Teamsters, UPS To Resume Talks After Workers Reject Contract

(RTTNews) - Teamsters members voted down a new contract with United Parcel Service Inc., but the union's leadership said the turnout was too low to reject the contract. Both sides said they would return to the negotiating table ahead of the holiday season.

Preliminary voting results showed that 54.3% of votes cast opposed the five-year deal that represents 243,000 drivers, package sorters and other workers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters disclosed Friday evening. Another pact representing 11,000 UPS Freight workers was also rejected, with 62.1% of votes cast opposing that deal.

The Teamsters issued a statement saying the union considered the larger contract ratified despite the vote tally. Under the union's rules, a nationwide contract needs to be rejected by two-thirds of ballots when less than half of members cast a vote. The union said 44% of members voted, and the final tally was 42,356 in favor and 50,248 opposed.