PORTLAND, Oregon — United Parcel Service (UPS) is laying off 331 workers at a North Portland sorting facility, according to a notification filed with the state.
The national shipping company said in a Feb. 13 letter that the laid-off employees were mostly part-timers, though some were full-time. The cuts also reached into management.
UPS attributed the job cuts at 6707 North Basin Avenue, called the "Portland Day Sort," to "volume loss in our network."
"This action is expected to be permanent due to the lack of available work at this location moving forward," the company said in its letter, filed and published under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN). "Due to the reduction in volume, as of April 19, 2024, this sort will be closed for operation."
UPS said it would try to find other positions for workers if possible.
"This closure will affect both union and non-union employees. Union employees are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters," UPS said. "There are bumping rights in effect for union employees for this reduction in force."
UPS and the Teamsters last year approved a national collective bargaining agreement to avoid a shutdown that would have rattled the U.S. economy, since UPS transports approximately 6% of America's gross domestic product every day.
North Portland "employees are expected to be released on April 19, 2024, unless otherwise required by the applicable collective bargaining agreement," UPS said in its WARN letter.
In an email to KGW, UPS confirmed in a statement that the closure of the facility will be effective on April 18.
The statement reads: "We often evaluate our operations and flex our network to meet volume demands. This allows us to continue delivering industry-leading service while also maintaining competitive prices. We are reducing the package sorting operations at a few UPS facilities including our Swan Island facility. The day sort at the hub will close, effective April 18. Our employees are extremely important to us, and we understand the impact this may have on their families. We will work with those who may be impacted throughout the process to provide support."
The Portland Business Journal, a KGW News partner, will be updating the story here.
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