Should supply chains worry about a potential UPS air worker strike?

Dive Brief:

Airplane maintenance workers at UPS approved a potential strike as contract talks over healthcare benefits extend into their third year, Reuters reported Monday.
"It’s important to understand that the vote does not give Local 2727 the right to strike under U.S. labor law," UPS said in a statement. Workers have also pledged to continue working until after peak season.
The Teamster-affiliated workers are protesting UPS' practice of continuing to demand healthcare concessions from workers despite another blockbuster year for the company.

Dive Insight:

For now, there is little reason to worry over an impending strike: 60 days of ongoing effort are still ahead of both the company and its plane maintenance staff before the reality of a true strike begins. Since union approval occurred on the 15th, that means that UPS has through mid-January before the government steps in to attempt a final resolution.

While service during the holidays will remain undisrupted, if a strike does occur, the backlash from growing ecommerce could cripple UPS.

In its statement, UPS acknowledged the vote to strike is a routine, but necessary show of solidarity among union workers. Such a vote increases their leverage as contract talks extend, and t heir affiliation with the Teamsters should remind UPS of the strike 20 years ago that grew to 185,000 Teamster-affiliated workers, affecting up to 80% of all package deliveries.