Union leaders are blasting a UPS plan to employ a fleet of golf carts for deliveries on public roads in Kentucky.
The Wall Street Journal reports that a new Kentucky law allows golf carts to be used for deliveries on public roads. UPS plans to take advantage of this during the busy months of November and December, which see large increases in the amount of packages to be delivered.
The union that represents UPS drivers, however, is not on board with the idea because of safety and pay reasons. Drivers in golf carts would earn a lower rate of pay than those who drive the company's fleet of delivery vans.
"They're just looking to pay the drivers less at the expense of the safety," James DeWeese, a member of Teamsters Local 89, told the Journal.
UPS fired back, with spokesman Glenn Zaccara telling the Journal the golf carts will be outfitted with safety equipment.
"The safety of our [workers] always comes first and we will not operate in conditions that are determined to be unsafe," Zaccara said.
DeWeese told the Journal UPS van drivers in Kentucky are paid $18.75 per hour to start. The golf carts will be driven by part-time workers who will earn about $15 per hour.
It also was reported this week that UPS plans to freeze the pensions of its 78,000 managers who are not part of the union. The move is designed to help relieve a $10 billion deficit in the company's retirement fund.
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