Retail association ‘grateful’ for UPS deal

The National Retail Federation on Tuesday issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay following the announcement that a tentative labor agreement has been reached between UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

“UPS is a major partner of the retail industry, and we are grateful it came to an agreement with the Teamsters without disruption to the marketplace. The timing of this agreement is critical for consumers and families during the peak back-to-school shopping season. Retailers rely on stability within their supply chains, and this agreement will bring long-term stability, as well as assurance to the millions of businesses and employees who rely on smooth and efficient last-mile delivery.”

The tentative agreement should also bring a sigh of relief to the hardware and building supply industry. In a recent HBSDealer poll question, 55 percent of respondents felt that their businesses would be mildly disrupted by a UPS strike. Another 28 percent felt their businesses would be extremely disrupted.

Prior to Tuesday, some 340,000 UPS workers appeared to be on the verge of some sort of labor action.