Teamsters practice picketing at Warwick UPS Customer Center

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Members of the UPS Teamsters Union in Warwick practiced picketing in preparation for the possibility that an agreement may not be reached on a new contract by July 31.

Those in attendance at the practice picket told ABC 6 News they’ve recently been in contract negotiations with the United Postal Service asking for fair wages.

“UPS is greedy. We know the history of UPS. It is about paying the dividends, paying the shareholders, it is not about rewarding the people who make them the profit,” explained Matthew Maini, a representative for Teamsters.

If a deal isn’t reached by August 1, the picket will turn into a strike, which prompted city officials in Warwick to begin preparing for large crowds. The city also addressed the possibility of needing all hands-on deck from their police department.

On Thursday, the Warwick mayor and police chief addressed how they are preparing to handle any strike if a deal isn’t reached by the end of the month.

Chief Bradford Connor told ABC 6 News, “The intelligence we have now suggest that there could be anywhere from 500 to 1,200 picketers — if that is the case, then we just have to have more bodies out there.”

The mayor also added that both sides seem confident in a solution, but police need to have a plan in place no matter what.

Part of that plan includes having additional officers from the department on call around the clock and working with neighboring police departments.

“If we are asking them to be on the strike line maintaining order for 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a tough toll to ask them to work at an event that can take a lot of man power and a lot of time and energy. They are going to need rest and want to spend time with their family,” said Connor.

As for strike negotiations, UPS echoed the mayor’s sentiment, saying in part that they look forward to returning to the negotiating table next week to come to an agreement by August 1 that represents a win for customers, employees, the union and the company.