Teamsters, UPS Starting Early on 2008 Contract Negotiations

"While it is unusual to start this early, we do so because thereare some very complex issues to address and we all recognize it willtake time to find solutions," said John McDevitt, UPS's senior vicepresident for Global Transportation Services. "And an early start tonegotiations greatly increases the chances of an early finish."

"Ultimately, the only way to solve complex issues is through thecollective bargaining process," McDevitt added. "Starting almost twoyears early is the right thing to do for UPS employees as well ascustomers whose business depends on UPS."

The Teamsters union represents roughly 238,000 UPS hourly workersin the United States.

UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a globalleader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range ofoptions for synchronizing the movement of goods, information andfunds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200countries and territories worldwide. UPS's stock trades on the NewYork Stock Exchange (UPS) and the company can be found on the Web atUPS.com.