The UPS Aircraft Mechanics union, Teamsters Local Union 2727, based in Louisville, Ky., has asked its membership to authorize a strike.
Louisville is the hub of UPS’s airline fleet. Their mechanics union has more than 1,200 members across the United States.
In a press release, union president Robert Combine says the mechanics fear their jobs are being outsourced overseas. The union has been in contract negotiations with the package giant for more than two years.
UPS spokesman Norman Black, however, said due to the talks, the union is under the “direct control of a federal mediator,” and therefore can’t strike unless released from talks.
A woman at the union office Thursday said that the Teamsters haven’t yet asked to be released from the talks. If they ask to be released, and a release is granted, they can strike after a cooling off period.
Nonetheless, the union is asking its membership to vote on a strike on Sept. 14. The strike could take place at a later date.
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