UPS mechanics, their union, Teamsters 2727, and the company have ratified a five-year contract. They have been negotiating since 2013 and mechanics have not had a raise in that time.
According to a report on the Insider Louisville website the contract will give “an immediate 17.72 percent raise for a base pay of about $123,000 per year. Over the life of the contract, base pay will increase 32.61 percent, to about $139,000.” The pay raise equals about 3.5 percent annual raise since negotiations began back in 2013. The 32.61 percent raise over the life of the contract will be about 3.3 percent annual raise between 2013 and 2023.
The Teamsters say the contract, which becomes amendable on November 1, 2023, makes UPS Air Cargo mechanics the highest-paid air cargo mechanics in the country by a wide margin.
“We knew if we stuck together and stayed committed to protecting the pay and benefits we’ve earned over decades of hard work, we’d do what many thought was impossible and win big for our families, the future of our company and our customers,” said Teamsters Local 2727 President Tim Boyle. “This contract does just that, along with raising standards throughout the aviation industry.”
A statement by the Teamsters said the contract includes “the protection of an unparalleled health care package with no premiums.” There were no changes to employee premiums of an early retirement health care benefit that had been one of the sticking points in protracted negotiations.
“We are pleased that our aircraft mechanics have ratified this contract. At UPS, we have a long tradition of rewarding our people while managing our business effectively. This is a great contract that meets both of those objectives. We thank the National Mediation Board for their assistance in reaching this agreement,” a spokesperson from UPS said. He added UPS is not feeling the mechanic shortage and that with the new contract “our mechanics are paid at the top of the industry, so it’s a destination job.”