UPS, Teamsters reach tentative agreement on air conditioning

The Teamsters and UPS agreed to tentative language to equip the delivery and logistics company’s fleet of vehicles with air conditioning systems, new heat shields, and additional fans during national contract negotiations on Tuesday. The tentative agreement follows a week of intense lobbying by the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee on UPS negotiators “to recognize the enormous dangers of heat-related issues facing UPS Teamsters nationwide.” The new contract language would mandate UPS equip in-cab air conditioning systems in all larger delivery vehicles, smaller sprinter vans, and all of UPS’ most recognizable brown package cars purchased after Jan. 1, 2024. Regular package cars make up the majority of the company’s 93,000 vehicles within its fleet. Two fans would also be installed in the cab of all package cars following ratification of a new contract. All newer non-electric UPS package cars and vans would be installed with exhaust heat shields, further protecting Teamsters from dangerous heat. Additionally, newly existing and purchased package cars going forward would be retrofitted or equipped with air induction vents in the cargo compartments to alleviate extreme temperatures in the back of the vehicles. Negotiating subcommittees continue to meet. The Teamsters on Tuesday also reached tentative agreements on more than a dozen issues within subcommittees and are preparing new proposals to present to UPS at the national table. Bargaining will resume on June 14 in Virginia.