7/27/2023 UPDATE: UPS and Teamsters reach tentative agreement
7/5/2023 With the possibility of a UPS labor strike beginning August 1, 2023 when the company’s current labor contract with employees expires, Procurement Services is already taking a number of steps to minimize potential disruptions to U-M’s inbound and outbound shipping operations.
These steps include:
- Contacting a number of critical suppliers to understand the potential impact of a UPS strike on their service and what contingencies or mitigation strategies they’ve developed to address interruptions.
- Researching how eShipGlobal—a one-stop solution for shipping most ground and express packages and letters domestically and internationally—can be expanded to serve the entire university. It’s currently being used by the Medical School for shipping hazardous materials at U-M. This service offers multiple options for outbound shipping.
- Ensuring Print/Copy/Mail can assist with shipping via the U.S. Postal Service for standard and Priority Express parcel and mail services.
- Evaluating FedEx shipping alternatives to make them available to units, including expanding the current FedEx contract and using FedEx Office locations for shipping services.
In addition to these measures, units can take the following steps to prepare for a potential UPS strike:
- Planning ahead and preparing for longer lead times for both inbound and outbound shipments.
- Expecting delays.
- Reviewing projects, work, and needs through August and informing colleagues who may be dependent upon shipping for their work of the implications of a potential UPS strike.
We will continue to monitor the UPS situation and offer updates on this webpage and our Slack channel as they become available. In the meantime, please contact us if you have any questions.
Michigan Medicine shipping
Attached are lists of Mayo Freight Suppliers who utilize FedEx for shipping. Orders from suppliers on these lists do not require a mitigation plan.
More information
Procurement Services – UPS Shipping Mitigation Tracking