O’Brien, Sean M

Amid Strikes, One Question: Are Employers Miscalculating?

UPS, the Hollywood studios and the Detroit automakers appear to have been taken aback by the tactics and tougher style adopted by new union leaders.

The vote by members of the Teamsters union removes a potential threat to the economy.

Pushed by angry members, unions representing actors, autoworkers and UPS employees are becoming increasingly assertive under new leadership.

United Parcel Service faced a potential walkout by more than 325,000 union members when their five-year contract expired next week.

With the Teamsters contract set to expire Aug. 1, pay for part-time workers is a major hurdle. A walkout could rattle the U.S. economy.