UPS and union leaders have reached a tentative agreement to install air conditioning in the company’s delivery trucks for the first time.
In addition to air conditioning, the iconic brown trucks will receive other upgrades to combat heat-related issues.
“The Teamsters and UPS have agreed to tentative language to equip the delivery and logistics company’s fleet of vehicles with air conditioning systems, new heat shields and additional fans,” the Teamsters, a union representing 340,000 UPS employees, said in a statement on Tuesday.
UPS, which confirmed the tentative agreement in its own statementsaid it will continue to prioritize the health and safety of its drivers.
“We have always remained open to solutions that keep our employees safe on hot days,” the company said. “The Teamsters have made air conditioning a top priority for their members, and the new solutions we agreed to will improve airflow, temperature and comfort for our employees.”
The tentative agreement would require cabin air conditioning in most UPS delivery vehicles purchased after January 1, 2024, according to the Teamsters statement. Two fans would be fitted to all package cars, and all newer non-electric package cars would have exhaust heat shields.
The events occurred on December 17, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To see more from Telemundo, visit now.telemundo.com
Working conditions in hot climates have been a point of contention for drivers, union leaders and package delivery companies.
NBC News reported that more than 100 UPS drivers have been hospitalized for heat-related illnesses in recent years, some of whom are on the brink of kidney failure.
NBC News also reported that temperature readings in the back of trucks in Arizona and Florida have exceeded 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
The tentative agreement comes as union workers continue to vote on whether to authorize the strike, with results expected to be announced on Friday. The current contract between the union workers and UPS expires on August 1 and there have been negotiations for a five-year contract.
“We are here to protect more than 340,000 UPS Teamsters and win the best contract in our union history with this company,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Today’s progress was a significant step toward a stronger new reality for so many workers and their families.”
