Oh TRIPE !! What a sack of horse manure!

They failed because management has NEVER negotiated in GOOD FAITH -and THEY are the greedy ones!

The pilots are a significant cog in allowing the corporation to earn MASSIVE amounts of profit and they DESERVE to earn a fair wage, benefits and to have work rules befitting their contribution to the bottom line.

UPS pilots to seek release from mediation
Thu Dec 22, 2005 05:45 PM ET
CHICAGO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The union representing pilots at United Parcel Service (UPS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday that it will request release from mediation with UPS after 38 months of talks.

UPS and the Independent Pilots Association, which represents the company's 2,700 pilots, held four days of talks ending Thursday afternoon in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on finalizing a contract dispute that began in October 2002.

The talks in Green Bay were overseen by the National Mediation Board, an independent government agency.

The IPA warned in advance that if UPS did not reach a deal by Dec. 23, the association would seek release from mediation.

"This is not a step we take lightly," said Captain Tom Nicholson, the IPA's president, in a statement.

Nicholson said that the talks had failed due to a lack of agreement over $40 million.

"UPS has made the decision to risk our customers' business and its investors' money," he said.

Unresolved contract issues include health-care premiums, pensions and the pace of wage increases. The union has also cited the possible use of overseas pilots as a concern.

The IPA said that if released from mediation this would result in a 30-day countdown to a strike or lockout at UPS.

The shipping company handles an average of 14 million packages a day and if a strike actually occurred analysts have said the result would be chaos.

UPS spokesman Mark Giuffre said the company had no indication from the NMB mediator that "either party would be released from mediation."

"We feel that progress was made during the talks and we are waiting for feedback from the mediator," he said.

Giuffre added that the IPA's statement was a fresh attempt "to stir up concern among customers that services would be disrupted."

"There will be no disruption of service," he said.

UPS has said its pilots' wages and benefits are among the best in the industry.

The average UPS pilot receives a gross salary of $175,000, while captains receive an average of $223,000, Giuffre said.

"We have offered a contract that includes increases on every front from wages, to benefits, scheduling and pensions," he said.

"We feel it's a generous offer and we look forward to hearing the response of the IPA," he said.


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