06-05-2025
‘We're getting double whammied right now': Local union president reacts to planned UPS layoffs
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As part of the largest reconfiguration in UPS history, the package delivery service announced it will be slashing 20,000 jobs and closing over 70 facilities.
According to the union that represents some of our area's UPS workers, Teamsters Local 519, around 300 employees have been laid off since January.
Teamsters 519 President Wes Trotterchaud said this is mostly due to the Knoxville UPS hub closing for renovations and automating positions, but tensions are rising with more positions on the chopping block.
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'There will be one heck of a fight that's fixing to happen between the Teamsters and UPS,' he said. 'Our members are very, very concerned because they've already endured a lot of layoffs because of the shut-and-gut at the Knoxville facility.'
In January of this year, the UPS facility off Callahan Drive temporarily closed for renovations and a modernization initiative called 'Network of the Future.' According to UPS, this is to bring in new technology and automate parts of their facilities. Trotterchaud said it is taking jobs away from his union members.
'We're getting double whammied right now,' he said. 'Where you're enduring a shut-and-gut which they've moved a lot of our work out of the area, a lot of our bypass work out of the area, and now the 20,000, we're feeling the impact.'
He said besides losing their jobs, one of the main ways employees are feeling this impact is working long, 10-plus hours, and customers may start noticing too.
'It causes chaos for the customers who's waiting on their medications, creates job eliminations through layoffs and things of that, which I don't think anybody likes,' said Trotterchaud.
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But what Trotterchaud said may cause chaos, UPS said could bring updates to a 118-year-old company.
'It is a it's definitely a new era with corporate America and automation and AI, and it is coming very strong, right now,' he said.
Trotterchaud added he was shocked to learn of the layoffs since Teamsters had recently signed a contract with UPS promising to create nearly 30,000 more jobs in the next few years. However, the UPS spokesperson said they will comply with all contractual obligations, and they are working to place as many employees as possible in other positions.
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He added the Callahan Drive facility should reopen sometime in 2026.
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