The union representing more than 3,300 UPS pilots has reached a tentative agreement with the express delivery company on a two-year contract extension, both sides separately announced late Tuesday. If approved by rank-and-file members of the Independent Pilots Association, the deal will ensure UPS and its customers of uninterrupted deliveries related to labor issues through Sept. 1, 2025.
UPS and its flight crews are operating under a two-year contract extension agreed to in 2020 and enacted last year that runs through Sept. 1, 2023.
“Our pilots play an important role helping UPS to deliver what matters, particularly during the global pandemic, so we’re pleased to have come to an agreement to extend the existing contract,” said UPS Airlines President Jim Joseph. “Upon ratification, this contract continues to reward our crewmembers for their contributions to the success of the company, while ensuring we are positioned to provide outstanding service to our air express customers.”
The IPA said the tentative agreement was unanimously approved by the six-pilot executive board.
On Wednesday, the White House announced a seventh Operation Fly Formula mission to import baby formula and help relieve a temporary domestic shortage. The flight from Switzerland is scheduled to arrive in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 16 with 44,000 pounds of Nestle Alfamino and Alfaminio Junior specialty formula. The news release didn’t identify the airline, but it most likely is UPS because Louisville the home for its global superport and it is the dominant air cargo operator at the airport there.