Ups Pilots Barred From Strike Until ‘98

United Parcel Service pilots will not be allowed to strike until early next year, the National Mediation Board has ruled.

The ruling, easing fears of a disruptive strike before the holidays, was issued after the head of the International Pilots Association on Monday accused UPS of failing to seriously negotiate before giving the union a proposed new contract.

IPA President Robert Miller said he would submit the offer to the 2,000 members of the Louisville-based union for a ratification vote without a recommendation within the next few weeks.

“If the contract proposal is rejected, the National Mediation Board will recess talks until early 1998 unless prospects for fine-tuning the proposed contract and obtaining ratification are favorable,” the board’s statement said.

Under the National Labor Railway Act, both UPS and the IPA are prohibited from engaging in any work stoppage unless the mediation board determines an agreement can’t be reached through normal negotiations. A 30-day cooling-off period would then be declared, after which the union would be allowed to strike.