and have reached some tentative agreements on items such as air conditioning measures and heat safety.

After negotiating non-economic components of the contract, Teamsters and UPS have recently shifted to focus on negotiating pay, benefits and other financial elements. On June 22, the Teamsters tweeted their disappointment in UPS' counterproposal to economic negotiations.

On June 27, the Teamsters Twitter indicated that UPS did not return with a revised economic proposal.

Piercey said he hopes the nationwide practice pickets, including the one in Louisville, will encourage "the company to action, to get them to get serious at the table and not play games anymore." The last time the Teamsters held a strike was 26 years ago.

In a statement to the Courier Journal, Holmberg at UPS said, "We plan and expect to reach agreement on a new contract before the end of July that is a win for our employees, our company and customers and the union."

For you: UPS to change Friday operations in response to reduction in package volume

Union members also say they look forward to reaching a contract agreement.

"Really, all we're trying to accomplish is to activate our members, make sure they're engaged and make sure they know and to send a signal to UPS that if they don't get serious that we are prepared to do whatever it takes for us to win the contract our members deserve," Piercey said. "None of us want to see a strike at UPS."

This story has been updated from the original version.

Contact reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on Twitter at @oliviamevans_

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: UPS Teamsters hold 'practice picket' in KY as potential strike looms