Christmas delivery chaos looms as 2,000 UPS workers set to strike with Amazon and Apple parcels most at risk
Christmas and January deliveries could face significant delays as 2,000 UPS workers begin voting to strike.
The vote, which opened this week and will close on December 3, follows a salary dispute.
Unite says staff have rejected a rise of 2.8% for 2025 and 3.2% for 2026, below the latest RPI inflation measure at around 4.5%.
CPI inflation is the measure most often used to set salary increases.
However, unions often use the RPI in negotiations because it tends to be higher than the CPI, therefore arguing in favor of larger increases.
The walkouts could begin in mid-December, affecting last-minute gifts and Boxing Purchases of the day.
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Unite says retailers that typically use UPS include Apple, Amazon, Dell and Louis Vuitton.
The union claims a previous £100 flat rate offer for minimum wage staff was withdrawn to fund the 2026 pay deal and alleges management put up posters urging staff not to vote.
UPS is the world’s largest carrier, delivering more than 15 million packages around the world every day.
Headquartered in Feltham, United Kingdom, the company reported third-quarter global net profit of $1.31 billion on revenue of $21.4 billion.
It is believed that around a quarter of the UK workforce receives the minimum wage (£12.21 per hour).
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This dispute is a clear case of a wealthy employer putting profits before people.
“It is shameful that workers at a billion-dollar company are being offered such miserable wages and are struggling to get by. »
A UPS spokesperson said: “We strive to create a work environment that helps our people thrive and our business and customers succeed.
“Our goal remains a balanced, fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the valuable contribution our employees make every day.
“Robust contingency plans are in place to minimize any disruption to customers and meet our commitments in the event of a strike. »
To ensure gifts arrive on time, place your orders with standard delivery during the first week of December and use express service around December 15.
Check each retailer’s Christmas deadlines and possible courier delays before purchasing.
In October, DPD abandoned a controversial 65p cut to small parcel payments for 10,000 drivers after strikes and The Sun’s media coverage sparked fears of a collapse in Christmas deliveries.
A planned increase of 65p for heavier parcels has also been scrapped.
In an email to workers, the haulier also confirmed its ‘Big Push’ Christmas incentives would return for peak 2025, offering an extra 50p per delivery to drivers who work consecutive days.
The U-turn follows a backlash after DPD told drivers in late September that small parcel rates would be reduced with immediate effect.
The company has also quietly removed a £500 festive bonus for those who reach their maximum targets.
DPD drivers are independent franchisees paid on delivery, with rates based on package size, not distance.
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At the time, DPD said the changes reflected changing parcel volumes in an “extremely competitive market”.
DPD previously said the changes reflected changes in parcel volumes in an “extremely competitive market”.
What are my rights in the event of lost or late deliveries?
MILLIONS of shoppers will rely on delivery companies to ensure the gifts they bought online arrive in time for Christmas.
We have outlined your rights if a package you ordered is lost or arrives late.
Claim against retailer
If your package does not arrive on the agreed date, you can file a claim with the retailer.
And if you didn’t select a particular delivery date or window during checkout, you’re entitled to a refund if the item doesn’t show up within 30 days.
When purchasing online, if there is no option to select a specific delivery date, try adding a note that “time is running out” and you need it by December 25th.
Follow up with an email asking the company to commit to this deadline.
This will give you additional refund rights if something goes wrong.
Cancel and Redeem
For anything you buy online or over the phone – except personalized items such as with your initials – you are entitled to a refund within 14 days.
This cooling off period applies even if there are no problems with your purchase. The clock starts the day after the delivery is received. The only other exception is electronic items where the box seal has been broken.
This can be a useful tool if you know a delivery is late and want to purchase a replacement before Christmas Day.
But when refunding the item, companies only have to refund the cost of the cheapest delivery option. So if you paid for a premium ‘next day’ or ‘arranged day’ service, you may not get all of your money back.
Claim damages
If your purchase is damaged upon arrival, it is the retailer’s responsibility to refund you.
Sometimes, if you or the carrier are in a hurry, you may not have time to properly remove the item from its packaging and inspect it before signing for it.
Most of the time, you’ll just sign to accept delivery rather than confirming the status of your purchase – but to cover yourself, add “unexamined” when you sign.
Pay by credit card
Using a credit card gives you an extra level of protection because you can request a refund from the card company if items are defective or not delivered as promised.
This is useful because sometimes when purchasing online you may end up with a fraudulent company that has no interest in your refund rights.
