8/28/23 Parcel News Update

1. UPS Teamsters Ratify National Master Agreement

Rank-and-file UPS workers represented by the Teamsters union voted to ratify their new five-year agreement with the carrier, officially ending any fears of a strike. 86.3% voted in favor of the new agreement, a margin the Teamsters called “the highest vote for a contract in UPS history.”

The new agreement will see Teamsters’ members earning wage increases, the inclusion of air conditioning in all new delivery vehicles, and the elimination of a part-time driver classification, among other items.

The Teamsters have claimed that the agreement represents a $30 billion investment from UPS.

Article from Reuters

2. Sendle Speeding Up Delivery Services

Sendle, a parcel delivery service that targets small eCommerce businesses, is launching two-day and three-day guaranteed shipping services in the U.S.

According to Sendle’s North American President Tom Byun, the services are a response to client requests for low-cost alternatives to expedited services from major carriers. Two-day guaranteed service starts at $8.48 per package, and three-day guaranteed starts at $4.59.

Sendle offers nationwide delivery through a mix of carriers, serving as a third-party that leverages aggregated volume to earn discounts otherwise inaccessible to low-volume shippers.

Article from Max Garland, Supply Chain Dive

3. Walmart and Wing Partnering for Drone Delivery in Texas

Last week, Walmart announced a partnership with WIng, a drone delivery company owned by Google-parent Alphabet, to begin offering drone delivery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The service aims to deliver groceries, household items, and over-the-counter medicine to residents’ yards, driveways, or front porches in under 30 minutes. The service will reach approximately 60,000 homes.

Wing CFO Shannon Nash wrote in a blog post “this is a major milestone for Wing as we continue down our path toward building capabilities to support some of the most significant delivery operations in the world.”

Article from Jack Daleo, FreightWaves