UPS is cutting package sortation shifts and laying off employees at facilities in Connecticut, Maryland and Oregon in the face of weak package delivery demand.
The company is closing its twilight and night sorts at its hub in Windsor, Connecticut, on April 2 due to reduced volumes, which will impact 118 employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act letter.
"This action is expected to be permanent due to the lack of available work at this location moving forward," the notice said, adding that UPS will offer work to affected employees if other positions become available.
UPS will also eliminate day sortation shifts at its Halethorpe, Maryland, facility and its Portland, Oregon, hub, spokesperson Jim Mayer said in an email to Supply Chain Dive.
The Halethorpe sort closure will occur on March 26 and affect 118 employees, according to a WARN post. The Portland hub will close its day sort on March 28, Meyer said, but he did not say how many employees will be laid off as a result.
The planned closures add to sortation shift cuts UPS is making in Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
UPS has weathered volume declines over the past several quarters, and it is laying off workers and trimming labor hours to match its network capacity with current demand levels. The company plans to cut roughly 12,000 jobs this year, primarily in management and contracted positions.
"We often evaluate our operations and flex our network to meet volume demands," Mayer said. "This allows us to continue delivering industry-leading service while also maintaining competitive prices."
Editor's note: This story was first published in our Logistics Weekly newsletter. Sign up here.
