UPS Drivers Might Lastly Get Air Conditioning In Their Vehicles

UPS is a large firm that made around $2.5 billion in profits within the first quarter of 2023, and basically all that cash is being made by its workers. That is sensible, proper? You rent folks as a result of they make you cash. Solely, as an employer, you’ve got duties to your workers, and for years now, UPS has been failing to satisfy a few of these by refusing to put in air con and different heat-abating gear in its vehicles.

We lined this final yr and have been left questioning whether or not that will change with the corporate’s doubtlessly tough union contract negotiation with the Teamsters developing this yr. We’re extraordinarily happy to see that tentatively; it has, based on an announcement made by the Teamsters on Wednesday.

“Air con is coming to UPS, and Teamster members in these automobiles will get the reduction and safety they’ve been preventing for,” mentioned Teamsters Normal President Sean O’Brien, in a press release. “The union’s whole nationwide committee and our rank-and-filers ought to be recommended for staying on this combat and making their priorities recognized to this firm. We’re right here to guard greater than 340,000 UPS Teamsters and get one of the best contract within the historical past of our union with this firm. In the present day’s progress was a big step in direction of a stronger new actuality for thus many staff and their households.”

It’s very thrilling information, however when the Teamsters say tentatively, what do they imply on this case? Particularly, it implies that the union and UPS have agreed to the language for the contract, which has not but been locked in and voted on. Is it doubtless that that is the way it will work within the closing adopted contract? Sure, however hey, generally issues occur, and you’ll’t predict the long run.

The language within the contract is fairly particular about what UPS’ duties shall be, too, and it goes past air con. First, it might mandate that UPS match in-cab air con methods in all bigger supply automobiles, smaller vans and all of UPS’ huge brown boxy vehicles (aka bundle automobiles) that the corporate is understood for which can be bought after January 1st, 2024.

Past the in-cab A/C, two followers would even be put in within the cab of all bundle automobiles, and all newer non-electric UPS bundle automobiles and vans can be put in with exhaust warmth shields to mitigate exhaust warmth creeping into the cab from beneath. Moreover, newly bought bundle automobiles going ahead can be fitted with vents of their cargo areas to cut back the intense temperatures at the back of the automobiles.

So, a giant win for UPS drivers, however with one other doubtlessly extremely popular summer time developing, hopefully we don’t have any extra circumstances of drivers getting injured or dying like Esteban Chaves, Jr did in Pasadena, CA earlier than these modifications go into impact.