TORONTO, (Nov. 22, 2004) — About 3,800 UPS Canada employees, represented by the Canadian Council of Teamsters, have gone on strike.

The company announced it has suspended pick-up and delivery of all UPS Canada courier shipments, and UPS Standard to Canada services. Delivery of UPS Worldwide Express and UPS Worldwide Expedited shipments into Canada will continue, however these services may experience some delays.

The strike comes nearly two months after a tentative agreement was reached with UPS. The agreement was rejected in a vote by UPS workers.

“UPS has been working diligently with the Teamster leadership and on October 1 reached a tentative collective agreement that offered significant enhancements for our employees,” the company responded in a press release. “We are extremely disappointed that the proposal was not accepted by the membership and that the Teamster leadership has initiated this unnecessary action.”

While the strike in Canada does not directly affect workers or packages in the United States, the Independent Pilots Association — the Louisville-based bargaining unit for about 2,500 pilots who fly for UPS — issued a statement that the union’s members will not cross picket lines during the strike against UPS.

“We fully support Teamsters Canada in its strike of UPS. Our pilots will not fly into, or out of, Canada so long as the Teamsters are on strike in that country,” the union said in a press release.

UPS says it has implemented contingency plans to deliver all shipments picked up as of Thursday, November 18, however these shipments will likely continue to experience delays, UPS said, adding that delivery guarantees on shipments to and within Canada are also suspended.

The company asks customers with packages in transit, please consult the “Tracking” tab, or call 1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877), for the scheduled delivery date of a specific shipment.