UPS strike in US could be costliest in at least a century-report

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(Reuters) – A threatened U.S. strike at United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) could be “one of the costliest in at least a century,” a think tank specializing in the economic impact of labor actions said on Thursday.

Potential losses from a 10-day strike at the world’s biggest package delivery company could top $7 billion, according to an estimate from Michigan-based Anderson Economic Group. That number includes UPS customer losses of $4 billion.

A UPS work stoppage could delay millions of shipments ranging from e-commerce packages to electronic components and lifesaving prescription drugs, experts warned.

Talks between the company and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union – which represents some 340,000 UPS employees who sort, load and deliver packages in the United States – are deadlocked.

The Teamsters say if a deal is not ratified before the current contract expires at midnight on July 31, workers will strike.