Mediation Board Calls for UPS, Pilots to Resume Talks

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

fter more than two months of recess, the National Mediation Board has called on UPS Inc. and the Independent Pilots Association to resume stalled labor negotiations for two days next week.

The talks are scheduled for Sept. 15 and 16 in Washington, IPA said.

This announcement of resumption of talks comes on the heels of the IPA's nearly unanimous for a final strike authorization vote, announced Thursday, IPA said in a statement.

This vote empowers the IPA's five-pilot executive board to request release from mediation and/or call a strike at the end of a 30-day cooling off period should either option be deemed necessary by IPA’s leadership.

Under federal law, the NMB retains the ability to release the parties at any time, which would start a 30 day cooling-off period. After that time, the company could lock out its pilots, or the union could strike, IPA said.

UPS is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.