Latest news with #SeanOBrien
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
World War II Eire sign unearthed in Wexford by group of dedicated volunteers
A piece of World War II history has been brought back to light in Wexford after a group of volunteers unearthed an Eire sign at Cahore Point on Sunday, July 13. Sean O Brien along with members of the community began took the initiative to return the historical landmark to its previous glory.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UPS driver buyout offers: Carrier eyes Aug. 31 start to separations
This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: UPS is offering voluntary buyouts to its full-time U.S. drivers amounting to $1,800 per year of service, with a minimum payout of $10,000, according to an announcement from the carrier Friday. Interested drivers must apply for the program between July 18 and July 31, according to a UPS employee communication viewed by Supply Chain Dive. Applicants will be considered for separation dates between Aug. 31 and Oct. 31 "based on the local needs of the business." "If the maximum number of applications is exceeded, approvals will be granted in seniority order," the communication said. "Additional applications may be considered for separation dates between Feb. 1, 2026, and March 31, 2026." Dive Insight: The undertaking, called the Driver Voluntary Separation Program, is the first in UPS' history for delivery drivers. The financial incentive available through the program is in addition to earned retirement benefits like pension and healthcare, per UPS. Word of the program spread on July 3, when the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union said UPS' buyout plan was in motion. The Teamsters represent more than 300,000 UPS employees under a five-year contract reached in 2023. 'Our members cannot be bought off and we will not allow them to be sold out," Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien said in the union's announcement. "The Teamsters are prepared to fight UPS on every front with every available resource to shut down this illegal buyout program." The union urged members to reject the buyout offers in a LinkedIn post on Friday. UPS did not specify what would happen if a lower-than-expected number of drivers applied for the program. UPS is enacting the buyout program in the midst of a major network overhaul to boost profitability, which will feature several facility closures and an over 50% volume reduction from Amazon, its top customer. The initiative also comes after the carrier revealed plans in April to cut roughly 20,000 U.S. positions this year. "As we work through our network reconfiguration, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our customers with the reliable, industry-leading service they expect from UPS," the company said in Friday's announcement. Recommended Reading UPS plans 20K job cuts this year as Amazon pullback advances
Fox News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Ongoing trash strike draws pressure from officials as communities struggle with waste build-up
As the multi-state worker strike approaches the two-week mark, the garbage collection company involved in the unrest is being urged by state leaders across the country to finalize a contract and restore services. Republic Services told Fox News Digital that they are "working to resume regular trash collection as quickly as possible." "A work stoppage does not benefit our employees or the communities we serve. We empathize with customers who have been impacted by the Teamsters' decision to stop work," a spokesperson for the company shared in a statement. The company added that its customers will be notified via text, phone and email with any updates. Despite the involvement of a federal mediator, recent negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters, the union representing the garbage collectors, have ended without resolution. Last week, Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien escalated tensions by threatening to disrupt waste collection operations across multiple states. The strike has disrupted trash collection in 14 Massachusetts communities served by Republic, primarily along the North Shore. O'Brien declared "war" on Republic Services, warning that the union plans to "flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state." "Republic Services has been threatening a war with American workers for years — and now, they've got one," O'Brien said in a statement. "Republic abuses and underpays workers across the country. They burn massive profits and funnel money to undeserving, corrupt executives." O'Brien said the Teamsters "have had it with Republic." "We will flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state. Workers are uniting nationwide, and we will get the wages and benefits we've earned, come hell or high water." Teamsters claimed that Republic Services had refused to settle fair contracts, despite months of negotiations in cities around the country. "Republic Services doesn't run without its hardworking Teamsters. This strike forced on workers by the multibillion-dollar corporation is resulting in trash pileups and collection disruptions for scores of people across the country," the organization wrote in a post on X. "But Teamsters at Republic will not back down until they've gotten the fair contracts they've rightfully earned." In the meantime, numerous Massachusetts towns and businesses are facing mounting piles of uncollected garbage. Republic claimed the union wasn't negotiating in good faith, while the Teamsters accused the company of abandoning talks and refusing to continue over the weekend. "Unfortunately, the Teamsters did not take the negotiations seriously and refused to make any meaningful progress," the company told Fox News Digital. "Today, we made a formal proposal that included a nearly 16% wage increase immediately and an approximate 43% pay increase over five years for our Greater Boston employees. Contrary to the many falsehoods the Teamsters are spreading, our offer outpaces competitors." Another round of discussions is set for Tuesday as workers are calling for better wages, improved benefits and enhanced job protections. Nationally, over 2,000 Teamsters are either actively striking or observing picket lines. The Republic Services Teamsters began striking on July 3 on the East Coast. The company said it is facing union-related work stoppages at six locations, including two business units in Boston and four additional sites in Cumming, Georgia; Ottawa, Illinois; Manteca, California, and Lacey, Washington. The Teamsters union has also expanded picketing to several other locations, with many employees at those sites honoring the picket lines, the company said. While the company claims that garbage pickup is continuing in all affected areas, many residents and businesses report delays and inconsistent service. Republic's commercial clients, such as restaurants, are also grappling with waste collection issues. Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin sent a formal letter Friday to Republic Services President Jon Vander Ark, criticizing the company for halting active negotiations and imposing hardship on communities. In the letter, obtained by Galvin called for more intense efforts to reach a deal and suggested that the situation might require greater government oversight of the waste management sector. He emphasized that essential public services like trash collection shouldn't hinge on the strategies of a private corporation, and questioned whether oversight of such services should remain in the hands of private firms. Boston City Councilors Erin Murphy, John FitzGerald and Ed Flynn echoed these sentiments in a separate letter to Vander Ark. The trio, who spearheaded a City Council resolution supporting the Teamsters, said the union's demands were fair and accused Republic of failing to meet fundamental labor standards. Republic countered that it had proposed a nearly 16% immediate pay raise and a total increase of around 43% over five years. The company accused the union of spreading misinformation and asserted its wage offers exceed those of competitors. "Don't believe the union's false narrative – 45% of our Greater Boston drivers represented by the Teamsters earned more than $100,000 last year, based on W-2 data," the company said. "If the Teamsters accepted the offer we made today, drivers would make approximately $140,000 per year, by the end of the contract." In addition, the company claimed that they "pay 100% of the health and welfare premiums for our Greater Boston employees" and ensured that they have a comprehensive health and welfare plan. The company said that the mediator requested both sides return to mediation on Tuesday, July 15, and both parties agreed. "We are confident that our most recent proposal meets all of our employees' demands, and we expect the Teamsters to bargain in the best interest of our employees." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UPS Makes 117-Year History With Employees Decision
United Parcel Service is rolling out an offer never seen before in its 117-year history. It was reported Thursday that UPS is offering buyouts to delivery drivers because it's navigating through "an unprecedented business landscape." The company currently has around 330,000 drivers. Their full-time drivers are eligible for this buyout. According to The Wall Street Journal, the average full-time driver for UPS makes around $170,000 annually. That was agreed to in the 2023 deal that UPS made with the Teamsters. The labor union isn't pleased with this week's buyout offer from UPS. They said their offer is far less than what members could make under their current deal. "UPS is trying to weasel its way out of creating good union jobs here in America by dangling insulting buyouts in front of Teamsters drivers. It is an illegal violation of our national contract," Teamsters general president Sean M. O'Brien said. "UPS is obligated to establish tens of thousands of new full-time jobs under the agreement. But CEO Carol Tomé and UPS's corporate managers are hoping that if they offer paltry severance packages to enough workers, no one will notice the company is setting the union's contract on fire. UPS Teamsters work too damn hard to be treated with such disrespect." O'Brien added, "UPS needs to live up to the existing contract. They must honor their commitments, just as Teamsters do every day, reliably delivering packages to hundreds of millions of Americans. Profits are not more important than people, not at UPS or any other employer." UPS, meanwhile, claims it remains committed to its 2023 contract despite its buyout program. UPS Makes 117-Year History With Employees Decision first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 3, 2025
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
UPS to offers voluntary buyout packages to its US drivers
July 3 (Reuters) - Parcel giant UPS said on Thursday it will offer voluntary buyouts to its full-time U.S. drivers as part of the largest network reconfiguration in its history — a sweeping overhaul that includes cutting 20,000 jobs and closing 73 facilities. The Atlanta-based company had in April announced a network reconfiguration plan following a reduction in deliveries for its key customer, and amid U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The buyout package is in addition to any retirement benefits such as pension and healthcare, the company said in a statement. The Teamsters union, which represents about 330,000 workers at UPS, was first to announce the buyout plans, calling them an "illegal violation" of the national contract, under which UPS had committed to create 22,500 more jobs. "Our members cannot be bought off and we will not allow them to be sold out," said Sean O'Brien, general president of the union. "UPS needs to live up to the existing contract. They must honor their commitments." UPS said it intends to adhere to the terms of its contract with the union.
